Oregon Ducks Preparing for Massive Recruiting Weekend vs. USC Trojans
The No. 6 Oregon Ducks are set to face the USC Trojans this weekend and while the work on the field is always priority No. 1, the effort from the Oregon staff on the recruiting trail continues to be incredibly important.
We're about a month and a half away from the early signing period in December for the 2024 class, and on Monday night head coach Dan Lanning was asked about how big of an opportunity this weekend is for the Ducks on the recruiting trail.
"It’s gonna be huge," Lanning said of the recruiting weekend. "It’s huge for the atmosphere that our fans create. It’s huge for how our team performs. Recruiting in these scenarios, you don’t get to spend as much time with the recruits as you want, because you’re spending a lot of time preparing your team. But that will be a big, big piece of this weekend."
The names of visitors are starting to come out. 2024 Orem (Ut.) wide receiver/tight end Roger Saleapaga as well as both of Oregons quarterback commits in Luke Moga (Phoenix, AZ) and Michael Van Buren (Baltimore, MD) are just a few of the big names expected in Eugene.
I asked Lanning about what the USC rivalry means to the Oregon program and he was quick to highlight that it takes on extra importance given how hard the Ducks recruit state of California.
"I think certainly this one, especially the amount of time we spend recruiting in California, the battles that exist just in every sport between our universities this is one that obviously means a lot to a lot of people," Lanning said. "But I can promise you nobody wants to win this game more than myself and our players."
Just in the 2024 class Oregon has landed commitments from eight California prospects. The Ducks and Trojans have become quite the rivals on the recruiting trail, with Lanning and company flipping Gardena (Calif.) Serra cornerback Dakoda Fields away from the Trojans earlier this year.
The list of commits from the Golden State goes on to include players like five-star Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei defensive lineman Aydin Breland as well as Long Beach (Calif.) Poly linebacker Dylan Williams, who was at one point committed to the Trojans.
Some fans may not be happy with the 7:30 pm PT kickoff time that was announced for Oregon vs. USC, but a late kick will allow the staff to host even more elite talent, particularly from the South or the East Coast.
I've heard that this weekend is going to be the biggest recruiting weekend of the year, and so far the buzz and early visitor list certainly seems to back that up.
