2012 FOOTBALL Commits and Recruiting News

[PapaG]

Mccarthy to Cal. So I am shocked liked I said would be. Queue the angry mob

Yeah, I think Shaq Thompson's Tweet was a tell. I won't be surprised when they get Armstead as well.

 

[STOMP]

I sure would like to see us recruit better at the DT position. We're solid with Wade Keliikipi, Ricky Heimuli and Ebert for the immediate, but long-term would like to see us bring in the blue-chip DT.

geez, here I've been thinking this class is arguably Oregon's best haul on the DLine ever and that we're in great shape overall. We lose only two guys to graduation with 3 Redshirting ready to join the mix... this class features six verbals including three *4s, an even bigger Bair and yet the grousing continues. Oh well

in other disappointing news, stud *4 Athlete David Perkins is apparently stoked for his upcoming Jan. 20th visit telling rivals that Oregon is his "dream school"

STOMP

 

[Ed O]

geez, here I've been thinking this class is arguably Oregon's best haul on the DLine ever and that we're in great shape overall. We lose only two guys to graduation with 3 Redshirting ready to join the mix... this class features six verbals including three *4s, an even bigger Bair and yet the grousing continues. Oh well

in other disappointing news, stud *4 Athlete David Perkins is apparently stoked for his upcoming Jan. 20th visit telling rivals that Oregon is his "dream school"

I don't think that much of what you're saying has much to do with Targus's post.

The team's recruiting is going great (again) this year, and there are a few chances to really get a couple more studs in the next few weeks... but we still haven't been able to nail down a badass interior defensive line recruit.

Do we need to? Perhaps not. But the fact that we're having a very good (or even great) class otherwise doesn't really matter in terms of a blue-chip DT IMO.

Not trying to be negative... you know I <3 you. I just think you were reading too much into his comment, because I think we ALL are pretty pleased with how the recruiting this year is going

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

Good news on Perkins, also!

Ed O.

 

[Da_O]

We have 19 commits and I guess we have 25 schollies to give. So only 6 more to give....

Being optimistic I'm going to guess this.

Murphy, Johnson, Mickens, Perkins, Harper, and Watson.

Like I said optimistic(extremely).

 

[PapaG]

Zach Banner eliminated UW yesterday. Down to USC and Oklahoma, apparently. I'm guessing OU will get him. Just a hunch.

http://www.nwcn.com/sports/Lakes-OT-Zach-Banner-elimates-Huskies-136855873.html

HUGE blow to UW, by the way. Sark can't even recruit WA at this point. Cal looks to be the primary challenger to Oregon in the Pac North over the next few years, IMO. Stanford will still be very good, but I just don't think they'll ever be able to match the speed of Oregon, or even Cal.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm still waiting for this amazing class that was supposed to result from going to the natty though. I know we're having a good class so far, but I was hoping to pull some bigger names like McCarthy, Armstead, and Thompson.

 

[STOMP]

I don't think that much of what you're saying has much to do with Targus's post.

The team's recruiting is going great (again) this year, and there are a few chances to really get a couple more studs in the next few weeks... but we still haven't been able to nail down a badass interior defensive line recruit.

how isn't Balducci a badass interior defensive line recruit? He claims to be over 280 lbs these days and says Oregon plans to play him at DT. Rivals has him pegged as about the 100th best PSA in the country. They named him as one of the two most impressive DTs at all the summer camps where the PSA's go head to head. A highly rated OT going to USC named Max Tuerk just claimed he was the hardest to block DT on his squad at the Army AA game.

