Oregon Ducks: issac dixon
Oregon recruiting by state: Florida 
November, 14, 2012
11/14/12
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By
Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
If 10 years ago someone read the words, "Oregon signs ESPN 150 athlete from Florida," morning coffee would have been spit out. It would be hard enough to imagine a small school -- with no tradition -- from the rainy Pacific Northwest signing anyone from the Sunshine State, let alone an ESPN 150 member.
While it was only one, the Ducks did just that in 2011 when Tacoi Sumler signed with the Ducks over schools such as Auburn, Clemson, Florida State and South Carolina. Looking back at the past decade of Oregon's recruiting in Florida, there have been two big recruits to sign with the Ducks, but neither finished their careers in Eugene. When the Ducks landed Ryan Gilliam of Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln -- a Florida State pipeline school -- after he was originally committed to the local Seminoles, people were amazed that they pulled it off.
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Oregon recruiting: Central and Eastern
August, 23, 2012
8/23/12
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By
Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
As Oregon has become a national name over the past decade, its recruiting reach has expanded to never before seen levels.
The Ducks will always have California as their most fertile recruiting ground and the place from which the foundation of the program is built. But as the Ducks have become a more recognizable brand in recent years, they have been able to attract the attention of recruits from far and wide.
Here is a look at what the Ducks have been able to accomplish over the past decade when recruiting the Central and Eastern time zones. There have been some major hits, some hidden gems and also some big disappointments.
The Ducks will always have California as their most fertile recruiting ground and the place from which the foundation of the program is built. But as the Ducks have become a more recognizable brand in recent years, they have been able to attract the attention of recruits from far and wide.
Here is a look at what the Ducks have been able to accomplish over the past decade when recruiting the Central and Eastern time zones. There have been some major hits, some hidden gems and also some big disappointments.
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Unofficial Visits: How important are they?
August, 18, 2012
8/18/12
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By
Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
Virtually everything about Oregon football is unique.
Oregon offers a lot of benefits for prospective athletes, but location is not one of them. The Ducks are way down the list when it comes to ideal college destinations.
During their rise to prominence under Chip Kelly, the Ducks have done things at their own pace.
Texas used to be the only school that would fill its class before spring ball started. Now you can find a number of programs doing the same thing. The Ducks look like they will enter the season with just eight commits. One of the biggest reasons is their location.
More kids are committing before their senior seasons even begin after making unofficial visits to their favorite schools.
It could stem from past decommitments or the program's recognition that not everyone is cut out for a Northwest college town. Whatever it is, Kelly is adamant about having a prospect on campus before accepting his pledge.
The problem is that Oregon doesn't have a specific region it recruits. The Ducks are a national program tucked away in the Northwest. California will always be the Ducks' most fertile recruiting ground, but even kids from California struggle to make it to campus before official visits are allowed.
The way the Ducks recruit under Kelly is very unique. For a school in the northwest with little local talent to choose from, one might think the Ducks would throw offers out to prospects nationwide and accept any commitment.
However, if a prospect from Florida wants to commit before he can take an official visit, he must pay his own way to campus before his senior season.
Recruiting has changed so much that unofficial visits have become nearly as important as official visits. Coaches and players often have more time to spend with a recruit during an unofficial visit.
For a school like Oregon, it is often either a deal-maker or a deal-breaker.
If a prospect visits Oregon from across the country on his own dime, it usually means the interest is more than sincere. In recent years, that interest has turned into a commitment quite a few times.
In 2010, the Ducks signed three prospects from across the country, due in large part to their ability to visit the campus over the summer.
Dior Mathis from Michigan, James Scales from North Carolina and Issac Dixon from Florida each made it out to Oregon before their senior seasons had begun. All three followed up with official visits and eventually signed with the Ducks.
Hosting a prospect on a game weekend in the fall is the ultimate goal, especially somewhere that comes alive on Saturdays in the fall like Oregon does.
Oregon is faced with a new challenge as its location makes it difficult to get kids on campus on a regular basis. Schools in California, the South and the East Coast are able to host kids throughout the year as their campuses are accessible to a large number of elite prospects.
Oregon will never have the benefit of having 50+ prospects within a few hour drive. It will continue to try and get kids on campus in the spring or summer, while counting on official visits as its primary selling point.
What has always been viewed as a unique program will continue to be in a very unique situation when it comes to the shifting trends in recruiting.
Usually the trendsetter, the Ducks need to find a way to keep up with this trend or risk being left behind.
Oregon offers a lot of benefits for prospective athletes, but location is not one of them. The Ducks are way down the list when it comes to ideal college destinations.
During their rise to prominence under Chip Kelly, the Ducks have done things at their own pace.
Texas used to be the only school that would fill its class before spring ball started. Now you can find a number of programs doing the same thing. The Ducks look like they will enter the season with just eight commits. One of the biggest reasons is their location.
