It might seem like an eternity ago, but it has only been six months since Head Coach Willie Taggart and the Ducks sat with zero commitments for the Class of 2018.
On April 8, that all changed with the commitment of Running Back Travis Dye (Norco, CA), and a movement was born. Since the day of Dye’s commitment, Oregon’s 2018 Recruiting Class has added 23 more players and has seen an incredible rise up the rankings.
The Oregon Ducks now sit as the top-ranked class in the nation according to Scout, something that would have been unthinkable in years past. This meteoric rise is something that Duck fans have never experienced before, but it all started with Dye, the little brother of Oregon Defensive Standout Troy Dye.
Committed ✅ pic.twitter.com/U5cOuuiaKp
— Travis Dye (@Babydye23) April 8, 2017
“Since the beginning, I said everyone is coming with me,” he said. “I mean everyone.”
Dye, along with other Oregon commits, attended the Saturday Night Live camp in Eugene before the season started. The camp was the first of its kind for Oregon, and featured more than 50 highly-ranked recruits.
During the camp, Dye had the opportunity to work on routes, cone drills, and bag work with Running Backs Coach Donte Pimpleton and the other running back recruits in attendance.
While Dye was enjoying performing for the Duck fans and coaches, he also had other objectives in mind.
“SNL was the best and biggest experience in my life. I loved it and felt like home,” he said. “I’m always trying to add to the movement.”
Under Taggart and his staff, Oregon has experienced recruiting success like they have never seen before. They are now recruiting at a national scale and bringing in high-level talent that has not been seen in Eugene.
Travis Dye Highlights(via HUDL)
Travis Dye knows exactly why, “The intensity and the belief in their players that the coaches have makes them successful,” he said. “I only just met them in February but I know they will do anything for me. I will do anything for them.”
Dye has now taken multiple unofficial visits to Eugene to check out his future home and his future team.
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From being the only commit to being a member of the top-ranked recruiting class, Dye is excited for his future as a Duck with the rest of the Class of 2018, “This class will bring back a national championship to Eugene,” he said. “I will have a national championship ring.”
Quotes acquired through an interview conducted with Travis Dye.