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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 2003)
Football Recruiting by Jerry Thompson 40 Days until Football Signing Day: Ducks with 12 verbals According to internet recruiting site, Rivals.com, the Oregon football program has received verbal commitments from 12 high school football players as of our press time. Two are from Oregon, two from Colorado, one from Hawaii, and the remaining 7 are from California. There are two big recruiting days to mark on the calendar. One is the Letter of Intent signing day on Wednesday, February 4th, the first day a high school student-athlete can make their commitment official. Before that however is the weekend of January 9-11 when the Ducks will have a large number of prominent recruits taking their official visits to Eugene. How the Ducks do this year in recruiting overall and in adding an additional 10-12 athletes will likely depend on whom they impress that weekend. So far Oregon has fluctuated in the national rankings (a very inexact science to say the least). A week ago they were 19th, now they are not in the top 25. Four Pac-10 teams are rated in the U.S. for offensive lineman and played on the same team as Oregon freshman QB Johnny DuRocher. He is reportedly trying to decide between Oregon and WSU. His teammate Caesar Rayford, a 6-7 tight end or defensive end is also strongly considering Oregon. Besides the previously mentioned players, here is a wish list of other players who are ranked very highly at their position who are considering Oregon (no QBs are listed with the Ducks having Clemens, DuRocher, Brady Leaf, and Dennis Dixon in the fold): Defensive lineman David Faaeteete Offensive tackle Jacob Hucko ahead of Oregon with USC at #3, UCLA at #12, Washington at #17 and Washington State at #23. Of course if ratings were an indicator of how Oregon was going to play on the field they would be close to a cellar dweller in the Pac-10 rather than at the top as they have been the last 10 years. So far Rivals.com rates the top 5 this way: The Duck verbals with Rivals.com national rating by position in parenthesis: 1. LSU 2. Texas 3. USC 4. Oklahoma 5. Miami Run On One Entry forms at Run Pro 525 High, Eugene or www.goodrace.com 2 DECEMBER 24, 2003 DucksIllustrated 3. Arian Foster, #22 all-purpose back, 6-1, 208, San Diego, CA 4. Marshawn Lynch, #10 running back, 5-11, 195, Oakland, CA 2. Jackie Bates, DB or RB, 5-10, 185, Concord, CA 5. Virdell Larkins, #11 rated CB, 5-10, 177, Oakland, CA 3. Patrick Chung, CB, 6-0, 189, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 6. Willie Glasper, #9 rated CB 6-1, 185, De La Salle, Concord, CA 4. David Faaeteete, DT, 6-2, 280, Medford, Oregon (#12) 7. Byron Velega, 6-1, 180. cornerback, Long Beach Poly 5. James Harris, WR-DB, 6-2, 205, Roseville, CA 8. Kwame Agyeman, #18 rated safety, 6-1, 195, Roselle, Illinois 6. Jacob Hucko, OT, 6-8, 285, Cerritos, CA (#15) 9. Jerome Boyd, #23 rated safety, 6-2, 195, Dorsey High, LA. 7. Ryan Keeling, TE, 6-5, 230, Springfield, Oregon (#26) 10.Terrance Kelly, #11 rated LB, 6-1, 215, DeLaSalle, Concord, CA 8. Jeff Kendall, OL, 6-4, 285, Colorado Springs, Colorado (#8) 11.Cole Linehan, #22 rated DE, 6-4, 270, Banks, Oregon 9. Mark Lewis, OL, 6-5, 270, Arroyo Grande, CA 12.Geoff Schwartz, #34 rated OL, 6-7, 308, Pacific Palisades, CA 10. Ryan Phipps, LB, 6-0 210, Corona, CA (#28) 13.Kenny O’Neal, #19 wide receiver, 6-1, 195, Oakland, CA. (Has run a 10.3 100M) 12. Jaison Williams, WR, 6-4, 215, Culver City, CA (#43) Loop course crosses Willamette River twice. 2. Le’Andre Matthews, #15 all-purpose back, 5-8, 185, Bakersfield, CA 1. John Bacon, LB, 6-3, 230, Lakewood, Colorado (#39) 11. Max Unger, OL, 6-5, 280, Kamuela, Hawaii (#45) January 1, 2004 10 a.m. 5 km Run/ 2 mi Walk 1. Terrell Jackson, #2 all-purpose running back, 5-9, 190, Corona, CA Of the twelve players listed above, five are tentatively projected to play defense and seven on offense. Jackie Bates from high school powerhouse DeLaSalle may be looked at at running back and James Harris is a possible safety. None of the Oregon verbals are listed in Rivals’ top 100 players list although some of the top 100 are planning on visiting the Ducks: Cameron Colvin, 6-2, 193 wide receiver from De La Salle and a good friend of Oregon verbal, Jackie Bates. Colvin is rated as the #2 receiver in the U.S. and #18 of the top 100 players. Linebacker Brian Toal (#3 at LB in U.S. and #23 overall) from New Jersey may visit the Ducks as well as #24 overall and #1 strong DE, Philip Mbakogu, 6-3, 260 from Hayward, California. Wide receiver Derrick Jones, 6-0, 170 from Long Beach Poly is #32 overall and ranked as #5 receiver is a possibility. The most likely top 100 player to sign will be #84 ranked Aaron Klovas, a 6-6, 300 offensive lineman from Bethel High School in Graham, Washington. Aaron is ranked #7 The following players: defensive back, Marc Walker, fullback, Jerome Johnson, and linebacker, Lance Broadus who signed with the Ducks in February ‘03 did not enroll due to eligibility issues, but there is hope that they will be able to enroll in the winter term. One that appears to have gotten away who signed in February 2002 was heralded offensive lineman Albert Toeaina, cousin of current Duck, Matt Toeaina. It has been reported that the 6-7, 350 Albert will go to Tennessee as well as high school senior quarterback Eric Ainge from Glencoe in Hillsboro, Oregon. Oregon fans hope that De La Salles’ Jackie Bates can influence Colvin, Glasper, and Kelly to choose the Ducks. Lynch and Larkins have said they are a package deal, but may be leaning towards Cal. Running back is a big need and it will be interesting to see if Oregon can seal the deal on at least two good ones after being shutout the last two years. Finally, Jaison Williams who reportedly chose Oregon over Michigan, looks to be in the mold of UW’s Reggie and USC’s Mike. If he’s that good Oregon could feature the Williams receivers: Demetrius and Jaison.
