Oregon Ducks: Cliff Harris
Only after a few years can a recruiting class truly be measured. And while there were plenty of success stories in Oregon's Class of 2009, several players who signed with Oregon and never made an impact.
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Ducks make habit of closing strong 
January, 14, 2013
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Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
For those Oregon fans who worry about how many commitments the Ducks have at this point in the recruiting cycle, all they need to do is take a look back over the past decade or so, starting with the 2002 recruiting class, when the Ducks landed some guy named Haloti Ngata on signing day.
With a handful of spots to fill in the class of 2013, DuckNation decided to take a look back at who the Ducks have added in the final weeks of the recruiting cycle in each year since 2003.
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Will Ducks raid the Trojans' class again?
November, 2, 2012
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Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
The Oregon Ducks haven't won many direct recruiting battles with the USC Trojans over the years, but they are making strides. Oddly enough, there aren't too many examples over the past few years that had the two West Coast power programs going toe-to-toe. The fact of the matter is, the Trojans usually have who they want locked up early on, especially during the probation period that limits them to 15 scholarships per year.
In the past few recruiting cycles, the Ducks have signed plenty of recruits that USC had extended offers to. Cliff Harris, Andre Yruretagoyena, Tyler Johnstone, Devon Blackmon, Colt Lyerla, De'Anthony Thomas, Byron Marshall and Arik Armstead are some of the big names the Ducks were able to sign in spite of the Trojans' efforts.
On the flip side, the Trojans have beaten the Ducks for dozens of prospects in recent years. There are too many to list, but a couple of the biggest names on the list are current Trojans -- and former top targets of the Ducks -- George Uko and Marqise Lee.
In the past few recruiting cycles, the Ducks have signed plenty of recruits that USC had extended offers to. Cliff Harris, Andre Yruretagoyena, Tyler Johnstone, Devon Blackmon, Colt Lyerla, De'Anthony Thomas, Byron Marshall and Arik Armstead are some of the big names the Ducks were able to sign in spite of the Trojans' efforts.
On the flip side, the Trojans have beaten the Ducks for dozens of prospects in recent years. There are too many to list, but a couple of the biggest names on the list are current Trojans -- and former top targets of the Ducks -- George Uko and Marqise Lee.
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Can Oregon catch USC in recruiting?
November, 1, 2012
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Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
Since 2000, the Pac-12 has been all Oregon and USC. Other schools have snuck in to share a conference crown, but only the Ducks and Trojans have won the title outright.
For most of the decade, the Trojans were the team to beat. Since Chip Kelly took over the Oregon head coaching job in 2009, the Ducks have been nearly unstoppable. The Ducks won the head-to-head battles on the field with USC in 2007, 2009 and 2010. USC topped the Ducks in 2008 and 2011.
The Ducks have begun to take over as the best program in the conference under Kelly's leadership. Passing USC on the field is one thing. Doing the same in recruiting, where USC has maintained its dominance in the face of NCAA sanctions, is a lot harder.
For most of the decade, the Trojans were the team to beat. Since Chip Kelly took over the Oregon head coaching job in 2009, the Ducks have been nearly unstoppable. The Ducks won the head-to-head battles on the field with USC in 2007, 2009 and 2010. USC topped the Ducks in 2008 and 2011.
The Ducks have begun to take over as the best program in the conference under Kelly's leadership. Passing USC on the field is one thing. Doing the same in recruiting, where USC has maintained its dominance in the face of NCAA sanctions, is a lot harder.
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Brian Jackson gets the starting job at rover
August, 22, 2012
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Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
Outside of the quarterback battle between Marcus Mariota and Bryan Bennett, two of the biggest position battles in Oregon's fall camp have been in the secondary.
With the issues and eventual dismissal of Cliff Harris, the Ducks rotated three freshmen at cornerback in 2011. Terrance Mitchell, Ifo-Ekpre Olomu and Troy Hill all learned on the fly but showed great promise. Mitchell seemingly has one starting spot locked up while Hill and Ekpre-Olomu are battling for the starting spot on the other side of the field.
Even more highly contested has been the competition for the starting job at the "rover" position. The departure of Eddie Pleasant left juniors Brian Jackson and Avery Patterson battling each other while trying to hold off sophomore Erick Dargan. All three are more than capable of starting and all will see significant action this year.
After Monday's practice, Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal announced that Jackson has done enough to earn the start.
Neal talked about Jackson's progression as a player when he credited Jackson for "playing better than he ever has."
According to Neal, Jackson has always been a "steady, dependable guy," who has taken his game to the next level. Under Neal's direction, Pleasant evolved from someone struggling to find the right position to a first-team All-Pac-12 performer in 2011.
