For most college football coaches, today is bigger
than Halloween.
Today is Signing Day, the first day that recruits can submit national letters of intent.
But the big question remains: Will it be a trick or a treat for the Ducks this year?
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti may have landed the best treat Tuesday, when one of the top prospects in the country reportedly made a verbal commitment with the Ducks.
Haloti Ngata — a 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle from Salt Lake City who is ranked the No. 2 prep prospect in the country by TheInsiders.com — had committed to Brigham Young, but apparently changed his mind and is headed for Eugene.
Haloti is “a true dominating defensive tackle that can wreak havoc from the first second he steps on campus,” wrote Chris Fetters of TheInsiders.com. “If Bellotti were to secure Ngata for this class, it would be a coup of unheard proportions.”
Bellotti’s Ducks are coming off the best season in Oregon football history, highlighted by a 38-16 victory over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1. The Ducks finished the season ranked No. 2 in the country, their best-ever ranking.
In the biggest area of concern, Oregon lost both of its starting defensive backs — seniors Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith — and starting tailback Maurice Morris. According to TheInsiders.com, Oregon has made offers to six defensive backs and six running backs this year.
One of the corners who already made a verbal commitment to Oregon is Marques Binns, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound Los Angeles-native who is a good friend of Oregon defensive back Steven Moore.
Running back Hershel Dennis, who led powerhouse Poly Tech High School to three straight state titles in Long Beach, Calif., is also expected to make his decision today. Dennis verbally committed to USC, but several reports have him mulling over Oregon, Washington and UCLA.
Dennis was named The Los Angeles Times’ Southern California player of the year after rushing for 1,740 yards and 24 touchdowns last season.
“Hershel is the kind of back that gets stronger every quarter,” Poly Tech head coach Raul Lara told the Times. “He creates and makes people miss, so when he’s supposed to get a loss, he gets a gain because of the gifts he has.”
Last season, the Ducks signed 23 recruits, including five junior college transfers.
Bellotti has scheduled a press conference this afternoon to announce this year’s signings.