The big miss

2022 5-star running back Branson Robinson committed to Georgia today, his favorite school from the beginning.

Back in January, the Ducks made his top 8, and they were recruiting him hard via Zoom and text. 

By the time official visits opened up in June, Robinson had already zeroed in on school's closer to home. He's from Madison, Mississippi.

The reason why this should be of note to Oregon fans is that Robinson was Mario Cristobal's dream running back, though he'd never say that out loud. If you asked him he'd just express ultimate confidence in the players he has, as he should. NCAA rules (are there still NCAA rules?) prevent him from publicly commenting on a recruit, especially one who has chosen another school.

As an ex-offensive lineman Cristobal loves the downhill running game and the idea of physically imposing his team's will on the opponent. Robinson is powerful, 5-10, 218 pounds, a school weight lifting champion and their best 100 meter sprinter. He squats 600 pounds, insanely strong for a 17-year-old running back.

On Social Media the college football world is blowing up over the news that Texas and Oklahoma are moving to the SEC. If Oregon wants to stay relevant in a rapidly-changing landscape, they have to start winning some big games against top opponents, and they have to win a few battles for players like Robinson. They got a start this June when they secured a commitment from Kelvin Banks, the nation's #2 left tackle. That's significant progress toward building CMC's dominating running game.

At RB, though, the Ducks have relied on a series of small, quick backs with above average talent. That's good, but to compete with the Ohio States, Clemsons and Alabamas of the world, they've got to identify and land their own premier ball carrier, the next LaMichael James, Jonathan Stewart or Royce Freeman. Oregon's old running back coach Gary Campbell always seemed to have one of those guys in the pipeline. He was a terrific mentor and scout.