What's Next at Cornerback For Oregon After Landing Dakoda Fields
Oregon is ascending back up the recruiting rankings after landing a commitment from 2024 Gardena (Calif.) Serra cornerback Dakoda Fields on Monday. He flipped his pledge away from the USC Trojans and the Ducks seem to have recaptured some important momentum on the trail.
With Fields in the fold, Oregon has now has two cornerback commits--with the other being 2024 Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy corner Ify Obidegwu.
Both players are long defensive backs, measuring in at 6'2" and 6'1" respectively, making them ideal fits in Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi's defense.
But are the Ducks finished at corner?
They could be, but I don't think they necessarily are.
They could be finished at cornerback because they absolutely blitzed the position in the 2023 recruiting class. Martin signed five corners from the prep ranks.
Three of those were All-Americans in Rodrick Pleasant, Daylen Austin and Martin's son, Cole Martin. Solomon Davis was a late flip from Arizona and Collin Gill is a bit of a project, but comes from a powerhouse in St. John's out in Washington, D.C.
Oregon also brought in two cornerbacks from the transfer portal in Khyree Jackson and Nikko Reed. They're pretty different from a physical standpoint, with Jackson standing at 6'3" compared to Reed's 5'10", but Reed could have a fast track to seeing the field after playing under Martin at Colorado.
I say all of that to say the Ducks have plenty of bodies for the 2024 season assuming Fields and Obidegwu stay committed and sign. But there's one more name worth watching.
2024 San Mateo (Calif.) College of San Mateo cornerback Sione Laulea has the Ducks in his top five along with Oklahoma, Utah, Miami and Penn State. While he doesn't have a decision date locked in, he told Ducks Digest he could be using his October birthday as a timeline for a commitment.
I'm told that this is looking like an Oregon vs. Penn State battle and the Nittany Lions likely hold the slight edge. He has clear interest not only after taking an official visit to see James Franklin earlier this summer, but also quickly getting back on campus for an unofficial visit right after the dead period ended.
I don't think he's an absolute need for the Ducks here in 2024, but I'm starting to think that he may be difficult to turn away if he wants to play his college ball in Eugene. If you're looking at the numbers, Oregon will likely lose Trikweze Bridges and possibly Khyree Jackson after the 2023 season if both can play themselves into the NFL Draft conversation.
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