Jan. 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws a pass in the third quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2013 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Oregon defeated Kansas State 35-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon has always been big on Offensive Lineman and Marcus Mariota may have some new guys protecting him next season. In the 2013 Class there are five in that position alone.

Doug Brenner(Portland, Oregon)  could be considered a local product. He is 6 foot 3 and the sixth highest rated player at the position in the State, according to Rivals.com. He will play the man in the middle, in the future, for the Ducks.

Elijah George(Las Vegas, Nevada) is listed as an Offensive Tackle. He is 6 foot 4 and is a line mover.

Cameron Hunt(Corona, California) was originally a commit for UCLA, but once Jeff Tedford departed he switched to the Ducks. He is 6 foot 4 and brings some talent. He helped pave the way for two 1000 yard rushers in High School.

Jake Pisarcik(Medford, NJ) A 6 foot 2 January commitment for Mark Helfrich, Pisarcik has been a lifetime Duck fan and is thrilled for the opportunity to play at Autzen Stadium.

Evan Voeller(West Linn, Oregon) At 6 foot 4 he is ranked the 2nd highest recruit in the state according to Rivals.com. He is also the Nations 18th ranked Offensive Tackle.

Oregon also signed a Quarterback in the 2013 class.

Damian Hobbs(Cedar Hill, TX) A Three Star QB, at 6 foot 2 and 190 in his Junior Year of High School (2011) he ran for 875 yards and 11 touchdowns, threw 997 yards for 8 touchdowns and received two touchdowns.

Several running back were added to the class as well, including Five Star Rusher Thomas Tyner(Beaverton, OR and Three Star talent Kani Benoit(Phoenix, Arizona). Thomas Tyner was electric at the high school level. In his senior season, 11 games, his rushing average was over 300 yards per game, 3,415 yards in total, and he scored 47 touchdowns. Tyner may end up being the workhorse for the Ducks this season. The question isn’t if…it’s when. Oregon also picked up the commitment of three star running back Kani Benoit out of Phoenix, Arizona. Benoit is a Three star recruit. Keep in mind that when former Duck Kenjon Barner entered the picture at Oregon, he was also a Three star recruit. Oregon looks to be solid at Running Back for the next few years with these two athletes, along with Byron Marshall and DeAnthony Thomas, who as we know can play all over the field.

Oregon also added to the talent at Wide Receiver in Devon Allen(Phoenix, Arizona). For the Ducks he will participate in two sports, both football and track and field. He is rated at a four star athlete and the 4th best in the state of Arizona. Allen is 6’1 and can run the 40 yard dash in 4.5 seconds.

Tight End is a position that Oregon uses quite a bit and in the 2013 class they added one.

John Mundt(Modesto, California) is 6 foot 5 and is among several signees from California. He was a mid January commit for the Ducks.

Finally, Oregon looks to add to it’s kicking roster, and by that I also mean someone who can actually make kicks.

Matt Wogan(Indian Trail)  is a Three Star kicker. He has shown he can make the kicks, but can he do it at Autzen?

With the talent just mentioned, especially the Offensive Lineman, the Ducks look to be in good shape in the coming years. Tyner is one of a kind and should be a star at Oregon.

I will include the Robinson Twins in my look at the Defensive side of the ball, since that is likely where they will play for the Ducks.

Here are the Signed players for the Ducks on the Defensive Side of the ball

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Justin Phillips is Sports Reporter for Newsradio 1120 KPNW in Eugene, Oregon

Jan. 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Less than a month before Signing Day, Chip Kelly departed for the Philadelphia Eagles. Oregon did not panic with is jump to the NFL and quickly hired Mark Helfrich to replace Kelly. Aside from visiting recruits, Helfrich has been busy making some hires of his own. He has brought in Wide Receivers Coach Matt Lubick, who is one of the best teachers in the nation at that position. Helfrich has also brought in a new Defensive line Coach in Experienced Ron Aiken to replace the popular Steve Azzarino, who left to pursue other opportunities.

With the coaching staff mostly in tact, it was time to focus on the Class of 2013. There are several wavering still, but we’ll focus on the ones committed to playing for the Ducks in the Fall.

There are several positions of need for Oregon on Offense (Running Back, Offensive Line) and across the Defense.

The top committed recruit in this class is Thomas Tyner. The Beaverton, Oregon native and All American in his Senior season (11 games) rushed for 3,415 yards and 47 touchdowns. His average was over 310 yards per game.

I believe his talent could make him the Ducks feature back in 2013. He could take over the starting role perhaps by the start of the Pac 12 Season.

 

 

Thomas is one of the top 2-3 running backs in the Country for 2012-13.  His 10.38 100 meter makes him one of the fastest men in the world and he is a legit 6’0″ plus and could be 215 this season. – PrepProfiles.com

Another Running Back commit that decided on Monday night to not play for the Ducks is Dontre Wilson(DeSoto, Texas). Wilson has made a commitment to play for Urban Meyer and Ohio State.  As a runner and receiver in 2011 he rushed for 767 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 12 passes for 246 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Shortly after Oregon hired Lubick they had another commit from Two sport athlete Wide Receiver Devon Allen,(Phoenix, Arizona) who according to reports already had a scholarship for Track and Field at Oregon. It looks like he will also play football as he takes the scholarship from the departed Bryan Bennett who left for more playing time.

The Oregonian wrote a piece on JUCO  Linebacker Joe Walker(Wilmington, California), 6 foot 3, 230 pounds. He committed to play for the Ducks in December. Walker injured his shoulder in 2010, and took a medical grayshirt the following season. According to Fentress, he is already enrolled on classes at the U of O and looks to work toward a spot left vacant by graduating seniors Michael Clay and Kiko Alonso.

Finally seems to always be looking for speed on both sides of the ball and they found JuWaan Williams(Tucker, Georgia). At 6’1, 180 pounds Willams runs the 40 yard dash in 4.65 seconds. He is listed as an Athlete as it is not known on which side of the ball he will be best utilized.

In Other Recruiting News: (Updated 02/04/12)

Rob Moseley from the Register Guard is reporting that the Ducks may now be at the front of the line for Four Star Offensive Lineman Cameron Hunt(Corona, California). Hunt was previously committed to Cal when Jeff Tedford was coach, but that is no longer the case. Hunt would be the fifth offensive lineman in this class, as the Ducks go heavy at a position where they were unable to sign a prep recruit last year.

According to AddictedtoQuack.com, Oregon has locked up another Running Back Kani Benoit, a Three Star rusher out of Phoenix Arizona. He is the 18th Commitment for the 2013 class.

It was reported that the Robinson Brothers, Tyree and Tyrell commits for the Ducks are visiting other schools, most recently to the Washington Huskies.It looks like they may remain with Oregon.

More on recruiting as we get closer to National Signing Day on Wednesday, February 6th.

Recruiting Stories from Around the Pond:

Aaron Fentress, The Oregonian, Oregon Ducks Football Recruits Look Past Changes and Uncertainty

JT Light, Addicted to Quack, Ducks Get Super Bowl Rings, Basketball Bounceback, Signing Day Approaches

Ted Miller, ESPN, Oregon Recruiting Stays Strong

Justin Phillips is Sports Reporter for Newsradio 1120 KPNW in Eugene, Oregon

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