Oregon Football Recruiting: The Ducks Need to Pick Up the Slow Pace for 2013

Years ago, I worked for Nike. One morning, a day after I had produced a terrific event with Andre Agassi and Nike employees on the Oregon campus, Phil Knight was behind me in the coffee line. He tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Great event yesterday. What are you going to do for Nike today?"

I thought about that when I sat down to write a Ducks recruiting story this morning. No matter how good your last recruiting class was, next year is already looming, and you'd better come up with some juicy talent.

There is no resting on your laurels—not if you don't want the rest of the world (Urban Meyer) to pass you by.

While we're all waiting with much anticipation to see Byron Marshall, Kyle Long, the Amoako brothers and the rest of the 2012 class this fall, who are the Ducks working on for 2013?

Are they falling behind competing schools?

I fear the answer to that question is yes. While the Ducks are traditionally slow out of the recruiting gate, this feels slower than usual.

Oregon doesn't sign any prospects until they have visited the campus, which is one reason why they usually finish better than they start. I've always felt that policy is smart because it's usually raining when the recruits visit, so they know what they're getting into weather-wise before they commit.

But I am getting antsy. As of today, there are seven 5-star prospects from all corners of the country who have Oregon on their "interested in" list, and almost too many 4-stars to list. Depending on which list you believe, there are between 17-20 of the Top 100 prospects who have the Ducks on their short lists.

Let's go, Ducks! Turn a couple of these superstars from "interested" to "committed," and let's keep this party going.

Who's In?

First, the good news if you are a Duck fan: Oregon has had three consecutive consensus Top 20 recruiting classes.

With that in mind, maybe we need to chill out, keep the faith and let head coach Chip Kelly and his assistants methodically do their jobs.

Nah.

Let's panic, because we only have two commits to date. They are, however, good ones, and it warms my fifth-generation Oregonian heart to tell you that the Ducks are winning the battle for the elite, in-state talent.

Five-star running back Thomas Tyner from Aloha High School in Beaverton, Ore., is listed as the No. 20 overall prospect by Scout.com. Some people even think he's the best high school RB in the country.

So, a big fat "Yippee!" on this one.

Also committed (two weeks ago) is West Linn offensive lineman Evan Voeller. Since the Ducks signed only one OL recruit in 2012, this was one of biggest areas of need in 2013. Voeller is one of the top OL prospects out West and is a 4-star recruit.

RB and OL are both areas where the depth is suspect, so this is a good start to get commitments from these two outstanding young players.

Who's next?

If I Could Choose...

Not one Oregon coach has ever asked my opinion about who to recruit—go figure.

But I'm going to tell you who I would chase if I were them.

No. 1 on my list would be DT Eddie Vanderdoes. You may not think this position is as glamorous as, say, signing a 4-5-star QB, but DT is a position where the Ducks are weak.

Vanderdoes is a 5-star DT out of Auburn, Calif. The 6'4", 285-pound youngster is listed as the No. 15 overall prospect in the country on Scout.com.

While Vanderdoes includes Oregon as one of his schools of interest, many of the country's top programs—including Alabama, Notre Dame and Michigan—are also on his list.

Sign this kid, Oregon, and all the boo-birds whining about your slow pace would shut up.

No. 2 on my list would be safety Antonio Conner from Batesville, Miss. John Boyett (John Boyett for Heisman) is not going to be around forever, you know, and I don't see a lot of depth at this position.

This 5-star's schools of interest list is shorter than Vanderdoes', but it includes the usual suspects in his neck of the woods—LSU, Georgia, Alabama, ad nauseum.

Let's steal one from right under their noses, okay Ducks?

If the Ducks don't land Vanderdoes, Montravius Adams is a 5-star DT from Vienna, Ga., and he  would be a sweet get. Adams has said he wants an official visit to Oregon, which has to be a good sign.

Overall No. 1 prospect DE Robert Nkemdiche still has Oregon on his interest list as well, but you have to feel he's a long shot to stray too far from his native Georgia. But talk about your impact get if Oregon could pull it off—whoohee! (Is that the way they talk in Georgia)?

What About the Offensive Side?

Wide receiver may or may not be a position the Ducks need in 2013. We have to see how the kids from the 2012 class compete.

If Oregon needs to fill some depth at WR, this is the guy I want: Robert Foster from Monaca, Pa.

Unfortunately, it's doubtful that I am the only fan in the country who has noticed this 5-star recruit. Scout.com has Foster listed as the No. 3 overall prospect.

Foster has Oregon as one of the 12 schools he's interested in. I think the movie star-handsome WR would fit in well with the flashiest offensive team in the nation, don't you?

Four-star running back Dontre Wilson, formerly thought to have narrowed his choices to Oregon and Texas, has pushed back the date of his announcement from May 25; turns out he's decided to visit Ohio State.

Dear Mr. Wilson, here's what I would say to you: "Noooooo, not the dark side!" In the meantime, Gary Campbell, please do something.

Losing Wilson might not be excruciating if Oregon still has a chance at 5-star RB Justin Davis from Stockton, Calif. Davis is highly sought-after as a consensus Top 20 overall prospect, and he appears to be leaning toward staying in the West. Davis is rumored to be making his decision this week.

Yes, Thomas Tyner is probably ahead of these guys, but Tyner is currently experiencing some hamstring trouble. I'd love to get another 4- or 5-star RB, just to be safe.

But wait, there's more.

In No Particular Order...

Here are some additional prospects, all of whom have Oregon as a school of interest, who appeal to me:

OLB Michael Hutchings

Hutchings is a 5-star from De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. Oregon is one of 12 schools on his list.

TE Josh McNeil

McNeil, a 4-star from Durham, N.C., has said that an official visit to Oregon "would be a dream come true." Sounds like a plan to me.

MLB Peter Kalambayi

The 4-star from North Carolina has indicated that Oregon is "in his top 5."

OT Nico Falah

If you read this space often, then you know I am high on this kid from Bellflower, Calif. And many of you believe that the O-line continues to be a weakness for the Ducks.

This leads us to ask, what's the holdup?

So, What Is the Holdup?

I have some questions.

Are the Ducks behind in recruiting, or are they ahead?

Last year at this time, they had one commitment; this year they have two. But it does seem that other schools are pulling ahead of Oregon—in some cases, considerably ahead.

Are recruits leery of Oregon because of Chip Kelly's NFL flirtation and his unwillingness to promise that he will be around for their college careers?

Personally, I feel this is a big issue. I think the conventional wisdom is, if Oregon wins it all this year, Kelly is gone. And, if I put myself in the shoes of top prospects, Kelly leaving is a factor, no matter how honest he is about it or how Oregon tries to sugarcoat it.

Is Gary Campbell so distraught that LaMichael James will soon be leaving Eugene that he can't yet talk to potential replacements?

Probably not; the guy is a long-standing professional in the Oregon program. However, he is human, after all.

Gary, pull yourself together, and go out there and get one of these special RBs!

Is Oregon really a candidate to pull in one of these top defensive players?

If these kids are paying attention, they will see that the Ducks have been playing some pretty good defense the past couple of years. If my son is a top prospect on the defensive side of the ball and Nick Aliotti is sitting in my living room, I'm there.

So, get out there, guys. We all know you will do these kids a tremendous favor by convincing them to commit to Oregon, so let's pick up the pace and turn some heads!

Kay Jennings is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.