French is a Duck!

[briarduck]

Awesome news I would have put him on my wish list but I thought distance was to much of a factor!

Now how are his hands because his measurements are incredible!

Awesome pickup, welcome Mr French!

[dthomas=ddixon]

Well this is a nice surprise.

Same thing I thought. Wasn't expecting him to be a Duck at all. Great pick-up though. Get some weight on him & he will be a beast.

[karlhungis]

Awesome news I would have put him on my wish list but I thought distance was to much of a factor!

Now how are his hands because his measurements are incredible!

Awesome pickup, welcome Mr French!

His hands need work.

[UOducksTK1]

Wow even last year, a recruit like this would NOT have committed to Oregon. He reminds me a lot of Boyd from Kentucky, Streeter/Harris from Florida, that one guy from Georgia, etc. Basically any recruits east of about Texas who had close family ties to their home state, usually ended up playing for their home state, despite an Oregon offer. Things are changing!!

BTW this is a really good commitment. Rivals has him as the #96 recruit in the country, and those are some very solid offers. Awesome pickup, gotta admit though I'm a little surprised he picked the Ducks.

[UOducksTK1]

On a side note, it sounds like he has some serious speed for his size.. I selfishly want him at WR to do some edge blocking and use that height/speed down field. Plus I don't like the way we've been utilizing TEs since basically the spread has been implemented.

[greenyellow]

Doesn't look as if he needs to change school colors as his high school's are the same as Oregon's.

[thegreenstain]

Plus I don't like the way we've been utilizing TEs since basically the spread has been implemented.

Yes, there is always room for improvement. Nearly every fan base in the country complains about using their tight ends more. However, let's keep in mind that for two years in a row, with two different tight ends (one of which certainly isn't the most physically gifted tight ends in the conference), Oregon has had a first team All-Pac-10 tight end. The tight ends at Oregon are not doing too poorly. Also, keep in mind that Ed Dickson left Oregon as the all-time leader in receptions for a tight end while playing in Chip's offense.

[goducks]

Great news to wake up to this morning! And I must say that I approve of his name!

[UOducksTK1]

Plus I don't like the way we've been utilizing TEs since basically the spread has been implemented.

Yes, there is always room for improvement. Nearly every fan base in the country complains about using their tight ends more. However, let's keep in mind that for two years in a row, with two different tight ends (one of which certainly isn't the most physically gifted tight ends in the conference), Oregon has had a first team All-Pac-10 tight end. The tight ends at Oregon are not doing too poorly. Also, keep in mind that Ed Dickson left Oregon as the all-time leader in receptions for a tight end while playing in Chip's offense.

That's a good point. Although even Dickson wasn't used as much as he should have in his senior season. We've had some strong TEs, Peele, Wrighster, Day, Rosario, Dickson, and I don't know, but it feels like we are going away from utilizing our TEs. Paulson was used a lot in the first 3-4 games of the season, but then we never really came back to him later in the season. In games vs Cal, Arizona where we struggled to pass the ball, I would have liked to see us to get the ball to him more. TE passes on drags, or simple short routes are a very high completion rate pass.

[duck55]

Plus I don't like the way we've been utilizing TEs since basically the spread has been implemented.

Yes, there is always room for improvement. Nearly every fan base in the country complains about using their tight ends more. However, let's keep in mind that for two years in a row, with two different tight ends (one of which certainly isn't the most physically gifted tight ends in the conference), Oregon has had a first team All-Pac-10 tight end. The tight ends at Oregon are not doing too poorly. Also, keep in mind that Ed Dickson left Oregon as the all-time leader in receptions for a tight end while playing in Chip's offense.

That's a good point. Although even Dickson wasn't used as much as he should have in his senior season. We've had some strong TEs, Peele, Wrighster, Day, Rosario, Dickson, and I don't know, but it feels like we are going away from utilizing our TEs. Paulson was used a lot in the first 3-4 games of the season, but then we never really came back to him later in the season. In games vs Cal, Arizona where we struggled to pass the ball, I would have liked to see us to get the ball to him more. TE passes on drags, or simple short routes are a very high completion rate pass.

I seem to recall that we did go to him in the Cal game, he just couldn't catch the ball with one arm held behind his back.

[uostudent]

He's the full video of French's press conference + interviews with reporters afterwards.
Video

Definitely seems like a pretty affable guy. I like how he described the players on the team as being vey friendly and open. He also talked about Chip and co. being very thorough with their recruitment of him (talked to teachers, coaches, friends, etc.)

[Destroyer77]

I guess this means we won't be taking that TE from Kentucky. I wonder if having him in the mix influenced French's decision at all?

No, Jon Davis' offer will be pulled, but it sounded like distance was a factor with him. He's a nice pickup for Kentucky.

Anyone think that Dion Jordan and French are comparable?

Coming out of high school
Jordan (then):
6'6 215 4.6 40 recruited as a TE
Jordan now:
6'7 230 plays DE

French:
6'6 230 4.4 40 recruited as a TE

I hope that French can stay at TE, but if not, he could be a beast at DE.

It's funny you say that because I described French as "Dion Jordan part deax" to a couple season ticket holders today. I agree 100% with comparing him to Dion.

[woundedknees]

I must admit that I have wondered how much the burns Jordan suffered while siphoning gas from his own ride effected his developement as a receiver.

There may be some lingering issues (Flexibility, for instance) that we will never know about.

[UOducksTK1]

He's the full video of French's press conference + interviews with reporters afterwards.
Video

Definitely seems like a pretty affable guy. I like how he described the players on the team as being vey friendly and open. He also talked about Chip and co. being very thorough with their recruitment of him (talked to teachers, coaches, friends, etc.)

Quality kid, I love getting players like this. Also one of the main reason's I want Avery Walls. High quality character recruits like them aren't so common, I want those kind of guys on our team.

[mijaha]

He's the full video of French's press conference + interviews with reporters afterwards.
Video

Definitely seems like a pretty affable guy. I like how he described the players on the team as being vey friendly and open. He also talked about Chip and co. being very thorough with their recruitment of him (talked to teachers, coaches, friends, etc.)

Thanks for the link, made my morning