Oregon's Slew of Spring Game Commitments & What They Offer
If following through on promises was a concern for new Oregon head football coach Willie Taggart, then those doubts were surely eased this weekend as Oregon appreciated an unprecedented number of commitments from highly touted recruits across the country after a successful spring game. Taggart took part in his first spring game as the Ducks head coach last Saturday, which saw an impressive turnout of some 36 thousand fans, a number that rose from about 8 thousand a year ago under the previous regime.
Among those that filled Autzen Stadium were 52 recruits visiting the school and football program. The seven commitments that followed the game have brought the Ducks’ recruiting class for the 2018 season from ranked in the mid 70s, to as high as ninth according to some recruiting databases. What makes this influx of recruits so exciting is that these kids can flat out play, and have a chance to have an immediate impact on a team trying to bring Oregon football back. Here is what each of these recruits can bring to the Oregon program upon arrival.
Steve Stephens (4*, Fresno, CA.)
Stephens, a four-star athlete, is the highest ranked recruit that the Ducks received a commitment from so far. Stephens had offers from the likes of national powerhouses such as Oklahoma, Nebraska, LSU, Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, and more. He is listed at safety and wide receiver, but he projects to play more on the defensive side in Jim Leavitt’s scheme. What Oregon is getting with Stephens is a true football player. Stephens doesn’t have blazing speed, but his ability to make defenders miss consistently with his shiftiness makes him incredibly dangerous in the open field. Stephens’ ability as a ball hawk in the secondary is due to his incredible football IQ as he anticipates plays before they happen. Stephens has the highest ceiling of the committed recruits so far, but will have some work to do before he’s ready to put on the green and yellow in a real game.
Adrian Jackson (4*, Denver, CO.)
Adrian Jackson, rated a four-star athlete, is listed as a strong safety and wide receiver, but expect to see him mostly with the defense as either a safety or a linebacker. Jackson also had offers from elite programs such as Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, and most importantly, Washington. Mostly playing close up to the line of scrimmage, Jackson shows great lateral speed when chasing down ball carriers. Complementing his great speed is his incredible vision. Jackson anticipates plays incredibly well, showing his elite backfield vision. When getting to the backfield, Jackson makes it very clear he likes to hit. The kid can absolutely lay the boom. Jackson is also impressive in coverage too, possessing the ability to blanket a receiver while still keeping an eye on the quarterback. Jackson will fit in well with Jim Leavitt’s defense.
Isaiah Bolden (4*, Jacksonville, FL.)
Bolden, a four-star athlete out of Jacksonville Florida, flipped his commitment from Florida State. The 6’2” cornerback held offers from schools all over the south, including schools such as Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Clemson, and many more southern powerhouses. What Bolden brings to the table seems to be what Taggart has been preaching: juice. As a cornerback, he is all over the field. He shows elite speed in coverage and eyebrow-raising ball skills. Bolden, like Jackson, isn’t afraid to get into the backfield and give a lick to the first person he sees. Along with that, he can return kicks with the ability to make guys miss. The Ducks’ secondary has a bright future with guys like Bolden, especially with existing guys with bright futures like Thomas Graham and Deommodore Lenoir.
Dawson Jaramillo (4*, Lake Oswego, OR.)
Taggart was able to snag Jaramillo, a four-star athlete, out of Oregon’s backyard from the Portland area school Lake Oswego. Jaramillo, a four star rated offensive tackle, is exactly what you like to see in a lineman at 6’5” 295 lbs. Jaramillo seems as the most secure of all commitments so far, as he tweeted out that he has “grown up a Duck fan and always dreamt of the opportunity to play [at Oregon]. Jaramillo jumps off the tape by absolutely bullying his opposing defensive lineman. His size gives him the ability to be an anchor for the offensive line when he gets to Oregon. What’s most impressive about Jaramillo is his dominant blocking on strong side runs. He opens holes big enough for a back his size to fit through, and does so by embarrassing the defense. To sum this kid up in one word, Jaramillo is a dog.
Jevon Holland (4*, Oakland, CA.)
Holland, a four-star athlete, is one of those kids that is simply faster than everyone else on the field. Listed as a safety, Holland’s speed gives him the ability to cap off the top of the field and not let anything get past him. The most impressive part of Holland’s game is his ability to return kicks. With the ball in his hands, Holland can fly, and make guys miss while he’s doing it. You know that tape where the kid is about to get the ball and you’re like “there’s no way he’s getting out of that” but then he does? That’s Holland. This kid is going to be an elite kick returner for the Ducks one day.
Jamal Elliot (4*, Durham, NC.)
Taggart was able to steal another one recruit out of SEC country with Elliot, a four-star athlete, dipping into the waters of North Carolina to snag Elliot from schools such as LSU, Louisville, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and plenty of others. Listed at running back, Elliot is a little undersized at 5’10”, but LaMichael James was too, right? The speedy back possesses that rare patience before the line of scrimmage, with the explosiveness you love to see when finding the hole. Elliot has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field, while plowing through defenders when needed as well. If a defense lets Elliot get to the second level, you might as well say goodbye because there is no catching him. Elliot has the kind of speed that makes safeties in pursuit look like linemen chasing a quarterback. Elliot will be coming into Oregon at about the same time Royce Freeman, Tony Brooks-James, and Kani Benoit will be leaving, so he could have an early impact.
Spencer Webb (3*, Fresno, CA.)
Webb, a three-star athlete, is a big body listed at tight end. At 6’6” and 235 lbs., Webb is able to assert his size in the middle of the field, as well as steal balls from defenders on the deep ball. Webb is essentially a receiver is a tight end’s body. He is fast enough to burn DBs down the field, but big enough to impact block when needed. A majority of Webb’s production will most likely come from red-zone situations in which you need a big body to go up and make a sure catch.
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