Vander Ploog Breaks Down Oregon Visit
Oregon is looking to add the top offensive talent its 2025 recruiting class. One prospect the Ducks have been doing their homework on is Fullerton (Calif.) Troy tight end Vander Ploog.
He was in Eugene for a visit during spring practice and ScoopDuck caught up with him to get the latest in his recruitment.
Ploog’s first trip to Eugene didn’t disappoint.
“It was awesome,” he said. “Just getting to see the amazing facilities that Oregon has on display and really seeing kind of the environment that the guys are creating. That was big for me to see. Guys running around, quarterbacks sprinting from drill to drill, that’s important, the character aspect they are developing is definitely something that’s important to me.”
Another highlight for the rising tight end prospect was getting to meet Wilson Love, Oregon’s strength and conditioning coach.
“I really like the environment that they’ve built up there. Their strength coach is awesome. It was good to get to see him and finally have him see me, be able to work out and show him what I can bring to the table.”
The 6-foot-6, 222-pound tight end liked a lot of what he saw from the Ducks and a couple aspects are standing out the most.
“Just the way that they utilize their tight ends. I feel like that’s definitely something big for me and also kind of the way they have a developmental plan. That’s big to me, getting to the best level that I can be.”
Troy is just starting spring football practice here in Southern California and Oregon tight end coach Drew Mehringer stopped by to see Ploog in person earlier this week. He spoke to the relationship the two have been able to build.
“He’s awesome,” he said of Mehringer. “He’s a straight up guy and that’s what I really appreciate. He was kind of telling me what I can improve on and what I need to show him. So I’m glad to be getting that coaching from such a high level guy.”
Ploog hasn’t officially been offered by the Ducks yet, but it sounds like one may not be far off.
“He (Mehringer) was super straight up about their board right now and where I stand. He said that they see me working. I’m definitely starting to get up there for him which is big to hear for me.”
Aside from Oregon, the Southern California prep was able to take his first official visit to Washington earlier this month.
“It was good,” Ploog said. “That was my family’s first time getting up there, so me and my family we went up there. They enjoyed it. It was cool. It was good talking to the coaches and seeing what they bring to it.”
The Huskies have seen a lot of change this offseason with the hire of Jedd Fisch, but Ploog has built some solid relationships as he continues to give Washington a look in his recruitment.”
“Just kind of the environment that they’re creating over there,” he said of what stood out in Seattle. “I really like their strength coach’s view on it. He was a good dude and I was thinking about it, that’s where I’m gonna spend most of my time is in that weight room. So I definitely wanna have a good relationship with the strength coach.”
Next up for Ploog is an official visit out in Dallas this weekend to see the SMU Mustangs.
“They’re probably my newest school that I’ve been talking to. They reached out a few weeks ago and we set up a visit pretty quick just to go kind of see Texas. I have family out there so we’re gonna go see what’s going on.”
Ploog, who also plays basketball and baseball, isn’t in a rush to make a decision as his stock continues to rise.
“I’m thinking definitely probably either later in the summer or earlier into the school year.”
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