Oregon football is looking to put a bow on the Pac-12’s top recruiting class as they push for a big finish that secures their spot in the national top 10.
After a nine-win debut season in his first year as the Oregon head coach, Mario Cristobal has raised the bar on the recruiting trail in Eugene. Based on early returns, it won’t be long before the Ducks have a significant talent advantage over the majority of the Pac-12.
With a lot of talent returning, including rising senior and coveted NFL prospect, Justin Herbert, returning, Oregon is likely to be the Pac-12 favorite in 2019. They’ll hope to push for a playoff berth, and in the very least fall to the Rose Bowl with a conference title in tow.
Along with the returning talent, the Ducks have several prospects who will likely be ready to contribute as freshmen in Eugene. Oregon currently sits at No. 8 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.
The crown jewel of their 2019 class is defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, a five-star prospect and the nation’s No. 2 overall player in the composite rankings. Thibodeaux’s decision to sign with the Ducks during the early signing period was a major coup for Cristobal and his staff. With Thibodeaux on campus already, he figures to make an immediate impact next season.
Joining Thibodeaux are a host of other blue-chip prospects; Oregon signed four other players ranked inside the composite Top-100. They also signed a pair of highly regarded junior college prospects – Narvarro College offensive tackle Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Moorpark College linebacker Dru Mathis, who are likely to push for playing time right away.
With 22 players signed and three others committed, the Ducks have locked up the PAC-12’s top recruiting class for 2019. Any additional talent Cristobal is able to add on Wednesday will be just icing on the cake as they potentially push toward the top five in the class rankings.
Here’s Oregon’s top five remaining targets ahead of National Signing Day.