The recruiting process can be long, tedious and nerve-wracking, to say the least.
There’s the constant phone calls, plane trips and ever so important waiting games that college football coaches must endure before landing prized recruits.
That’s not even to mention the numerous Web sites dedicated solely to the fates of innocent teenagers.
So it was understandable to hear Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti say that he felt a “tremendous sense of relief” in announcing the signing of 23 football players Wednesday, the first day that high school and junior college recruits could sign letters of intent to colleges.
“I am as pleased as I have been with a recruiting class in terms of our needs,” Bellotti said at a press conference at the Casanova Center. “I really feel that our class will stand up with any in the Pac-10. These young men wanted to be here.”
Of the 23 players signed, 12 are defensive players, five play offense and five have the ability to play on both sides of the ball. There is also one punter in Jose Arroyo, who transferred from Pasadena City College.
This 2001 class, which includes five junior college players, was ranked 30th in the nation by the Rivals.com football recruiting rankings.
“It is one that has a great emphasis on defense,” Bellotti said. “I really feel like we targeted the defensive line and did a great job of finding men in that area that can come in and help us immediately and in the years to come.”
The main catch on defense was junior college transfer Junior Siavii, who attended Butte College last season. Siavii, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound defensive tackle is expected to step right in and help fill some of the holes left by departed seniors.
“Junior’s not the right name, he is a big young man,” Bellotti said. “He looks awesome on film, and is a great player that will really provide a good push up the middle.”
Bellotti referenced the importance of the linebacker position after Michael Callier’s career is “potentially” over after his appeal for an extra year of eligibility was denied by the NCAA earlier this week.
“Justin Andrews (6-2, 206) and Ramone Reed (6-2, 190) are two really good linebackers that can provide athleticism and speed, and can play inside or outside,” Bellotti said. “I think they will make up for, potentially, the loss of Michael.”
On the offensive side of the ball, Oregon officially announced the signing of quarterback Kellen Clemens of Burns, who made his decision to be a Duck back on June 25. The 6-2, 193-pounder was ranked as the third-best high school quarterback in the nation by PrepStar.
“Kellen’s an exceptional young man with great leadership and the ability to lift the play of people around him,” Bellotti said. “He can throw any type of ball and is a perfect fit. He continues the great tradition of quarterbacks at Oregon.”
Oregon had to recruit with a shortened staff after a few assistant coaches left for higher profile jobs at other schools.
“Our six coaches did a fantastic job at covering the country and keeping the ship afloat, and finding and turning several kids that are key people for us,” Bellotti said.
Bellotti said that he had reached an agreement with a tight ends/special teams coach, but couldn’t announce who it was yet as this coach was still under contract.
There was speculation that Bellotti’s interview for the Ohio State vacancy in January may hurt recruiting, but Bellotti said that it turned out to be positive.
“I think ultimately it was a tremendous benefit,” he said. “The recognition that came to our program, and the fact that other institutions in the nation were interested in hiring me and many of my staff, was a huge factor in our recruiting.”
The exhausting process still is not complete, as players have until April 1 to sign letters of intent. Although most recruits signed Wednesday with their respective teams, Bellotti said that he’s still waiting on “two or three people.”
Oregon recruited heavily in California, where 15 of the new recruits hail from. Clemens is the only Oregon recruit, while the Ducks brought in two from Washington. Overall, Bellotti is “proud” of the group he’s assembled and looks forward to seeing how they will mix with the returning corps.
“The combination of the successful [10-2] season and the tremendously successful recruiting season bodes very well for the future of Oregon,” Bellotti said.