WATCH: Dad takes surprise out of Jalil Tucker commitment to Oregon
Jalil Tucker’s dad stole the spotlight on the day of his son’s commitment.
Tucker, like most prized recruits, had been building anticipation for his commitment up for some time. The No. 9 cornerback in the country in On3’s class of 2022 rankings set a date for his announcement and narrowed his list to three schools: Florida State, Oregon and Washington.
On Friday, Tucker was prepared to let the world know his decision. But before he could get it out, his father accidentally spoiled the surprise in a TV interview.
“He’s a good kid, lazy but a good kid,” Tucker’s dad said amongst laughter from the crowd. “I know he’s going to represent Oregon well.”
Realizing what he had done, the dad immediately covered his mouth and walked away. A shocked Tucker looks back before sheepishly pulling out an Oregon hat and announcing his commitment to the Ducks.
“For the next couple of years, I’ll be attending the University of Oregon,” he said.
Tucker was all smiles by the end after the initial surprise wore off. He couldn’t help but laugh it off along with the rest of his family.
The San Diego native attends Lincoln High School and will lead the defense into his senior season. He is the seventh player of On3’s top 300 prospects in the class of 2022 to commit to Oregon.
His teammate at Lincoln High School, Jahlil Florence, is the other cornerback on that list.
Oregon finished 4-3 last year and won the Pac-12 Championship. The Ducks lost to Iowa State in the Fiesta Bowl to end the season. They start off at No. 11 in the AP poll, the highest ranking of any team in the Pac-12.
Oregon kicks off the year on Sept. 4 with a contest against Fresno State. Once Tucker joins the team in 2022 he will have plenty of competition for playing time. All but one of the starting members of the secondary are underclassmen.
Whatever happens, Jalil Tucker will always have the priceless memory of his dad ruining his commitment.