Torres' Take: The Latest in Oregon Football Recruiting, November 29, 2023
It's a busy time around the Oregon Football program as the Ducks prepare to face the Washington Huskies in the Pac-12 title game on Friday.
Behind the scenes the Oregon staff is still pushing hard for a number of recruits to round out their 2024 recruiting class, which ranks sixth nationally in the eyes of 247Sports.
Let's dive into another edition of Torres' Take and get caught up with all things Oregon on the recruiting trail.
TE Jayden Fortier (ASU commit)
Fortier is a player I've been saying to keep an eye on since he landed his offer from the Ducks on Saturday. The 2024 Tualatin (Ore.) tight end is committed to Arizona State and will take his official visit with the Sun Devils this weekend.
With Arizona State coming off a rough year one under Kenny Dillingham, I think Oregon is a major contender in this recruitment. The staff wants to add some more playmakers on offense in this defense-heavy class, and an offer from the Ducks could be too much for the 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end to pass up.
Perhaps helping Oregon's chances here is that they already hold a trio of in-state commitments from Devin Brooks (Clackamas), Trent Ferguson (West Salem) and A.J. Pugliano (North Medford). My thinking is Oregon at least gets him on campus before pen meets paper.
WR Gatlin Bair (Boise State commit)
Bair is another player that's been getting linked to the Ducks more frequently lately, and that's due in large part to Andy Avalos getting fired and Bair taking an unofficial visit to Oregon that same weekend.
Over this past weekend the Idaho native took a trip to Ann Arbor to see Michigan take on Ohio State in their rivalry game. Michigan and Oregon were both in Bair's top five schools prior to his Broncos pledge and it reportedly came down to those three teams.
I think Oregon still has a good shot here after hosting him, but the Wolverines have some recruiting momentum of their own in Idaho with tight end Colston Loveland (Gooding '22), who was named first-team All-Big Ten offense this year.
WR/TE Roger Saleapaga
One of Oregon's top remaining targets is set to come off the board and make his college commitment on Friday. Saleapaga will choose from a top five of Alabama, Auburn, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah.
He's taken official visits to Oregon, Tennessee and Auburn this month and I really like where Oregon stands in this recruitment. I think he'll be a Duck when it's all said and done on Friday and he'll be another important piece in this class for Dan Lanning.
S Xavier Filsaime (Florida commit)
Filsaime is a name we've been watching for a while now. He's a long-time Florida commit (4/13/23) but the Billy Nappier firing secondary coach Corey Raymond could present an opening for the Ducks.
Florida finished 5-7 in the regular season and recruits value on-field performance and coaching stability. Filsaime has not publicly wavered in his commitment to the Gators, but he did mention a potential Oregon visit earlier this month after visiting USC the week prior.
The Ducks have two safety commits already in Kingston Lopa (CA) and Aaron Flowers (TX), but maybe Filsaime wants to team up with another Lone Star State native at the college level.
OT Jordan Seaton (5-star)
Seaton might be the top offensive target still on Oregon's board. He's a five-star recruit and ranked No. 15 nationally, but I'd also throw Nate Frazier and Jeremiah McClellan in that mix.
Seaton is coming off official visits to Tennesse and Colorado, but he's nearing the finish line in his recruitment with the early signing period looking like his timeframe.
I've really liked where Oregon has stood in this recruitment and I continue to feel that way.
My biggest reason for that is that I expect him to return to Eugene for his official visit in December prior to making his college decision, and we know how much of a battle it can be to get the last visit.
Alabama and Florida are also staying in the mix, but with the play of Oregon's offensive line this season, I think Seaton could end up being the cherry on top for A'lique Terry in his first full cycle back with the Ducks.