According to comments a month back or so from highly rated interior DLine recruits Ellis McCarthy and Faith Ekakitie, we turned them down claiming we were full while they still had interest. It was baffling to Duck fans at the time, but Oregon had received a silent commitment from 6'8 275 lb Stetzon Bair around Thanksgiving. Sure he wasn't on the rating service's radar, but those sites are hardly the unquestioned truth, especially with kids from off the beaten path. With all the unknown *2 types that have gone on to star at Oregon (including current starting DT Wade Keliikipi) and even make the NFL, Duck fans should be well aware of this. Bair's film reveals him to be a huge athlete with a great motor. If he Redshirts next year as expected, he'll start his 3 years of eligibility at age 22. Guys gain a lot of natural strength between the ages of 18-22. Given this, his size, pedigree, and that we stopped recruiting other DTs (besides Arik), I'm thinking he's thought to be a blue chip stud by those who matter most... it doesn't make sense that they'd be turning down players who they felt were better otherwise.

Our long term prospects on the DLine look great

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

I'm still waiting for this amazing class that was supposed to result from going to the natty though. I know we're having a good class so far, but I was hoping to pull some bigger names like McCarthy, Armstead, and Thompson.

Again, we turned down Ellis McCarthy. Armstead has yet to declare and the Ducks are still on him. A tweet from him in the last 24 hours...I'm committing in a couple days to a week

as is true every year, we won't really know about the quality of a class for a few seasons

STOMP

 

[james3921]

Again, we turned down Ellis McCarthy.[/I]STOMP

Seriously? Why would we do that? I get that we like the potential of Balducci and Bair, but the idea of "turning down" a 6'5, 310 pound 5-star monster who wanted to come here seems strange.

 

[STOMP]

Seriously? Why would we do that? I get that we like the potential of Balducci and Bair, but the idea of "turning down" a 6'5, 310 pound 5-star monster who wanted to come here seems strange.

there are only so many scholarships to be had. Oregon has put far fewer offers out then most schools, presumably only to the PSA's they really wanted. Having landed a number of those targets, apparently they didn't feel Ellis was a priority anymore. Apparently they still feel Arik is worth one of their remaining scholarships

STOMP

 

[Da_O]

Plus I've heard that the vibe the coaches were getting from McCarthy is we had no real shot with him to begin with. So they stopped recruiting him.

Balducci was a stud at the AAG, but it said he weighed at 265 down there. I'm positive he's going to put on weight and be a great interior lineman for us.

Don't worry guys we're going to get ours, maybe not this year but our name is getting spread far and wide. Going into the 2013 class, most of the top 100 players have us in their lists.

 

[Targus]

It's is a great class and I'm pleased with it. I was talking specifically about the DT position.

Heimuli is the highest ranked DT we've seen develop on the field for Oregon in the last five years. We don't recruit well at the DT position and while we are solid for the next two years at the DT position - it is the first time we can say this in a long, long time - even when Ngata was here because of the overall depth and his season ending injury. In 2008, Thompson was our highest five star DT, he didn't pan. 2007 coveted Myles Wade didn't pan. We need to recruited better at DT - period.

Anyone who has followed recruiting for more than the immediate knows we have issues bringing in DT's - as other schools seem to out-recruit us at this position, year after year, and that includes other Pac schools.

If you've followed recruiting, you know that 2002 was the last year we really hit a home run at the DT position with Ngata and Solomona and Siavii (SP) in the same class. That's ten years ago. Since then, ten years, we continue to recruit and see the top DT's in the nation head elsewhere - often after a high interest in Oregon.

I love the verbals we have so far. Naturally, it's possible one of two will change their minds before LOI Day, a few won't show or qualify or make the team. But, overall, GREAT class. It doesn't mean we can't hope and dream of better recruiting at the DT position.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

I think that Shaq, McCarthy and Armstead are deciding to play together.... That said I'm sure that if this recruiting is not on the up and up USC is already on the phones with the NCAA to blow the whistle on them. HAHAHA! Let's face it. McCarthy and Armstead were supposed to originally be USC commits.... So this is probably burning them up in LA!!

That said Kyle Long and if we get his buddy from Juco will give our O line some serious size and Bair and Buckner on the defensive side will be very formidable!

