National Signing Day 2016: Oregon Ducks recruiting class
By Gabe Encinas
The Oregon recruiting class will have another class that values scheme over stars and it’ll work again for the Ducks.
When you look at what Oregon has been able to do with their past recruiting classes of this decade, they have always found the guys who fit their scheme both offensively and defensively. They don’t typically land a class loaded with five-star guys, sprinkling in a couple of four-star guys in a three-star class, doing much more with way less compared to programs of their caliber.
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While this might not be Oregon’s best class in recent memory, the Ducks were able to address some areas of concern, particularly on defense. Scavenging all the talent in the great Northwest, along with some gems in California, the Ducks have the ability to reinforce their roster.
Looking at their class, it starts with defense. In my eyes, their best prospect in AJ Hotchkins, a junior college inside linebacker out of Riverside, California who would likely get plugged into the system immediately. He’s ranked No. 1 in his position among all JUCO stars, checking in at 6-0 240-pounds. Surrounding Hotchkins will be two four-star linebackers in Darrian Franklin and LaMar Winston.
Franklin is a 6-1 210-pound prospect, ranked No. 23 among all outside backers. He’s currently enrolled and on campus, alongside Hotchkins. Then there’s LaMar Winston, the top player in the state of Oregon, ranked as the No. 19 outside linebacker in the nation. All three linebackers will be fast and attacking in an Oregon defense that was filled with disappointment last season.
Oregon will also bring in some offensive firepower but it’s hard to tell which of these incoming recruits will be the showstopper for years to come. Dillon Mitchell is arguably the top offensive weapon they bring in, a top-30 wide receiver who will stretch the field and make open field plays. They also bring in a couple of taller athletes to run into the system with Tristen Wallace and Eric Briscoe.
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Yet another four-star running back comes in, with Vavae Malepeai, ranked No. 8 in the nation among running backs. The zone blocking scheme is huge for Oregon, and they landed two very underrated offensive linemen in Jacob Carpa and Logan Bathke. Look for those two to be in the starting rotation in just a few years.
Who do you think will end up being the best recruit in the Oregon Ducks recruiting class in four years?