Ducks Digest

Xadavien Sims Continues Trend of Big-Time Defensive Lineman at Oregon

Sims chose the Ducks over Oklahoma and Michigan State on Saturday.

Max Torres

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Oregon continues to stay red hot on the recruiting trail following the addition of Durant (Okla.) defensive lineman Xadavien Sims on Saturday.

What does his commitment mean for Oregon? 

Let's break it all down.

Recruiting Impact

Oregon entered the mix relatively late with an offer in January and were able to come out on top over some pretty notable programs. On the surface Oklahoma looked like the biggest competition, but Mel Tucker and Michigan State made this one a battle.

In the end mutual interest was a big factor as the Ducks went to visit him in Durant and he took a pair of spring trips to Eugene himself. 

Tony Tuioti continues to be a strong recruiter at Oregon, especially when paired with the likes of Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi. The Ducks now have commitments from two massive defensive lineman as Sims joins the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Tionne Gray in the interior. Oregon's 2024 class rises to No. 6 nationally according to 247Sports and the coaching staff has the Ducks getting hot at the perfect time. 

The coaching staff continues to prove they're willing to go anywhere in the country to find the players they need to take them to the next level.

Evaluation

Sims has the physical frame the Ducks need more of at 6'3", 275 pounds. He still has one more year of high school ball to develop his craft, but I really like where his game is at.

He plays with a lot of violence at the point of attack and excels at shedding blocks to find his way into the backfield. Sims also makes a habit of plugging up holes in the run game as a solid run defender. 

I saw him on the 7on7 circuit make some plays at tight end for C4, which speaks to his overall athleticism---which only gets more impressive when you account for his skills throwing shot put, one of the best in his state.

Some folks I've spoken with around the program love his position versatility and think he can make an impact on the interior or if he's flexed out wide a bit. The Ducks haven't been able to get much of a push on the defensive line in general of late, but getting push from the interior is even more important when you couple it with talented edge rushers like a Jordan Burch in 2023 or Matayo Uiagalalei and Jaxson Jones.

Roster Outlook at Oregon

Sims has the body type that's ready to play college football right now, but he's entering a room that's definitely full of talent. However, given the abundance of veterans that will play in 2023, the competition should be relatively open by the time Sims gets to campus in 2024 depending on how the staff attacks the transfer portal.

Industry experts seem to be confident that he has a chance to play early at the college level and if the Ducks land some of the other big names they're going after like Elijah Rushing and Jordan Ross, there will be plenty of competition to push him in that defensive line room. 

I think Sims is a player that has a great chance to at least be a rotational player early in his college career.

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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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