 

[Da_O]

Next year's west coast D-line class is not as good as this years with the exception of Eddie Vanderdoes. He will be a big time prospect at 6'4 285 and he has Oregon in his top 5 along with Cal. I expect that we will recruit him heavily and hopefully we can win a battle with Cal this time.

We are also in Robert Nkemdiche top 5 list and I assure you he will be either number 1 or number 2 prospect in the country. Problem is, he hails from Georgia and would probably be the greatest pull ever to snatch him out of SEC country.

 

[Targus]

Bair will need to put on 20-30 more pounds before being a legit DT at the Pac level. He's around 260 now and since coming home from his mission, has already put on 30 pounds, so hopefully his frame supports the mass - like his brothers. He can redshirt to put on weight.

Right now, he's a tossup (depending on how much weight he can gain) for DE/DT (can go DE in a three set). I suspect he'll get the weight and be a nice DT but currently, if you count him as a DE - where he projects as a 21 year old at 260# that means we have:

6-7 DE verbals and ZERO true DT verbs. Ugh.

 

[Da_O]

A new target has emerged it seems. Former Oklahoma 4 star DB/WR commit De'Vante Harris is visiting this weekend. He is apparently cousins with Thomas Johnson.

 

[Targus]

Interesting. 158 pounds? He must be one good lock-down kid to be so highly rated at that size.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncf..._slug_=devante-harris-decommits-from-oklahoma

 

[MickZagger]

I think that Shaq, McCarthy and Armstead are deciding to play together.... That said I'm sure that if this recruiting is not on the up and up USC is already on the phones with the NCAA to blow the whistle on them. HAHAHA! Let's face it. McCarthy and Armstead were supposed to originally be USC commits.... So this is probably burning them up in LA!!

That said Kyle Long and if we get his buddy from Juco will give our O line some serious size and Bair and Buckner on the defensive side will be very formidable!

Why would USC be on the phones about Cal. Its their fault that Cal is getting all these guys. If USC hadn't taken those scholarships away these kids might be going to USC.

 

[STOMP]

Bair will need to put on 20-30 more pounds before being a legit DT at the Pac level. He's around 260 now...

when he committed he claimed to be in the 275-280 range right now so by your own estimation he has only 5 pounds or so to go. He's got a year and a half to add that weight on before he's likely to see a snap

STOMP

 

[Targus]

You must have some good info that official weigh ins don't have. Also, if you don't want to consider another posters opinion, maybe you'll consider just one of the 'experts' who say he has to get to 300# to play well considering his pad level and style of play. http://oregon.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1306955


Stetson Bair, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound defensive tackle
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsutahsports/53133782-59/bair-utes-defensive-oregon.html.csp

6-9, 265 www.duckstopshere.com

At 6-9, 265 he's got room to possibly add another 10-15 lbs.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/ducks/2011/12/recruiting_bair_commits_to_ore.html

The 6-foot-9, 265-pound defensive tackle prospect
http://www.topix.com/forum/football-players/brandon-bair/TGGJNTPJMCBO8Q7VD

Stetzon Bair, 6'8" 265# http://rivals.yahoo.com/oregon/football/recruiting/player-Stetson-Bair-134157

Ht: 6-9 | Wt: 260

 

[Targus]

when he committed he claimed to be in the 275-280 range right now so by your own estimation he has only 5 pounds or so to go. He's got a year and a half to add that weight on before he's likely to see a snap

STOMP

Do you have a reliable link to Bair claiming he is 280#? That's great if he is, but all I can find is a bunch of message board posters claiming he said this. I am not a fan of posters claming a player said something, when its difficult to prove without reliable sources, or formal video.

The most generous weight and article I have found shows him at 270 and also evaluates him as needing to get to 300# to be an effective DT, given his height, hip and pad level. This is hy so many scouts project him as a DE at Div I. But, Oregon has hopes of him adding strength and weight to play DT.

So, yah, 30 pounds.

