Mario Nash Jr. Talks Oregon Offer, Latest in Surging Recruitment
Oregon hasn't been known to sign a lot of players out of Mississippi, but it hasn't been for a lack of effort. Just recently they offered and signed Dante Dowdell as a running back in the 2023 class and now they're back after more top talent in the 'Sip.
On Tuesday, A'lique Terry extended an offer to De Kalb (Miss.) Kemper County offensive lineman Mario Nash Jr., who spoke with Ducks Digest about the offer from the Ducks and the latest in his recruitment.
From the sounds of it, the Oregon offer was one he's been waiting for.
"That was my favorite team growing up," Nash said. "It was just one that I really, really liked. And just to get that offer today man, I was very excited. It made my day.
"I talked to the O-line coach and he sounds like a pretty cool coach. And I'm just looking forward to building a relationship with Coach Terry and Coach (Drew) House of course, I talked to him as well. Just ready to build a relationship. Course you know Oregon got the best uniforms in college football."
After finishing the 2023 season with a 12-2 record, the Ducks have solidified themselves as one of the best teams in the sport and that's part of the reason they've drawn the attention of the 6-foot-4, 272-pound offensive lineman.
"Oregon to me, they're like a heavyweight contender," Nash said. "Oregon has been playing very well the last few seasons. And they were like a win away last year from competing. I think that they're building a great program."
Oregon has become an offensive line factory of sorts in recent years, sending players like Penei Sewell and now Jackson Powers-Johnson, winner of the 2023 Rimington Trophy, to the NFL.
"I think that the coaches do a great job of getting guys to the next level as well. I see a lot of offensive linemen starting to go to the NFL from Oregon. So I know that they have great talent and great development there at Oregon."
Nash recently took home offensive line MVP honors at the Under Armour camp in Atlanta and he's grateful that his efforts have resulted in more schools giving him a look, even if it may end up drawing out his recruitment.
"I was trying to kind of come to an end because I only had the offers that I had. But there are a lot of schools that I did want, you know, prefer as far as offers. But now that I've went to Atlanta and camped there and had a pretty good camp, and won the MVP of the Under Armour camp, it kind of opened the door for some of the other schools to start back to recruit me.
"I'm just enjoying the process. But I do want to just try to get the schools that I can and then try to come to an end of my recruitment hopefully nearing the end of the summer."
Like many preps, Nash is excited to get back out on the trail next month and has a handful of schools he plans to see. He also hopes to schedule his first trip to Eugene.
"I do have trips planned for the month of March," he said. "I'll be going to Clemson first, LSU--- going to Missouri and Penn State and I think that's about all for the month of March. Florida State. Just try my best to get to Oregon because that's one that's new, one that I really would like to focus on."
Mario Nash on who he is off the field, as a young man
"I've played basketball and I've played baseball and doing track. Just at home I just like to be with family. I got three sisters and one brother. I like to cut hair. I'm a barber. I cut a lot of my teammates' hair and ultimately want to end up doing that. I play the keyboard and play the drums at my church."
