James Madison II Recaps Oregon Visit
Oregon is surging on the recruiting trail after flipping 4-star defensive lineman Tionne Gray from Missouri on Thursday.
While all these commitments have been rolling in the Ducks have been hosting visitors during spring practice.
2024 Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver James Madison II was on campus this week and placed the Ducks in his top five schools on Friday.
The 6-foot-3, 192-pound wide receiver shared some highlights from his second trip to Eugene.
"I've been up there before, but just going back up there, seeing the coaching staff again, being able to sit down and talk to Coach Lanning, Coach Adams and everything like that," Madison said. "Last time I didn't see practice, so getting a better glimpse of how they coach, how they operate and how they run their team. It was very insightful."
What kind of impression did the Ducks leave on their cross-country visitor?
"They made a big impression," he said. "I feel like the most impression was that it's a real thing for me being able to go out there and that they really would want me to get out there."
What made it so real during his trip was the love he felt from the staff and how they made him feel like family.
"I would say they really made me feel like family. It was very inclusive. They tried to involve me in everything that the team was doing. It felt like I was already a part of the team really. It was really just how they went about greeting me and talking to me and taking me through their offense."
The Ducks don't tend to get many recruits from the Sunshine State, but a relationship with one Oregon coach makes them a real contender.
"I've known Coach Lanning since I was 13. I've got a pretty good relationship with him," Madison said. "He was recruiting me when he was at Georgia when I was in the seventh and eighth grade, so me and him we always have had a good relationship. He's from Kansas City and I'm from Kansas City so we relate on plenty of things."
Wide receivers Coach Junior Adams has become one of Oregon's top recruiters after signing All-Americans Jurrion Dickey and Ashton Cozart last cycle and Madison had praise for him as well.
"Coach Adams is a real cool dude. We actually got to sit down and break down my film and stuff when I was up there this time and it was very insightful," he said. "You could tell that he knows what he's talking about when it comes to football and the receiver position so that was very nice to have."
The Ducks may not have distance on their side here but one thing has set them apart from other schools in his top group.
"I would definitely say relationship. I feel like I already have a relationship with the head coach first of all. So that really sets them apart from a lot of schools just because of how close I am with Coach Lanning and how comfortable I am with him already. I know that he'll make sure that I'm taken care of if I was under his supervision."
Following his latest trip to Eugene the four-star wide receiver has some other trips he's ready to focus on.
"The rest are my officials. I'm going to FSU, Louisville, Oregon, Missouri and Michigan."
Madison plans to announce his commitment on July 4 and went in-depth on what he's prioritizing in his decision.
"What's most important to me is just a good fit. It all has to make sense," he said. "I would say the offense, coaching staff, the city that that school's located in. And every school in my top five has checked those boxes so really what it's gonna come down to is just where I feel the most comfortable and where I feel like I can get to the next level at in the most efficient way and become a better player and person wherever that may be."
Junior Film
Read More
CLASS IMPACT: What Tionne Gray's commitment means for Oregon Football