Class Impact: 2023 Wide Receiver Ashton Cozart Flips from Oklahoma to Oregon Ducks
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The Ducks made headlines again on Sunday evening with the addition of four-star wide receiver Ashton Cozart, who flipped his commitment from Oklahoma.
Let's peel back the layers here to take an in-depth look at what this commitment means for Oregon.
Evaluation from Bryan Driskell of SI All-American
Cozart is a long and lean pass catcher with impressive ball skills. His length gives him a very wide catch radius, and his fast hands allow him to quickly snatch the ball out of the air. Cozart tracks the deep ball extremely well and he shows top-notch body control on contested throws. Cozart has excellent focus on the ball and as he gets stronger he’ll be even more dangerous in one-on-one situations.
Oregon WR Commit Ashton Cozart
Graphic: Dylan Reubenking; Photo: Ashton Cozart (@ashtoncozart on IG)
Cozart can take some time to get off the line, but when his technique is sound and he limits wasted movement at the snap he can quickly get on top of defenders. He is a smooth athlete with impressive long speed. His foot quickness and balance allow him to make quick moves, and with a bit more work he should develop into a strong route runner.
At this point Cozart is more of a route runner/vertical threat, and his combination of length, speed and route running potential are great fits for the outside receiver slots. His high football IQ and feel for getting open combine with his balance and ball skills to project as an inside player as well. That versatility only adds to his value as a prospect.
Recruiting impact on the trail
Like any commitment, Cozart's pledge has an impact that will manifest itself off the football field.
For starters the Ducks pick up another player out of the Lone Star State, which will only further assist their pitch with other prospects that are sure to pop up down the line like defensive back Tyler Turner, who just placed Oregon in his top two with Oklahoma.
WR Ashton Cozart
While he's finishing his high school career in Texas, Cozart originally hails from the Pacific Northwest, playing with Ford Sports Performance on the 7 on 7 circuit this spring. The Ducks hosted a slew of FSP recruits such as cornerback Caleb Presley, running back Jason Brown Jr. and offensive lineman Isendre Ahfua leading up to the their spring game. Adding Cozart should likely further build that relationship with the top talent factory in the Pacific Northwest.
Cozart now gives the Ducks two really talented wide receivers in the 2023 class as he joins Jurrion Dickey. Dickey projects as more of a playmaker than Cozart, but as the above eval indicates, Cozart is a nice player to pair with Dickey at wideout.
Lastly, the addition of Cozart continues to add to the appeal of a strong offensive haul as the Ducks look for their quarterback who will likely become the face of the class, headlined by options like Jaden Rashada, Dante Moore and Avery Johnson.
*WATCH ASHTON COZART HIGHLIGHTS HERE*
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