The Oregon coaching staff has been earning plenty of airlines miles in recent weeks while recruiting all around the country. A couple of offers have come about and some prospects have emerged.
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OREGON DUCKS
2012 record: 12-1
2012 conference record: 8-1
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 7; kicker
Top returners: QB Marcus Mariota, RB/WR De'Anthony Thomas, WR Josh Huff, C Hroniss Grasu, TE Colt Lyerla, CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, DE Taylor Hart
Key losses: RB Kenjon Barner, OLB Dion Jordan; LB Kiko Alonso, LB Michael Clay
2012 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Barner (1,767 yards)
Passing: Mariota* (2,677 yards)
Receiving: Huff* (493 yards)
Tackles: Clay (101)
Sacks: Hart* (8)
Interceptions: Erick Dargan* (5)
Spring answers
1. Little changed post-Kelly: The biggest story of the Oregon offseason -- the departure of coach Chip Kelly to the Philadelphia Eagles -- was played down by the Ducks, both coaches and players. After the initial weirdness -- new coach Mark Helfrich's term -- it was mostly business as usual. Little changed, in large part because the staff remained largely intact under Helfrich.
2. Mariota the man: While practices were closed, a brilliant spring game performance as well as the general scuttlebutt, related that QB Marcus Mariota was sharp on the field and took a step forward as a leader. Mariota enters the offseason as a top Heisman Trophy candidate, and that makes him the frontman for a team that has to replace some key leaders. Playing great is the best sort of leadership.
3. Passing fancy: The expectation is that the Ducks will throw more next year. For one, Mariota has considerable passing skills. Second, the Ducks are deep and experienced at receiver, even if De'Anthony Thomas becomes primarily a running back. But it's not only about Josh Huff and company. There's also a nice tandem at tight end with Colt Lyerla and the emerging Pharaoh Brown.
Fall questions
1. How will the offensive line stack up? The Ducks welcome back three starters on the O-line, but both guards need to be replaced, and that didn't get resolved this spring, mostly due to injuries.
2. The pecking order at RB, LB? The general feeling is that Thomas and Byron Marshall will step in to replace Kenjon Barner, but the wildcard is touted incoming freshman Thomas Tyner. If he's ready for primetime, and Marshall steps up, that would allow the offense to use Thomas in a more natural hybrid WR/RB role. The biggest holes on the team, of course, are at linebacker, and injuries clouded the picture this spring.
3. Will the Ducks really just keep motoring along under Helfrich? Oregon fans are right to be confident that Helfrich can keep the Ducks momentum going. After all, the "promote the offensive coordinator" model has worked great since the Ducks began their rise to national relevance. But because we haven't seen Helfrich as a head coach, and because the bar has set about as high as it possibly can be, the change at the top of the program is the primary issue heading into 2013.
2012 record: 12-1
2012 conference record: 8-1
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 7; kicker
Top returners: QB Marcus Mariota, RB/WR De'Anthony Thomas, WR Josh Huff, C Hroniss Grasu, TE Colt Lyerla, CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, DE Taylor Hart
Key losses: RB Kenjon Barner, OLB Dion Jordan; LB Kiko Alonso, LB Michael Clay
2012 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Barner (1,767 yards)
Passing: Mariota* (2,677 yards)
Receiving: Huff* (493 yards)
Tackles: Clay (101)
Sacks: Hart* (8)
Interceptions: Erick Dargan* (5)
Spring answers
1. Little changed post-Kelly: The biggest story of the Oregon offseason -- the departure of coach Chip Kelly to the Philadelphia Eagles -- was played down by the Ducks, both coaches and players. After the initial weirdness -- new coach Mark Helfrich's term -- it was mostly business as usual. Little changed, in large part because the staff remained largely intact under Helfrich.
2. Mariota the man: While practices were closed, a brilliant spring game performance as well as the general scuttlebutt, related that QB Marcus Mariota was sharp on the field and took a step forward as a leader. Mariota enters the offseason as a top Heisman Trophy candidate, and that makes him the frontman for a team that has to replace some key leaders. Playing great is the best sort of leadership.
