Addicted To Quack - Kelly Staying gives Oregon recruiting momentumAn Oregon Ducks Blog: Often Imitated, Never Duplicated, Always Fashionablehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46661/atqfavicon.png2013-01-06T23:15:02-08:00http://www.addictedtoquack.com/rss/stream/36094192013-01-06T23:15:02-08:002013-01-06T23:15:02-08:00Kelly Staying Gives Oregon Momentum in Recruiting
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<p>With news that Chip Kelly will be staying at Oregon, any concerns about recruiting defections after his departure can be put to rest. <a href="http://oregon.247sports.com/Article/Duck-commits-react-to-the-news-Chip-Kelly-will-stay-at-UO-110154">Early reports from Duck Territory</a> ($) indicate that committed players are excited by the news.</p>
<p>One has to think that Kelly's return will give the Ducks momentum heading in to signing day. As reported on Saturday, several recruits who were thought to favor Oregon chose other programs during All-American games, while Chip was entertaining offers from the NFL. It's possible and even likely that at least one or two of those players will now reconsider the Ducks, in particular tight end Thomas Duarte and wide receiver John Ross.</p>
<p>Oregon is also in the hunt for several players who committed to other schools long before Kelly flirted with the NFL. Four star linebackers <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Peter-Kalambayi-2022">Peter Kalambayi</a> (committed to Stanford) and <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Myles-Jack-19089">Myles Jack</a> (UCLA) are very high on the Ducks, with Jack slated to visit Eugene later this month. Offensive tackles <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Nico-Falah-17408">Nico Falah </a>(USC) and <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Jackson-Keeler-17962">Jackson Keeler</a> (Wisconsin) are also very much in the mix for Oregon.</p>
<p>Now the staff will go about filling the rest of the class, with an entire month remaining before signing day. They'll be working from a position of strength as they'll continue to be able to sell players on the opportunity to play for one of the best coaches in college football, someone whose coaching philosophy is highly sought after by the NFL. Four straight BCS bowl appearances, the longest running coaching staff in college football, and unparalleled athletic and academic facilities don't hurt either.</p>
<p>And of course, having Chip around to close the deal on top targets will be a great boon. As mentioned numerous times before, Kelly has built up a reputation at Oregon for finishing the recruiting cycle very strong, often flipping committed players to the Ducks at or near signing day.</p>
<p>Top uncommitted players on Oregon's board include WR/S <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Juwaan-Williams-11473">Juwan Williams</a> from Georgia, OL <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Thomas-Oser-19604">Thomas Oser</a> and DE <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Austin-Hooper-18081">Austin Hooper</a> from California, and QB <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Tanner-McEvoy-187">Tanner McEvoy</a> from Arizona Western Junior College. It is thought that the Ducks will take 18-19 total players in the 2013 class.</p>
https://www.addictedtoquack.com/2013/1/6/3845396/chip-kelly-oregon-ducks-recruiting-football-nfl-momentumNoah Dee2013-01-05T14:58:01-08:002013-01-05T14:58:01-08:00How is Recruiting Affected by the Chip Kelly Saga?
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<figcaption>Gary Campbell and Mark Helfrich will be instrumental in holding together Oregon's recruiting class | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>While many head coaches are on the recruiting trail, Chip Kelly is entertaining offers from the NFL.</p> <p>For the past two days the best high school football players in the country have been participating in All-American games in Florida and Texas. Nine of Oregon's 13 commits were participants in the games, a great number considering the relatively small size of Oregon's class so far. A number of other Oregon targets were also on hand, several of whom were believed to favor the Ducks, including TE Thomas Duarte, WR John Ross, and RB Tarean Folston.</p>
<p>In total there were five players at the games who had Oregon as a finalist but none of them chose the Ducks. The obvious conclusion is that Chip Kelly's flirtations with the NFL are having an effect on Oregon's recruiting efforts. Instead of attending the games or hitting the recruiting trail after the bowl game, Kelly has been entertaining head coaching offers from Cleveland, Buffalo, and Philadelphia.</p>
<p>If Kelly does indeed go to the NFL, which at this point seems likely, the strength of the Ducks' recruiting class will probably take a hit. For a variety of reasons, this isn't that big of a deal. Oregon has recruited VERY well the last three years and enters the 2013 season with a lot of depth and experience. They don't need impact freshman the way that teams who graduate a lot of seniors or lose players to the NFL draft do.</p>
<p>In addition, this recruiting class was already going to be smaller than the past few due to so many returning players. It is expected that Oregon will sign 18-19 players total. They already have 13 verbal commitments, nine of whom are All-Americans. If the current class holds up as is, it should still be considered a strong one no matter who else signs with the Ducks. It wasn't that long ago (within the last decade) that Oregon was happy to sign three to four highly rated players. This year they have eight players who are rated four stars by at least one recruiting outlet.</p>
<p>Of course, if Chip does make the jump it could also impact players who are already committed. Tyree and Tyrell Robinson, four star athletes out of San Diego, have both indicated that they will look around if Chip leaves. There has also been speculation that WR Darren Carrington and RB Dontre Wilson could also take visits to other schools. Oregon's top commit, RB Thomas Tyner, has affirmed multiple times that he will stick around as long as Gary Campbell stays with Oregon. While there has been speculation that Campbell may be looking to retire, he did go back out on the recruiting trail after the Fiesta Bowl, which is a good sign. It will say a lot about the remaining coaching staff if they can convince these players to stick with the Ducks.</p>
<p>Regardless of what happens between now and signing day in February, the Oregon football team is stacked with talent for 2013. More important for the Oregon coaching staff will be how they rebound and adjust for the 2014 recruiting class.</p>
https://www.addictedtoquack.com/2013/1/5/3840270/how-much-is-the-uncertainty-around-chip-kelly-affecting-recruitingNoah Dee