Neal sees much of the same in Jackson, a junior from Hoover High School in Alabama.
No longer just a "dependable guy," Neal says Jackson is now "excelling at the position," which is what he has been looking for from the three candidates throughout the spring and summer.
"He's a guy that can help us win games we need to win," Neal said.
Along with Pleasant, Patterson emerged as one of the team's most improved players as a sophomore. Patterson has the speed, coverage ability and tackling ability to rotate throughout the defensive backfield, giving Neal and defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti another weapon to throw at opposing offenses. The junior will likely see a similar role to last season, when he was the extra corner in most of the Ducks' nickel packages.
Dargan, who played alongside Patterson at Pittsburg High School in Northern California, will see plenty of action as he has impressed coaches and teammates alike throughout the offseason with his work ethic and ball-hawking abilities. Dargan will be in the hunt for a starting spot again in 2013 as the Ducks will need to replace free safety John Boyett.
With Oregon loaded at defensive line and linebacker, the deep and talented secondary should have plenty of opportunities to make plays this fall. Jackson might have earned the starting job, but Patterson and Dargan will be given plenty of chances to show they are more than capable of being the starter.
The way the Oregon secondary coach sees it, that's fine by him.
With the issues and eventual dismissal of Cliff Harris, the Ducks rotated three freshmen at cornerback in 2011. Terrance Mitchell, Ifo-Ekpre Olomu and Troy Hill all learned on the fly but showed great promise. Mitchell seemingly has one starting spot locked up while Hill and Ekpre-Olomu are battling for the starting spot on the other side of the field.
Even more highly contested has been the competition for the starting job at the "rover" position. The departure of Eddie Pleasant left juniors Brian Jackson and Avery Patterson battling each other while trying to hold off sophomore Erick Dargan. All three are more than capable of starting and all will see significant action this year.
After Monday's practice, Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal announced that Jackson has done enough to earn the start.
Neal talked about Jackson's progression as a player when he credited Jackson for "playing better than he ever has."
According to Neal, Jackson has always been a "steady, dependable guy," who has taken his game to the next level. Under Neal's direction, Pleasant evolved from someone struggling to find the right position to a first-team All-Pac-12 performer in 2011.
Neal sees much of the same in Jackson, a junior from Hoover High School in Alabama.
No longer just a "dependable guy," Neal says Jackson is now "excelling at the position," which is what he has been looking for from the three candidates throughout the spring and summer.
"He's a guy that can help us win games we need to win," Neal said.
Along with Pleasant, Patterson emerged as one of the team's most improved players as a sophomore. Patterson has the speed, coverage ability and tackling ability to rotate throughout the defensive backfield, giving Neal and defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti another weapon to throw at opposing offenses. The junior will likely see a similar role to last season, when he was the extra corner in most of the Ducks' nickel packages.
Dargan, who played alongside Patterson at Pittsburg High School in Northern California, will see plenty of action as he has impressed coaches and teammates alike throughout the offseason with his work ethic and ball-hawking abilities. Dargan will be in the hunt for a starting spot again in 2013 as the Ducks will need to replace free safety John Boyett.
With Oregon loaded at defensive line and linebacker, the deep and talented secondary should have plenty of opportunities to make plays this fall. Jackson might have earned the starting job, but Patterson and Dargan will be given plenty of chances to show they are more than capable of being the starter.
The way the Oregon secondary coach sees it, that's fine by him.
A look back at the 2009 recruiting class
July, 23, 2012
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By
Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
Oregon Ducks fans have been witness to one of the greatest rises in college football history over the past two decades. The Ducks have risen from cellar dwellers to one of the hottest names in all of college football. The facilities, the uniforms and the Nike connection have all played a big role in the Ducks' rise to the top of the Pac-12.
Along with the success and the increased exposure nationally has come a major boost in recruiting elite athletes to come to Eugene. It isn't always the high school All-Americans that turn into college stars. Oregon has made a living finding "diamonds in the rough" that have helped build a powerhouse.
There have been some big names in the recruiting world who chose to play their college ball in Eugene, but how many of them have lived up to the hype?
Along with the success and the increased exposure nationally has come a major boost in recruiting elite athletes to come to Eugene. It isn't always the high school All-Americans that turn into college stars. Oregon has made a living finding "diamonds in the rough" that have helped build a powerhouse.
There have been some big names in the recruiting world who chose to play their college ball in Eugene, but how many of them have lived up to the hype?
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Brandon Oliver
Brandon Oliver joined ESPN in 2012. In recent years, Oliver has been involved in the Nike Football Tour with both ESPNHS and Nike. He has covered West Coast recruiting for various online outlets since 2008, with an emphasis on Oregon football. Email him at boliverespn@gmail.com.