3. Passing fancy: The expectation is that the Ducks will throw more next year. For one, Mariota has considerable passing skills. Second, the Ducks are deep and experienced at receiver, even if De'Anthony Thomas becomes primarily a running back. But it's not only about Josh Huff and company. There's also a nice tandem at tight end with Colt Lyerla and the emerging Pharaoh Brown.
Fall questions
1. How will the offensive line stack up? The Ducks welcome back three starters on the O-line, but both guards need to be replaced, and that didn't get resolved this spring, mostly due to injuries.
2. The pecking order at RB, LB? The general feeling is that Thomas and Byron Marshall will step in to replace Kenjon Barner, but the wildcard is touted incoming freshman Thomas Tyner. If he's ready for primetime, and Marshall steps up, that would allow the offense to use Thomas in a more natural hybrid WR/RB role. The biggest holes on the team, of course, are at linebacker, and injuries clouded the picture this spring.
3. Will the Ducks really just keep motoring along under Helfrich? Oregon fans are right to be confident that Helfrich can keep the Ducks momentum going. After all, the "promote the offensive coordinator" model has worked great since the Ducks began their rise to national relevance. But because we haven't seen Helfrich as a head coach, and because the bar has set about as high as it possibly can be, the change at the top of the program is the primary issue heading into 2013.
Whether it is because of his early commitment to Arizona State, his more high-profile teammates boasting offers from the likes of Alabama and USC or his small frame, athlete Jaleel Wadood (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) has spent much of the spring under the radar.
After an early commitment to the Sun Devils -- where his brother Rashad is a defensive back -- the younger Wadood has received increased interest from programs throughout the West. Oregon is one of those programs and the Ducks were a childhood favorite of the versatile Wadood. In fact, Wadood is the only one of the Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco stars to hold an offer from the Ducks.
After an early commitment to the Sun Devils -- where his brother Rashad is a defensive back -- the younger Wadood has received increased interest from programs throughout the West. Oregon is one of those programs and the Ducks were a childhood favorite of the versatile Wadood. In fact, Wadood is the only one of the Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco stars to hold an offer from the Ducks.
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In-state LB Alfieri covets Oregon offer 
May, 6, 2013
May 6
11:00
AM PT
By
Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
The state of Oregon has never been a premier destination for college football recruiters, but the state has seen an uptick in BCS-level talent in recent years. Likely the state's top all-around player, linebacker Joey Alfieri (Portland, Ore./Jesuit) is helping to carry the torch for the state in the Class of 2014.
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FULLERTON, Calif. -- Some of the region's top teams showcased their skills in the IMG 7v7 West Regional at Fullerton College this past weekend, with the top four squads -- B2G 5-Star, Body By Tra, Those Guys #1 and TGS Warriors -- qualified for the national championship, which runs June 21-23 in Bradenton, Fla.
Here are five underclassmen who stood out:
2015 Safety Marvel Tell
6-foot-1, 185-pounds
Encino (Calif.) Crespi Carmelite
Considering: Cal, Miami, Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington State
What we learned: Tell had a great week and it continued through the weekend. After Miami, UCLA and Washington State offered scholarships, Tell set out to prove that he can be a difference maker in this type of setting. Tell usually seems more comfortable in full pads, where his physicality can be fully utilized. The long and lean safety showed great burst and quick decision making when breaking off coverage and getting to the ball. Tell looks like he will become one of the top players in the west for the Class of 2014.
Here are five underclassmen who stood out:
2015 Safety Marvel Tell
6-foot-1, 185-pounds
Encino (Calif.) Crespi Carmelite
Considering: Cal, Miami, Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington State
What we learned: Tell had a great week and it continued through the weekend. After Miami, UCLA and Washington State offered scholarships, Tell set out to prove that he can be a difference maker in this type of setting. Tell usually seems more comfortable in full pads, where his physicality can be fully utilized. The long and lean safety showed great burst and quick decision making when breaking off coverage and getting to the ball. Tell looks like he will become one of the top players in the west for the Class of 2014.
