Like football itself, recruiting is a game of emotion and momentum. A coaching staff invests time and effort into game-planning and relationship-building and the explosive, celebratory moments only come when players and their families are ready. Each recruit has his own timeline and his own process.
Currently in the 247Sports composite, Oregon sits at 8th in the country with 16 commits, 11 four-stars, 5 three-stars. But the Ducks haven't had a new commitment since Devin Brooks, Jack Ressler and Kingston Lopa declared their intentions in mid-June. There's been a lull since then despite a flurry of high-profile official visits from big-time prospects, even as some competing schools enjoyed a surge of activity.
For the next two weeks Oregon football recruiting is going to be like that One Annoying Guy in your neighborhood who starts blasting fireworks on July 1 and is still terrorizing your dog on July 10. In the PAC-12 Dan Lanning is that guy. pic.twitter.com/sVApYsuUvu
— Dale Bliss (@DSH_Newton) June 28, 2023
July 1st: 4* OL JacQawn McRoy, Clay-Chalkville High School, Pinson, Alabama
From Bo Nix and Tez Johnson's hometown, McRoy is a massive offensive tackle with surprising athleticism, the number three offensive tackle in the country. He's 6-8, 365, a human wall in pass blocking with the agility to move out in front of a running back on the perimeter and at the second level. McRoy visited June 23rd, he's announcing live on the 247Sports Youtube Channel this Saturday, and Oregon is his clear leader.
"I think Oregon has led since he visited in the Spring."@SWiltfong247 gives the latest on the recruiting process of 4⭐️ OT JacQawn McRoy, the No. 3 OT in the Class of 2024.
— 247Sports (@247Sports) June 29, 2023
WATCH📺: https://t.co/qzJRpF37qT pic.twitter.com/HmbJZHsCxw
July 3rd: 3* RB Da’Juan Riggs, St. John's High School, Washington DC
After Bucky Irving, Noah Whittington and Dante Dowdell, only a fool would doubt Carlos Locklyn in the selection of running backs. Riggs is another hand-picked Locklyn protege, 6-0, 202 pounds.
He has offers from Boston College, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Mississippi, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Charlotte, Liberty, Marshall, South Florida, Temple, Toledo and Virginia Tech.
July 6th: 5* Edge Rusher Elijah Rushing, Salpointe Catholic High School, Tucson, Arizona
Rushing is the #1 edge rusher and #8 recruit in the country, 6-5, 251, a commitment of Kayvon Thibodeaux/Matayo Uiagalelei impact. He's explosive and mobile with an 81-inch wingspan that allows him to get leverage and disrupt plays. Out of many offers he's down to a final two of Oregon and Arizona. He visited Tennessee last weekend and the Ducks on June 16th.
He'll announce on Thursday July 6th.
July 10th: 4* LB Kamar Mothudi, Campbell Hall School, Valley Village, California
Mothudi is a 6-3, 215-pound linebacker who also ran for 1400 yards and 18 touchdowns as a running back. He's a monster athlete who also plays basketball and runs track. He visited Oregon on June 23rd. Lanning and the Ducks are so high on him they brought out the big guns for his visit.
@kayvont is a real 1. Thank you for all the wisdom that you shared with me. pic.twitter.com/JMivFLSIuc
— Kamar Mothudi 4⭐️ (@kamar_mothudi) June 25, 2023
Max Torres of Ducks Digest provides an excellent breakdown on this top drawer prospect.
During the lull, USC leapfrogged the Ducks into 7th. Troy Taylor and his new staff at Stanford continue to awake the echoes of a somnolent program and fanbase, snaring 26 commitments from across the country to reach 11th in the rankings. The Stanford surge has a smart focus: like David Shaw and Jim Harbaugh used to they're focusing on players who fit the Stanford culture, bright kids with solid football potential, kids with a higher likelihood of staying five years and realizing the full benefit of the Stanford experience and a Stanford education. Taylor has landed six four-stars and 18 three-stars, the headliner being 4-star Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown, the #8-rated passer in the nation.
Once an Oregon nemesis, The Cardinal faded badly over the last four seasons. They haven't been to a bowl since 2018, a major bowl since they won the Rose Bowl and finished third in the AP poll in 2015. Stanford fans endured some plodding and tortuous football, successive seasons of 4-8, 4-2 (the foreshortened Covid year) 3-9 (one of the three wins came over Oregon, 31-24 in overtime) and 3-9. Just watch: in a season or two The Cardinal will be competitive again, something that's good for the conference should the PAC-12 survive.
Even Washington enjoyed a mini-surge during this "phony war" period of little activity. The recruiting-inept Huskies crept into 52nd into the country with 10 total commitments, 2 four-stars, 7 three-stars; this after being stuck on one and none for several months. It's still not an inspiring class, but at least it's no longer an embarrassing one.
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