Today marks one of the most anticipated days in all of college football – Signing Day.
The event is the first day high school football players are allowed to sign Letters of Intent, ending months of speculation about which colleges the nation’s top recruits will attend.
Recruiting Web sites Scout.com and Rivals.com have the Ducks listed as having the 8th and 11th best recruiting classes in the nation, respectively.
The rankings are contingent on each of the athletes signing the Letter of Intent, however. There are cases of potential recruits switching their school of choice in the final minutes leading up to signing the letter, something that always worries Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti.
“There are a lot of factors involved,” Bellotti said. “A lot of people are trying to direct them a certain way.”
Bellotti said that he’ll have his coaches text messaging potential recruits until the moment they sign.
Bellotti will also hold a press conference today, detailing the specifics of the recruits because NCAA rules forbid him and other coaches to talk about potential signees until after they sign.
Among the potential recruits is Portland’s Central Catholic High School’s Myles Wade, a 322-pound defensive tackle, according to Rivals. Wade has also received a scholarship offer from BCS Champion Florida.
Bellotti also said that he will make his decision on the hiring of a new offensive coordinator possibly by today or tomorrow. He has interviewed five candidates, including one current coach on his staff.
Bellotti began his search after former offensive coordinator Gary Crowton left after two years and accepted the same position at Louisiana State University last month.
Bellotti said he’s hoping to hire someone with a strong background in tutoring quarterbacks and a knowledge of the spread-offense.