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Much has been made of Chip Kelly's departure from Oregon, and many questions remain regarding how new head coach Mark Helfrich will handle the red-hot Oregon program in his first stint as a head coach. How much will things change in Eugene?
Through the first spring under Helfrich, it looks to be more of the same for the high-flying Ducks. That is true on the field and in their search for the next Oregon quarterback.
Through the first spring under Helfrich, it looks to be more of the same for the high-flying Ducks. That is true on the field and in their search for the next Oregon quarterback.
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This week's look at Pac-12 recruiting touches on Oregon-bound Morgan Mahalak, Joe Mixon, Nathan Starks and more.
Mailbag: Is Mahalak experienced enough?
May, 3, 2013
May 3
5:00
AM PT
By
Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
Spring ball has come and gone and the Oregon coaches are on the recruiting trail. There were a lot of questions this week, and these are the three we chose to run with.
Steven R. (San Francisco, Calif.): What are your thoughts on the Ducks offering a quarterback that has never started a game at the high school level? I mean, don't get me wrong, Morgan Mahalak (Kentfield, Calif./Marin Catholic) looks like a player, and Marin Catholic kids can play, but it just seems like a risky move this early in the process. Is this a legitimate concern or am I being an over-reactive fan?
Steven R. (San Francisco, Calif.): What are your thoughts on the Ducks offering a quarterback that has never started a game at the high school level? I mean, don't get me wrong, Morgan Mahalak (Kentfield, Calif./Marin Catholic) looks like a player, and Marin Catholic kids can play, but it just seems like a risky move this early in the process. Is this a legitimate concern or am I being an over-reactive fan?
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Travis Haney's breakdown of post-spring breakout players is headlined by Florida State's Jameis Winston, but Oregon DL Arik Armstead also makes the list at No. 15.
Click here
to see why Haney expects big things from Armstead and to see who else made the cut.
Click here
to see why Haney expects big things from Armstead and to see who else made the cut.
In this edition of Throwback Thursday, Tom Luginbill takes three ESPN 150 athletes and looks at which former college standouts the prospects remind him of.
Twenty-two offers are in for Jarrett LaRubbio (Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East). The 23rd-ranked player in Ohio is hoping offer No. 23 is his biggest yet.
Two programs the three-star offensive guard believes could offer soon are Notre Dame and Oregon.
Two programs the three-star offensive guard believes could offer soon are Notre Dame and Oregon.
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With the first spring practice under new head coach Mark Helfrich over, the Oregon coaching staff is on the road to identify and evaluate potential recruits, and there a lot of targets in the west who have yet to receive an Oregon offer. The spring evaluation period could result in a number of new offers being extended to a handful of top recruits, and the coaches also will be looking to uncover new targets and work to build relationships with players who could earn offers in the fall.
One of those with the potential to earn an offer received a visit from Ducks' defensive backs coach John Neal Wednesday.
One of those with the potential to earn an offer received a visit from Ducks' defensive backs coach John Neal Wednesday.
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With the 2013 NFL draft in the books, Brock Huard breaks down the top QB prospects for next year's draft. Not surprisingly, Oregon's Marcus Mariota makes the list, checking in at No. 4.
Click here to get Huard's thoughts on Mariota's pro prospects, as well as who ranked ahead of the Ducks' leader.
Click here
to get Huard's thoughts on Mariota's pro prospects, as well as who ranked ahead of the Ducks' leader.
New Oregon coach Mark Helfrich talks about his first spring practice leading the Ducks, QB Marcus Mariota and the new college football playoff."
It has been an eventful week already for the Oregon Ducks, preceded by a solid performance in Saturday's spring game. The Ducks hosted several recruits on the weekend and made a strong impression on each of them. On Tuesday, the momentum kept up as the Ducks nabbed their third commitment for the Class of 2014.
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