 

[Da_O]

Do you have a reliable link to Bair claiming he is 280#? That's great if he is, but all I can find is a bunch of message board posters claiming he said this. I am not a fan of posters claming a player said something, when its difficult to prove without reliable sources, or formal video.

The most generous weight and article I have found shows him at 270 and also evaluates him as needing to get to 300# to be an effective DT, given his height, hip and pad level. This is hy so many scouts project him as a DE at Div I. But, Oregon has hopes of him adding strength and weight to play DT.

So, yah, 30 pounds.

It's from Stetzon Bair's own mouth that he said he's up to 280-285. When he committed to Oregon he told Hopkins on DT that he was almost 290. So I don't think he's lying.

 

[Targus]

Now its 290?

I never implied SB was lying. I asked for a link to the claim he said this.

Still waiting. All I've read is a bunch of posters claiming he said he was 280, or 285, and now almost 290.

Every official site has him 260-270. Reputable scouts and analysts say he need 30 more pounds and improved work to make it at DT.

I gave links. Where are the links proving he said he's almost 290?

 

[Targus]

Btw: if you don't read tony difrancisoc's twitter...you should. He's an analyst for rivals and does ducksportsauthority. He comes through with reliable, first-report info. He's one recruiting info...cant miss.

A few weeks ago there was a good discussion on oregon lacking and really needing that big, physical two-gap NT DT. Guess we'll settle for six or seven DE's instead.

 

[MickZagger]

Bair's mormon, they don't lie. That settles it.

 

[Da_O]

Now its 290?

I never implied SB was lying. I asked for a link to the claim he said this.

Still waiting. All I've read is a bunch of posters claiming he said he was 280, or 285, and now almost 290.

Every official site has him 260-270. Reputable scouts and analysts say he need 30 more pounds and improved work to make it at DT.

I gave links. Where are the links proving he said he's almost 290?

No I was saying Stomp wasn't lying. Here's a quote from what Justin said, I could give you a link but if you're not a subscribe you couldn't see it anyway.

Here's what Justin said,

He was 275 after working out this summer, he played around 265 this year. He said he could add 20 pounds. I see him getting to 280 ish by Fall camp.

So I was mistaken about the 290 quote, and a lot of these sites are going off the last time he weighed in at a football camp. I'm sure if he were to be weighed today he would be around 275. He for sure needs to bulk up. With our training staff and if he has the work ethic, I'm sure he could do it.

 

[Da_O]

Btw: if you don't read tony difrancisoc's twitter...you should. He's an analyst for rivals and does ducksportsauthority. He comes through with reliable, first-report info. He's one recruiting info...cant miss.

A few weeks ago there was a good discussion on oregon lacking and really needing that big, physical two-gap NT DT. Guess we'll settle for six or seven DE's instead.

Balducci and Bair wont play DE here, they will be playing interior lineman. And we do have a physical two-gap NT DT, his name is Ricky Heimuli, and I feel he could have a bigger impact this year if he wasn't hampered by injuries.

I don't read twitter.

 

[Targus]

I'm confident he's an honest and hard working young man. Its posters making claims about what players supposedly say, that I am trying to simply confirm. Sheeesh. Getting a link to a claim is like trying to pull teeth!

 

[Da_O]

I'm confident he's an honest and hard working young man. Its posters making claims about what players supposedly say, that I am trying to simply confirm. Sheeesh. Getting a link to a claim is like trying to pull teeth!

Earlier you said this

Reputable scouts and analysts say he need 30 more pounds and improved work to make it at DT.

Hopkins is not some poster, he is the main scout and analyst for Oregon's 247 site and he is extremely reputable. He has broken more stories faster than any other site I've seen so far. Here's the link to JH's quote but you wont be able to read it anyway since you're not a subscriber. I'm not trying to play games with you. I can't give you anything better than that so it's either take Bair's word for it, Hopkins word for it, or keep insisting for a link that's not out there.

http://oregon.247sports.com/Board/45/Bair-talks-Oregon-commitment-6159423/2