Oregon’s football program received its 12th verbal commitment@@http://oregon.rivals.com/@@ to the class of 2012 late last month when linebacker Brett Bafaro announced his pledge. Bafaro, ranked a three-star recruit by Scout.com, had offers from multiple West Coast programs but ultimately chose the Ducks over Washington@@http://oregon.scout.com/a.z?s=128&p=2&c=1122398&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2foregon.scout.com%2f2%2f1122398.html@@.
Sooner rather than later, however, more high school seniors will announce their intention to don the green and yellow next season. While home games traditionally serve as the most fertile recruiting weekends, Oregon has an opportunity to convince some of the nation’s elite players based on its performance during the current two-week road stretch.
Last weekend, when Oregon visited Washington, the Huskies brought in a large group of touted prospects to watch the final game at Husky Stadium. Several players with offers from both Oregon and Washington witnessed another impressive display by the Ducks.
One of the most highly touted visitors was four-star California running back Byron Marshall. Marshall visited Oregon unofficially over the summer and plans to make his official visit to Eugene on Thanksgiving weekend. The Ducks are thought to be one of the leaders for Marshall, who has no timetable to announce his college choice.
Offensive linemen Zach Banner and Joshua Garnett, both Washington residents with Oregon offers, were also in attendance. While both were thought to be leaning toward Oregon earlier in recruitment, it appears both have slightly cooled on the possibility of playing in Eugene.
Defensive back Kevon Seymour, arguably the best cornerback on the West Coast, also visited Washington last weekend. While some recruiting observers have Seymour pegged as going to USC, the Ducks will have a chance to make an impression on the four-star recruit later this month when he makes an official visit to Oregon for, as chance would have it, the USC game.
The fifth and final Duck recruit in Seattle last weekend was Arizona safety Reggie Daniels. Daniels visited Oregon officially for the Washington State game two weekends back, and has the Ducks among his top four schools. As a four-star safety, according t0 Scout.com, Daniels doesn’t have a firm timetable to make a decision.
Oregon will have a chance to impress another group of touted visitors this weekend when they visit Stanford. Several recruits with Oregon offers are expected to be in Palo Alto for the game, including Andrus Peat, Ifeadi Odenigbo, and Blake Martinez, among others.
While Peat and Odenigbo are currently uncommitted, their interest in Oregon appears lukewarm. Martinez, a longtime Stanford commit, said he received an offer from the Ducks during the summer about a month after committing to the Cardinal, but chose to remain with Stanford.
Another superb Oregon performance could potentially sway that trio, or, more likely, some of the dozens of recruits who will be watching the game at home. (Stanford and Oregon will be televised on ABC to the entire nation.)
Oregon receives another commitment, others will attend Stanford game
Daily Emerald
November 7, 2011
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