Travis Waller is a lot different than former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in one regard. For starters, he was one of the most heavily sought-out quarterback recruits in the class of 2015. He was a U.S. Army All-American, participated in the Elite 11 Camp –the nation’s premier quarterback competition for high school quarterbacks across the nation – and was offered a scholarship by a laundry list full of suitors. 
Oregon received a verbal commitment from the four-star recruit on July 1, 2014 and the long term plan is for Waller to be featured behind center splitting defenders like he continually did at Servite high school in Santa Ana, California. Mariota on the other hand, came to Oregon with only two other scholarship offers in his mailbag.
Yet, the once three-star recruit eventually became the signature piece of Oregon’s football program. The owner of eight school records and a Heisman Trophy, it is evident how misevaluated he was in 2011 as a prospect.
And it’s not just him. Oregon center Hroniss Grasu, who was listed as the 12th best center in the nation for his recruiting class, is now entering the NFL Draft as the second-ranked player at the position.
So on Wednesday as signing day commences and pundits analyze the attributes each recruit will bring to the table for the next four years at their respective programs, let’s take a look back at the players leaving Oregon. How did their stock look on signing day when they chose the Ducks?

Marcus Mariota: 
– A three-star recruit from Honolulu, Hawaii, Mariota received offers from Oregon, Washington and Memphis.
– He was listed as the No. 12 dual-threat quarterback in the 2011 prospect rankings by Rivals.com. He appeared behind Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, former UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley and former Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Career at Oregon – Mariota leaves Oregon as the most decorated quarterback in its program’s history. He became the first player from the school to win the Heisman Trophy, guided the team to just its second national championship appearance and is now the owner of eight school records.

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu: 
– Ekpre-Olomu, a four-star recruit from Chino Hills, California, was rated as the 17th best cornerback in the 2011 recruiting class.
– His quickness was cause for speculation, as one Rivals.com review wrote, “does he have the change of direction and quickness to play corner at the next level?” 
Career at Oregon – Ekpre Olomu finished his career at Oregon as a consensus All-American. In addition he was 1st team Pac-12 for three consecutive years and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award in 2014, an honor given to the nation’s best defensive back. However Ekpre-Olomu’s career finished a couple games too early, as he was ruled out for both the Rose Bowl and National Championship after tearing his ACL.

Arik Armstead
– A blue chip recruit, Armstead was reason for Oregon’s coaching staff to gear a large sum of its recruiting travel budget to Elk Grove, California. Armstead was a U.S. Army All-American and was rated as the sixth-best defensive lineman in the 2012 recruiting class.
– Armstead signed on to Oregon with the plan to play basketball as well.
Career at Oregon – Armstead became a mainstay on the Ducks’ defensive line during his tenure. At 6-foot-8, 290-pounds, the defensive lineman became an imposing force during the 2014 season. In his final year, he recorded 46 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss.
 

Keanon Lowe: 
– A four-star recruit, Lowe was rated as the fourth-best prospect in the state of Oregon. He was voted as The Oregonian Class 6A defensive player of the year.
– A native of Oregon, Lowe grew up a lifelong Ducks fan. However, up until January of the year he was set to sign, Lowe was committed to Washington. Oregon initially offered him a scholarship to play defensive back, which was not what Lowe envisioned for himself at the college ranks.
But at the US Army All American Bowl, Lowe contacted then head coach Chip Kelly and Kelly told him a wide receiver scholarship was available. Lowe signed with Oregon.
Career at Oregon – Lowe gradually found his place at Oregon during his five years with the program. His senior year, he embraced the role as the leader of the wide receiver group and recorded 28 receptions for 414 yards and five touchdowns. But it was Lowe’s blocking that constantly received high praise from his teammates. In his final game in a Ducks uniform, Lowe caught three passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.

Hroniss Grasu: 
– A three-star recruit, Grasu was rated as the 12th best prospect at the center position in the 2010 Rivals prospect rankings.
– Grasu was a two-way starter at Crespi high school and was voted all-state in his sophomore year.
Career at Oregon – Grasu was a two-time All-American and a three-time 1st team Pac-12 selection. The 6-foot-3, 294-pound center was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation’s best center, twice and became the anchor for the Oregon offensive line during his career.

Erick Dargan:
– Dargan, a Pittsburgh, California native, was a four-star recruit and was the 41st ranked recruit in California despite missing half of his senior season with a knee injury.
– As a junior, he rushed for 769 yards on 99 carries with 11 touchdowns and also had 72 tackles with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one sack.
Career at Oregon – For the majority of his time at Oregon, Dargan was used as a reserve in the secondary. However in 2014 he became a valuable threat for the Oregon defense in the secondary. The safety led the team in interceptions with seven and ended the year with 95 tackles.

Troy Hill:  
– A three-star recruit from Ventura, California, Hill was listed as the 32nd ranked cornerback in the 2010 recruiting class.
– On February 23, 2010, it was reported that Hill was ineligible for his entire senior season, thus vacating every win his high school had that year. Due to the case, Hill wasn’t able to join the Ducks until Sept. 27 of the year he signed. He finally joined after the NCAA approved an eligibility request waiver. 
Career at Oregon – Hill fit into the cornerback role opposite of Ekpre-Olomu for the 2014 season. His breakout game was likely in the 2015 Rose Bowl, in which he and the rest of the Oregon secondary shut down Jameis Winston and Florida State. He also had a career-game against Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl, after he recorded tackles.

Derrick Malone:
– A three-star recruit, Malone was listed as the 41st ranked safety in the 2010 recruiting class. He was just 195 pounds when he came to Oregon.
Career at Oregon – Malone became a starter in 2013 and earned Pac-12 honorable mention all-conference honors. He led the Ducks in tackles in 2013 with 105 and was a three-time academic all-conference honorable mention recipient. He was second on the team in tackles in 2014 with 85.

Tony Washington: 
– A three-star recruit from Rancho Cucamonga, California was rated 42nd among defensive ends in the 2010 recruiting class, according to Rivals.
– Washington came to Oregon listed at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds.
Career at Oregon – During his final two years garnering a Ducks uniform, Washington became a constant force at the outside linebacker position. He finished 2014 with 65 tackles. His signifying play as a Duck may’ve come in the Rose Bowl, after he recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown, all but sealing Oregon’s trip to the National Championship.
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise