With National Signing Day just days away, we look at the five most important commits in the 2018 Oregon recruiting class.
There has been a great deal of change inside the Oregon football program this decade, from the days of Chip Kelly and Marcus Mariota to the quick fall under Mark Helfrich to Willie Taggart, who came and went in the blink of an eye.
Taggart’s only season in Eugene was largely forgettable, but he did help the Ducks build some momentum on the recruiting trail. Oregon averaged an average FBS ranking of 21.3 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings (and No. 4 in the Pac-12) in Helfrich’s three full seasons, which Taggart elevated to No. 19 (and third in the conference) after he took over ahead of the 2017 season.
The 2018 Oregon recruiting class, largely built by Taggart and handed over to new head coach Mario Cristobal, who was the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach last season, ranked No. 14 overall. Of the 15 players that signed with the Ducks in December, and the seven committed to sign in February, five stand out as most important.
5. Steven Jones, Dawson Jaramillo, Offensive guard
Okay, maybe six. Offensive linemen are the most difficult players to evaluate at the high school level, and recruiting offensive linemen is anything from an exact science. Since it’s reasonable to expect a roughly 50 percent success rate at the position, we chose to put the team’s top two O-Line recruits together here.
Steven Jones and Dawson Jaramillo are both four-star prospects ranked in the Top 15 nationally at their position in the 247Sports Composite. Jones, a 6-foot-5, 340-pound guard, ranks No. 246 overall, No. 10 among guards, and 32nd among California prospects. Jaramillo is the No. 252 overall prospect, and No. 14 tackle. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Lake Oswego native is the No. 5 high school player in Oregon.
4. Adrian Jackson, Linebacker
Oregon returns four of its top five tacklers from last season, and two of three starters in the linebacker corps. However, because of the departure of middle linebacker Jimmie Swain and backup outside linebacker Jonah Moi, there could be opportunities for true freshmen to compete for early playing time.
Adrian Jackson has the talent to contribute immediately. The Denver native chose the Ducks over USC and also had offers from Florida, Notre Dame and Ohio State among others. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound four-star prospect, Jackson was ranked No. 168 overall and 11th at his position in the 247Sports Composite. He is the top prospect from Colorado.
Also, a (similar) name to note is Andrew Johnson, a linebacker out of Georgia. Johnson was one of 10 potential diamonds in the rough of note for the 2018 recruiting class.
3. Tyler Shough, Quarterback
Justin Herbert is the unquestioned quarterback of the present at Oregon, but Tyler Shough could be the quarterback of the future. Shough signed with Oregon after decommitting from North Carolina. He also had offers from a long list of bluebloods, including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and Michigan, plus both in-state Pac-12 schools Arizona and Arizona State.
Shough is ranked No. 140 overall and No. 7 among pro-style signal callers. The Elite 11 prospect has a slim 6-foot-5, 187-pound built but will fill out in college. He has a very smooth release and throws with accuracy. Though he doesn’t have a huge arm, Shough is smart – as evidenced by the attention of Harvard and Yale in the recruiting process.
2. Steve Stephens, Safety
Cristobal will have an experienced roster in his first season as head coach, but if there’s one area that could use additional depth, it’s the secondary. Fortunately, Oregon signed a pair of four-star safeties, and multiple cornerbacks, who should help.
Steve Stephens is the highest rated player in the class, coming in at No. 137 in the 247Sports Composite. Stephens, a 6-foot, 185-pound Fresno native, is a smart and aggressive playmaker. Though he isn’t a freak athlete, he has good speed and should benefit from a collegiate strength and conditioning program.
1. Jalen Hall, Wide receiver
Whether it’s Herbert or Shough, or another quarterback throwing the ball, Jalen Hall should make plenty of plays for the Ducks. A 6-foot-4, 192-pound wideout from Long Beach, Hall committed to Oregon just last week and is expected to sign with the Ducks over USC, LSU, Florida State and Nebraska, among a long list of others that offered the four-star playmaker.
Next: Oregon poised to break out like Georgia did in 2017?
Ranked as the No. 22 high school receiver in the nation, and the No. 15 overall player from California, Hall has great size for the position, the athleticism to go up and get passes, and the strength to break tackles and block defensive backs. He doesn’t have elite speed, and isn’t a polished route runner, but Hall has the raw talent to develop into an All-Pac-12 performer.