Ducks Push Into the State of Texas
In 2023, like never before, Oregon hit one of the nation’s recruiting hotbeds: hard Texas.
Oregon landed 4-star QB Austin Novosad, 4-star DL Johnny Bowens, 4-star DB Tyler Turner, 4-star WR Ashton Cozart, 4-star DL Ashton Porter, LL and 4-star DL Terrance Green.
Overall, about 20% of Oregon’s signing class came from the Lone Star State.
In 2024, Dan Lanning and the Oregon staff are looking to continue building the Texas pipeline. They have hosted, offered and prioritized several top players from Texas.
While Matt Powledge had returned to Baylor, Lanning replaced him with University of Texas, San Antonio offensive coordinator Will Stein.
Stein, just 33, is a Texas native and is well-known across Texas prep circles. In addition to stints at Texas and UTSA, Stein coached high school football at Lake Travis.
Additionally,
Another Texas connection is right ends coach Drew Mehringer. Mehringer was born in Arlington and held staff positions at both Texas and Houston.
Last but not least, Oregon Chief of Staff Marshall Malchow came to Eugene from Texas A&M, where he helped Jimbo Fisher assemble the nation’s No. 1 class in 2022.
The first Texan on Oregon’s 2024 big board is 4-star DL Nigel Smith II out of Melissa High. The No. 50 player in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, recently made an unofficial visit to Oregon and really enjoyed the trip.
Another school very involved in Smith’s recruitment is Oklahoma.
McKinney High safety Xavier Filsaime also was in Eugene on Jan. 21. On3 ranks Filsaime second-best safety in the country and a top 10 player in the state of Texas.
In addition to Oregon, Filsaime is considering Oklahoma, SMU and Texas A&M.
A name already familiar to many Oregon fans is 4-star linebacker Justin Williams from Oak Ridge High in Conroe.
The On3 Consensus says Williams is the 63rd-best player in the country. The site’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives Oregon a 98.4 percent chance with Williams.
A recruit I recently interviewed, 4-star Houston athlete Hunter Moddon. Moddon can play both defensive back and wide receiver.
Moddon, who was just recently offered by Oregon, is working on scheduling a visit in the spring. On3 has Moddon as the No. 4 athlete in the country and the No. 10 player in the state of Texas. He is committed to Texas.
Oregon has made the top 10 for 6-foot-7, 275-pound offensive tackle Michael Uini out of Copperas Cove High.
The On3 Consensus ranks Uini as the nation’s No. 6 tackle. However, his recruitment might be complicated by the recent return of Adrian Klemm to the NFL.
The favorite for Uini as of right now seems to be Texas.
Mario Buford, a cornerback Oregon offered when he was eighth grade, is still very much on the Ducks’ radar. Buford, who camped in Eugene for last year’s Saturday Night Live, has been linked to Oregon for years.
According to On3’s Chad Simmons, Oregon will definitely get an official visit from Buford, as will TCU and Nebraska.
Buford is a 4-star out of DeSoto High. The On3 Consensus pegs him as the nation’s No. 22 corner.
