There’s a good reason football recruiting is sometimes called a soap opera for sports fans.
It’s just as addictive as your favorite mid-day ABC show, prompts just as many mood swings and is just as emotional and just as dramatic.
As many of you reading this are well aware, National Signing Day was Wednesday, effectively putting the 2011 recruiting cycle in the past.
But oh, what an up and down, dramatic season it was.
The 2011 recruiting season really started to kick into gear early last February, a few days after signing day for the 2010 class. At that time, Oregon had only one commit for 2011, linebacker Tyson Coleman.
A few months later, in early April, the Ducks picked up their second commitment of 2011, the relatively unheralded defensive end Sam Kamp.
Then, a few more months passed, and Oregon had only two verbal commitments into the month of June. And for some Duck fans, that was unacceptable.
“Oh, the angst! Only seven more months until signing day, and Oregon only has two commits. Why does nobody love us? Does Uncle Phil need to trim his goatee? Is Autzen too loud? Whatever will we do?”
But then, in mid-June, Oregon started reeling in the recruits. First it was four-star Florida quarterback Jerrard Randall, who didn’t end up signing with the Ducks because of academic qualifying issues. Then four-star Arizona offensive lineman Andre Yruretagoyena. July saw the Ducks pick up three more commitments from offensive lineman James Euscher, four-star lineman Tyler Johnstone and three-star quarterback Marcus Mariota.
As the Thanksgiving holiday passed and signing day came ever closer, it became obvious to even the most pessimistic Duck fan that Oregon would finish with a top-notch recruiting class. The Ducks picked up commitments from a host of top recruits, including four-star Texas linebacker Anthony Wallace, four-star California defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, and four-star junior college transfer Rahsaan Vaughn.
Things really heated up in January of the new year. That’s when top-100 players like California receiver Devon Blackmon, Iowa athlete Christian French, and five-star Oregon athlete Colt Lyerla took interest.
Duck enthusiasts were then singing a different tune.
“Will this be the best class Oregon has ever signed? How does Oregon sign so many good players with so few elite in-state options? How long will Oregon’s stranglehold of the Pac-10 last? Is Chip Kelly a man, a god or both? Could life get any better?”
There were lingering concerns, of course. While junior college defensive tackle Jared Ebert did commit to Oregon, some Duck fans were still perplexed about the absence of multiple defensive tackles in the class.
As the recruiting cycle neared its end, several defensive tackle prospects emerged as viable options for the Ducks: California four-star Christian Heyward, Pennsylvania four-star Delvon Simmons and South Carolina defensive tackle Roderick Byers, who committed to the Ducks in late January.
Then, in the week leading up signing day, the “soap opera” effect reached a crescendo. Rumors increased in quantity, and scope, by the day.
There were plenty of stressful rumors — defensive line commit Lake Koa-Ka’ai had recently been accepted by Stanford and was apparently considering a switch. Byers indicated earlier in the recruiting process that he would be tempted to defect from Oregon if his hometown Clemson Tigers tendered an offer, and after one of Clemson’s potential recruits decided to go elsewhere, it seemed likely that Clemson would extend an offer to Byers. Among some Duck fans, there was concern that Blackmon, a Southern California native, would change his mind at the last minute and go to USC or UCLA.
Then, while some Duck fans started panicking, relief came in the form of new, exciting possibilities. Former Michigan commit Jake Fisher seemed likely to switch to Oregon. And the big one — elite five-star USC commit DeAnthony Thomas was thought to be considering the Ducks.
When signing day arrived, all of the drama sorted itself out. Byers decided to sign with Clemson. Fisher signed with the Ducks. And finally, Thomas signed with Oregon as well — but not without a few twists (his announcement press conference was delayed about 45 minutes) and turns (rumor had it that USC was trying desperately to change his mind at the last minute) along the way.
And now, it’s finally over. Oregon’s 2011 class is signed, sealed and delivered, months of drama, ups and downs in the past. There’s time to take a deep breath and reflect on the past 12 months of excitement.
Recruiting enthusiasts will now take a few weeks, maybe even a month off from monitoring their computers 24/7 for the latest news on their favorite high school football players. But soon, when the first recruit commits to Oregon for the class of 2012, it all begins again.
So get ready, Duck fans, for the start of a fresh recruiting cycle to captivate your minds and hearts. Another year of high drama awaits.
[email protected]
Drukarev: Recruiting whirlwind leaves Ducks exhausted, satisfied
Daily Emerald
February 3, 2011
0
More to Discover