Asked what the two biggest needs were for Oregon’s football recruiting class of 2010, head coach Chip Kelly didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Speed, speed,” Kelly said to laughter in Wednesday’s press conference.
On the first official day prospective college football players could sign letters of intent to play for the schools of their choice, the Ducks received binding commitments from 20 high school players. Three junior-college players — defensive lineman Isaac Remington, offensive lineman Ryan Clanton and tight end Brandon Williams, all juniors in eligibility — have already enrolled for winter quarter, and Kelly said a few incoming freshmen may join them for the spring.
“I think it really is a speed class,” Kelly said. “There’s a lot of kids that can really, really run in this group. It really addressed our athleticism. We want to be known for our speed.
“They’re all bright-eyed guys. You’re excited to be around them.”
Oregon’s best recruit came from Texas — 5-foot 11-inch, 190-pound running back Lache Seastrunk. The five-star recruit from Temple High School in Temple, Texas, finished his high school career with 4,127 yards rushing and 52 touchdowns. Seastrunk also ran a 10.33 100-meter dash in track.
“He’s really talented,” Kelly said of Seastrunk. “He can flat out fly. He catches the ball really, really well out of the backfield. The three kids we got out of Texas can really run.”
Fellow incoming freshman running back Dontae Williams and athlete Josh Huff, a signing day commit, join Seastrunk in giving Texas the second-best representation in Oregon’s recruiting class. California produced 10 Duck commitments, the most of any state, but with the success of running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas, Oregon is making significant recruiting inroads into the Lone Star State.
“I don’t know if it’s a pipeline, but it’s such a great state for football,” Kelly said. “High school programs are run like small colleges.”
Of the Ducks’ two in-state commitments, Eugene native Curtis White is the most highly regarded, considered by many the second-best prospect to Seastrunk in the class. (Wide receiver Keanon Lowe, a Portland native who attended Jesuit High School, is the other in-state Duck.) White, who attended Sheldon High School, led the Irish to a 14-0 record and a Class 6A state championship despite a shoulder injury.
“Great kid. Probably the best recruiter we have,” Kelly joked. “He’s what you want in a student-athlete.”
The Ducks had an active signing day, luring three players who had not previously committed in Huff, safety Erick Dargan and defensive tackle Ricky Heimuli. Heimuli (pronounced he-MOO-li), a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com, was thought to be headed to UCLA or Utah before the Salt Lake City native pulled the trigger for the Ducks.
“We felt pretty good about Ricky all along,” Kelly said. “He was just really thorough with his decision. We were excited about (his commitment).”
Of the 10 defensive players recruited by the Ducks, Heimuli, Remington and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. defensive end Tony Washington are the only three along the defensive line, a position of need after the graduations of three defensive linemen and the recent losses of three others. Kelly dismissed the notion that Oregon did not receive enough commitments from defensive linemen.
“I want the best football players. We’ll figure it out from there,” he said. “Reports of our defensive tackle demise don’t match up with statistics.”
The Ducks are below the NCAA-mandated scholarship limit of 85 for football, and Kelly has not yet determined to whom the extra scholarships may go. In the meantime, spring football is on the horizon, and recruiting for 2011 is formally underway.
What do the Ducks seek for next year? According to Kelly, “speed, speed and speed.”
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