Impact: What’s Next at Defensive Back?

On Monday Oregon landed a huge cornerback commitment. Which technically gives Oregon two corner commits and two safety commits in the 2024 class. Yes, I can add too, that’s four defensive back commits.

In the 2023 class, Oregon signed what appears to be three corners and three safeties at the prep level. I’m counting Cole Martin as a STAR in Oregon’s secondary. (Nickel) That doesn’t count the two corners and two safeties they signed via the transfer portal.

The room is filling up but it’s hard to know how many of those transfers will return for a second season.

So what’s next? Well I imagine we are getting relatively close to full. But there are a couple of question marks.

Will Oregon continue to pursue JUCO corner Sione Laulea? He recently named his top five which included Oregon. And I continue to hear it’s an Oregon-Penn State battle. I doubt the flip of Fields will sway his decision. So if Oregon feels like they are in great shape, I would imagine they will take Laulea’s commitment.

Following Saturday Night Live, Oregon offered defensive back Elyjah Gordon. After talking to Gordon last week he said Oregon likes him at corner. I could see him also playing safety. So we’ll just call him a defensive back. At this point, should Oregon land Laulea with Fields, I doubt Gordon would have a spot.

At the moment I think we’re keeping a very distant eye on Georgia safety commit Peyton Woodyard. USC is certainly pushing hard for Woodyard and I could see Oregon trying to make a potential late play. Originally Georgia also had Jaylen Heyward committed in the class and looked like the team to beat for 5-Star KJ Bolden. However Bolden committed to Florida State over the weekend. I’m not saying Oregon is the team to beat, just that they’ll continue to recruit Woodyard later into the cycle.

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