With Oregon's desperate need for dominant DTs

[woundedknees]

it is especially frustrating to watch the struggle getting commits, when so many other parts of the defensive package are looking as if they will be strong in this recruiting class.

There are lots of highly ranked prospects uncommitted, but the supply is dwindling.

Some big names such as Uko, Heimuli, Jeffrey Whitaker (4 star/6'4/295/5.3 out of Georgia), and Jatashun Beachum are still uncommited, at least publicly. Sione Potoae (Current verbal to UW) has been rumored to be interested in the Ducks.

With the new connectionn to North Carolina, I wonder if the coaching staff has been in contact with Tra Thomas, the #35 ranked DT on ESPN, who plays at Anson Senior High in Wadesboro, NC. Kid is reported to benh 375 (Max) and squat 485 (Max). The thing that got my attention was his 3.7 GPA and 1020 SAT score=Full Qualifier.

Do the JC ranks offer any possibilities?

Tennessee apparently has a verbal from a big kid currently enrolled at Chabot in northern California... a four star
6'5/300/4.9 DT named Patrick Harris.
It will be interesting to see what Pops outa Allioti, Azz, and company.

[greenyellow]

Even if we get some freshmen DTs in, they won't really help since the last true freshman DT to really play for Oregon was Ngata and he was rated the #1 DT that year. The talent pool that Oregon is recruiting at DT this year isn't as deep and talented so we'll be lucky to find a DT that is going to be a star. I don't think even a couple JC DTs would help since they also take about a year to really do anything at Oregon. We'll have to make do mainly with the DTs we already have on the roster.

[ncduck]

Damn you Myles Wade, Justin Thompson, Simi Fili, etc.!!!

[briarduck]

^Ditto...it just sucks this is a poor recruiting year for DTs, at least for us anyhow!

[UOducksTK1]

Beachum committed to Arkansas last I heard btw..

[glazeduck]

Not that I know ANYTHING about this JC recruiting class, especially in the defensive trenches, so I'm not saying this IS the case, but to completely dismiss the JC route as a way to bring in help at DT might not be completely fair.

Look no further than Mt. Cody in Alabama and how he immediately stepped in and dominated as evidence that it CAN happen. While I think he's certainly the exception rather than the rule, to think it's not possible might be a little presumptuous. If nothing else I'd like to see the ducks pick up a BIG kid to eat up space like Cody does so well.