More kids are committing before their senior seasons even begin after making unofficial visits to their favorite schools.
Official Look At Unofficial Visits
Unofficial visits in college football mean - and cost - more than ever. Max Olson »
• Florida: The key to it all
• FSU: Noles know what they mean
• Georgia: Coaches keeping busy
• LSU: Setting the tone
• Michigan: Recruits savor BBQ
• Ohio State: The U word
• Oklahoma: Why fight it?
• Oregon: Proof is in the visit
• Penn State: Sooner the better
• Texas: Tales from the road
• Washington: Get 'em on campus
It could stem from past decommitments or the program's recognition that not everyone is cut out for a Northwest college town. Whatever it is, Kelly is adamant about having a prospect on campus before accepting his pledge.
The problem is that Oregon doesn't have a specific region it recruits. The Ducks are a national program tucked away in the Northwest. California will always be the Ducks' most fertile recruiting ground, but even kids from California struggle to make it to campus before official visits are allowed.
The way the Ducks recruit under Kelly is very unique. For a school in the northwest with little local talent to choose from, one might think the Ducks would throw offers out to prospects nationwide and accept any commitment.
However, if a prospect from Florida wants to commit before he can take an official visit, he must pay his own way to campus before his senior season.
Recruiting has changed so much that unofficial visits have become nearly as important as official visits. Coaches and players often have more time to spend with a recruit during an unofficial visit.
For a school like Oregon, it is often either a deal-maker or a deal-breaker.
If a prospect visits Oregon from across the country on his own dime, it usually means the interest is more than sincere. In recent years, that interest has turned into a commitment quite a few times.
In 2010, the Ducks signed three prospects from across the country, due in large part to their ability to visit the campus over the summer.
Dior Mathis from Michigan, James Scales from North Carolina and Issac Dixon from Florida each made it out to Oregon before their senior seasons had begun. All three followed up with official visits and eventually signed with the Ducks.
Hosting a prospect on a game weekend in the fall is the ultimate goal, especially somewhere that comes alive on Saturdays in the fall like Oregon does.
Oregon is faced with a new challenge as its location makes it difficult to get kids on campus on a regular basis. Schools in California, the South and the East Coast are able to host kids throughout the year as their campuses are accessible to a large number of elite prospects.
Oregon will never have the benefit of having 50+ prospects within a few hour drive. It will continue to try and get kids on campus in the spring or summer, while counting on official visits as its primary selling point.
What has always been viewed as a unique program will continue to be in a very unique situation when it comes to the shifting trends in recruiting.
Usually the trendsetter, the Ducks need to find a way to keep up with this trend or risk being left behind.
Oregon rethinking recruiting philosophy?
August, 15, 2012
8/15/12
10:00
AM PT
By
Brandon P. Oliver | ESPN.com
Oregon has been on a recruiting tear in recent years. The recent success of the Ducks has produced the golden age of Oregon football.
The Ducks have always done a masterful job of finding diamonds in the rough and developing talent that was overlooked coming out of high school. In recent years the Ducks have been able to stockpile high-level recruits and develop them the same way they would an obscure walk-on.
A lot was made of Oregon's shift in recruiting philosophy when Chip Kelly took over for Mike Bellotti in 2009. Bellotti built the program up from where longtime coach Rich Brooks had left it. Kelly has taken it to a whole new level.
The Ducks have always done a masterful job of finding diamonds in the rough and developing talent that was overlooked coming out of high school. In recent years the Ducks have been able to stockpile high-level recruits and develop them the same way they would an obscure walk-on.
A lot was made of Oregon's shift in recruiting philosophy when Chip Kelly took over for Mike Bellotti in 2009. Bellotti built the program up from where longtime coach Rich Brooks had left it. Kelly has taken it to a whole new level.
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The defending league champion Oregon Ducks kick off their quest for a Pac-12 four-peat when fall camp kicks off on Monday. The Ducks won the last two Pac-10 titles and the inaugural Pac-12 title; now they want to be the first back-to-back Pac-12 champions.
When fall camp kicks off there will be many familiar faces and also some notable players missing.
Gone are record-setting quarterback Darron Thomas, all-time leading rusher LaMichael James, team MVP David Paulson, the team's most improved player, Eddie Pleasant, and Rose Bowl Offensive MVP LaVasier Tuinei. How will they replace the departed stars? Who will step up? Is a fourth consecutive league title possible?
When fall camp kicks off there will be many familiar faces and also some notable players missing.
Gone are record-setting quarterback Darron Thomas, all-time leading rusher LaMichael James, team MVP David Paulson, the team's most improved player, Eddie Pleasant, and Rose Bowl Offensive MVP LaVasier Tuinei. How will they replace the departed stars? Who will step up? Is a fourth consecutive league title possible?
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