Just for those who peruse the boards here are some thoughts on today:
- We told you as far back as June that if Justin Flowe was going to play for a Pac-12 team, it would be Oregon. I know that the dalliance with USC over the weekend seemed disconcerting, but it gave me a few less worries than others. The Trojans did what they could, but this was really all Oregon even then. It says something when we are getting "Oregon signals" while someone is on an official visit.
- We also told you then that Jonathan Flowe was even more likely to be a Duck. Well, now I think we see another set of brothers play for the Ducks. The younger brother may not be as highly ranked in this case, but he is going to make a nice addition to next years class; especially as a complementary addition with Keith Brown.
- Exchanging Dontae Manning for Myles Slusher may be a slight hit rankings wise, but I like Manning a lot. He skyrocketed into the rankings in the most recent re-rank because he had a superb senior season.He has good length at 6-1 and can play in multiple spots on the defense. Everything I am hearing still leads me to believe that he will be a Duck in the end and I think fans will be happy with him once he shows up on campus.
- Luke Hill is sort of a forgotten commit. he has been committed forever and I really like his game.
- I know it is not the greatest of news, but as of late this afternoon, the best Georgia source I can contact feels as if Ringo and Darnell Washington will be Bulldogs in the end. I know that the shirt today really got some hopes up; and maybe for a reason; maybe Georgia folks are hearing it and are wrong. Kelee is not the type to troll either fan base. I think he probably did not put a lot of thought into which shirt he wore to school today because he was not announcing yet.
Three DB's visited Georgia last weekend: Ringo, Manning and Eric Reed. Reed signed with Auburn and Manning is most likely a Duck; yet the Georgia coaches are not out there looking for new DB's; they are pretty further entrenched in their belief on Ringo because of that reality. Right now, that still seems like the most likely case. Until I hear differently from a credible source, it seems as if Ringo signed with Georgia.
- Dwight McGlothern has not signed yet so he is someone to keep an eye on after the dust settles from this day. The Ducks liked him and have continued to speak with him throughout the process. As Mario Cristobal said today at his press conference, the staff is going to look at what they have and what they need to fill in some spots. It could be that if Manning is indeed on board that the staff decide to use that spot elsewhere and simply not pursue another DB.
He visited USC last weekend, but if the Ducks pursue him, I think they get him -- and if they do not, that tells you that the Ducks are likely done at the position.
- Cristobal mentioned a 'jumbo' tight end and I think that if Washington is out, that leaves Oregon considering Jack Yary. Of the top 25 tight ends in the Rivals rankings only Washington, Yary and Brandon Frazier (McKinney, TX) are unsigned. That leaves some slim lickings for the tight end, so this will really depend on how much the Ducks want to sign a tight end and if they decide on Yary.
I think that if the Ducks want Yary, they can get him. Robby Ashford really wants to get Washington to Oregon, so pay attention to what angle Oregon takes with Yary. If it seems that they are not giving him any attention, that could be a really, really good sign for Oregon and Washington.
- I really like Jacskon LaDuke. I called him "underrated" earlier today on Twitter, not because of his ranking, but really because he is like the overlooked linebacker in this class and I am glad Cristobal mentioned him. Having him alongside Flowe and Sewell makes this an historic LB group the likes of which we have never seen in Eugene. I heard someone say today that a single team has not signed the Nos. 1 and 2 LB in the same class in 14 years. That means not Alabama, not USC; not anyone. In 14 years! Add in LaDuke and I just don't know that anyone has had a better haul at LB in the Rivals era.