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Oregon Football Recruiting: 5-star RB Taj Griffin commits to Ducks

By Patrick Schmidt

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Jan. 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Detailed view of an Oregon Ducks helmet sitting on the field prior to the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2013 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan. 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Detailed view of an Oregon Ducks helmet sitting on the field prior to the game against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2013 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Oregon Ducks landed a commitment from their highest ranked recruit east of Texas, according to 247Sports’ Justin Hopkins, with Thursday evening’s commitment of five-star running back Taj Griffin (Powder Springs, Ga. McEachern) who becomes the third commitment for Mark Helfrich’s 2015 class.

The 5-10, 175-pound running back is the No. 50 recruit overall, No. 1 ranked all-purpose back and the No. 7 recruit in the State of Georgia in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. This is a signature addition for Oregon and Griffin’s recruiter, running backs coach Gary Campbell, did a great job to pull him out of SEC country.

With the addition of Griffin, the Ducks moved up 20 spots from No. 59 to No. 39 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Griffin has been compared to former Oregon player De’Anthony Thomas because of his rare speed, Griffin has been clocked in the 4.35-4.41 range in the 40, that allows him to turn three yard runs into 60-yard touchdowns.

His patience and vision allows him to set up his blockers and his acceleration and breakaway speed makes him a dangerous player and a perfect fit in the Oregon offense. He will be a nice complement to 215-pound incoming freshman running back Royce Freeman.

Griffin had been considered an Oregon lean since taking an unofficial visit to Oregon five weeks ago and chose the Ducks over offers from USC, Clemson, Ohio State and Florida State, among others.

Also a track star, Griffin has been invited to the Under Armour and U.S. Army All-American games and will compete in The Opening this summer held on the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon.

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