Is Oregon Football Finished Recruiting in the 2023 Class?
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When Dan Lanning was hired in December of 2021, he had little time to try and work on the recruiting trail. Despite numerous de-commitments amid a coaching transition, he still managed to sign the top recruiting class in the Pac-12 with a little help from a phone call to Jahlil Florence as he was walking off the field after winning a national championship with Georgia.
Fast forward to today and he's done it again. After his first full recruiting cycle as head coach in Eugene, the Ducks' 2023 haul ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12 for the fifth straight year, according to the 247Sports rankings.
They may have missed out on top athlete Nyckoles Harbor earlier this week, who opted to stay closer to home by committing to South Carolina, but they signed All-American cornerback Rodrick Pleasant, a recruiting win that sent shockwaves up and down the West Coast and throughout Southern California.
READ MORE: Top 2024 Oregon commit Jordan Anderson announces transfer
Now the question becomes, are the Ducks finished with the 2023 class? It's pretty likely that they are, but there's one name still on the board that has all of the staff's attention.
Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle High School tight end Duce Robinson is now the top uncommitted and unsigned recruit in the country. Ranked No. 1 at his position and No. 17 overall, he has his pick of any school.
Duce Robinson is one of the most versatile athletes in the 2023 recruiting class.
© Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
He has 28 reported offers but it's believed that he's strongly considering Georgia, Texas, USC, Alabama and Oregon. Robinson has taken official visits to each of those schools, with the exception of Oregon.
Which is why it's so interesting that he didn't sign during the early signing period or on National Signing Day. The towering tight end choosing to extend his recruitment past traditional deadlines could be just what the doctor ordered for the Ducks.
The main reason being that he has one official visit remaining, and Dan Lanning is in a prime position to get that final trip.
"I really enjoy Coach (Dan) Lanning and coach (Drew) Mehringer," Robinson told SI All-American during the Under Armour All-American Bowl in Orlando. "I really like what they're doing with that program, but we'll see how everything shakes out in terms of being able to get up there for a visit."
What makes Robinson's recruitment even more fascinating is that he's 6'6", weighs 225 pounds, and may be even more talented on the baseball diamond.
READ MORE: Oregon a recruiting heavyweight in Southern California
He's one of the best outfielders in the country and hopes to play both sports professionally.
Robinson hinted that he's likely working from those five schools as he factors baseball into his decision.
"I want to play both sports professionally. I think we've narrowed it down to schools that--these coaches have proven that they can do it, that they've done it before with kids. We're trying to find the school where I can get developed in both sports, to be a major athlete in both sports."
Oregon has a definite need at tight end following the transfers of Moliki Matavao (UCLA) and Cam McCormick (Miami). The Ducks signed Kenyon Sadiq in 2023, a top athlete that joins veterans Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert as the only scholarship tight ends on the roster.
The coaching staff was also working to flip Inglewood (Calif.) tight end/athlete Jamari Johnson from Louisville late, but he ended up sticking with his pledge to the Cardinals and opting to head east, closer to his home state of New York.
Robinson took his official visit to Georgia in the fall, a trip that he said "boosted" the Bulldogs. He also added that he's closest with USC's 2023 class out of any school recruiting him, which could give the Trojans an edge.
Georgia holds all seven 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions, four of which came in January, but it may be too early to count out the Ducks with a visit to Eugene still seemingly on the table.
READ MORE: What Rodrick Pleasant's commitment means for the Oregon Ducks
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