Ducks Digest

Torres' Take: The Latest in Oregon Football Recruiting December 12, 2023

We're less than 10 days away from the early signing period and the transfer portal is heating up.

Max Torres

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It's a busy time in the Oregon Football world.

We've got NFL Draft declarations, the early signing period looming next week, and the transfer portal is exploding.

It's time to get into the latest news, notes and intel I'm hearing on all things Oregon Football and recruiting.

Dante Moore

For what it's worth, I was able to confirm that Oregon is recruiting the former UCLA quarterback. That may not be earth-shattering news, but it is significant considering that the Ducks already landed a commitment from Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel. With Ty Thompson entering the transfer portal over the weekend, the Ducks have room on their roster to bring in another quarterback from the transfer portal.

I'm told that an Oregon visit is looking likely at some point this week, which would be a big step in the right direction. One would think it's not going to be too difficult to sell Moore on the Ducks---he already committed once before Kenny Dillingham took the ASU job. 

Walter Nolen

The latest I'm hearing on Nolen is that this looks like it may be a two-team race. Following his visit to Oregon, the former 5-star defensive lineman will visit Ole Miss this week before shifting into decision mode. I was told that he's expected to take the trip with some of his former Texas A&M teammates.

Playing in Oxford would give him the chance to play closer to his home state of Tennessee, but it's going to be hard to ignore what Dan Lanning has done with Oregon's defense from year one to year two. 

He's also got the development of players like Brandon Dorlus to help him recruit more big-time defensive linemen to Eugene.

Andrew Mukuba

The Ducks are expected to host the former Clemson safety on a visit this week, and he's emerged as a major priority given the attrition the Ducks will be faced with in the back end of their defense.

As of right now Tysheem Johnson would be the most experienced safety in that group, so it's crucial Oregon adds some depth from the portal here. Mukuba seems like their guy early on, but I also think incoming freshman Aaron Flowers might be talented enough to be in the rotation. 

Jordan Burch

Based on the conversations that I've had since the Pac-12 Championship game, there seems to be a growing confidence in Eugene that Burch will return for the 2024 season. 

He'd instantly be the biggest piece of Oregon's front seven next year with the loss of multiple key veterans. It's pretty clear he's already improved from the player he was at South Carolina.

Even if he does come back, that defensive line could still benefit a lot from adding some pieces through the portal.

Jac'Qawn McRoy

Dan Lanning made the trip across the country on Monday to check in on his highest-rated offensive line commit in the 2024 recruiting class.

Last week it felt like there was a real chance Colorado could flip the Alabama product following a visit to Boulder. But the Buffs went on a tear landing five offensive lineman last weekend, headlined by Jordan Seaton, and that group still doesn't include McRoy.

I'm sure the Ducks took note of that trip, because getting an in-home or at school visit from your head coach, not just your position coach, is significant. 

Jeremiah McClellan

With Jordan Anderson de-committing from the Ducks last week, wide receiver has quickly shot up the priority list for the Oregon coaching staff.

I'm told the coaching staff is expected to visit the Ohio State wide receiver commit in St. Louis this week. Flipping a wideout from the Buckeyes is never easy, but some of the people I've talked to lately seem to be a bit more confident that the Ducks can pull this one off compared to earlier in the year. 

I'm sure they'd love to get him back in Eugene this week for the big recruiting weekend since he didn't make it out for the USC game.

Ryan Pellum

Pellum is another big name I've been told is worth monitoring. He's been committed to USC since June, but it seems like Oregon is increasing their recruiting efforts lately and circling back around.

After all, he did choose the Trojans over the Ducks and there are really strong ties with Don Pellum coaching at Oregon for so long. Pellum and McClellan are even bigger priorities after Dillon Gresham took a pair of official visits to Arizona and USC this weekend.

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Max Torres
MAX TORRES

Max Torres is the publisher and lead editor of Ducks Digest. He's covered the Oregon football and recruiting beats for four years. He's based out of Long Beach, CA and travels around Southern California and the country covering top high school football prospects.

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