Chip Kelly's Flirtation with NFL Is Great News for Oregon Football Recruiting

Oregon football fans went to sleep last Sunday night thinking their beloved head coach was headed to the NFL. Those same Oregon fans woke up Monday morning to the news that Chip Kelly was coming back.

The three-year coach was reportedly dangerously close to signing a deal that would make him head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Exactly one week later, Kelly and the Ducks received commitment from the fourth-best offensive tackle in the country according to ESPNU 150 rankings. Arik Armstead might not have chosen Oregon had Kelly split for the pros. The man in the visor wavering between college and the NFL will potentially improve Oregon's chances of landing high-profile recruits.

Dedication

Kelly was quoted as saying he had "unfinished business" at Oregon. This shows that he is committed to his team and finishing the job he started. Players don't want to commit to a team for which their head coach doesn't carry the same level of commitment.

Recruits will now be more likely to choose Oregon over other schools given their recent success and the constant flow of talent coming in, as well as Kelly staying on board. He's proven himself as one of the top coaches in the country in just three seasons, and all of his players seem to love him and his brilliant offense. Incoming players love knowing that the coach they commit to out of high school will be the same coach they will have when they graduate, and Kelly has confirmed that he is indeed here to accomplish his goal of winning a national championship.

High Profile

The fact that an NFL team was actively pursuing Kelly is another plus in terms of recruitment. Potential incoming players will surely be attracted to the thought of playing for a high-profile/future NFL coach such as Kelly; the likelihood of winning is greater, as is the opportunity to improve and get drafted eventually.

Not to mention, there aren't a lot of college athletes who don't want to be in the national spotlight every now and then.

Consistency

Kelly has showed time and time again that his teams can win. He has been faced with much adversity and has handled it with poise and clearly did not let it affect his team's performance. Coach Kelly has also proven that his system works and he's stuck with it. He makes good players great, and average players very good.

The Ducks coaching staff carries decades of experience, and everyone on the staff has been at Oregon for at least two years. The rapport the coaches have developed with one another as well as with their players is extremely valuable and attractive to potential recruits. When players know they're going to a winning program with a great coaching staff, everyone wins—literally. 

Time Is Now

Recruits now know that Coach Kelly is highly sought after at the next level and that he very well could end up in the NFL someday. That should make incoming players anxious to get a chance to play under Kelly while they still can. On the other hand, his NFL appeal could project a negative aspect onto the coach's recruiting methods.

Some players might be weary of playing for a coach who has NFL potential due to the fact that he might not be there for the player's entire collegiate career. Although Kelly has stated that his heart is in Oregon and he is determined to win a national title, if it happens in January, 2013 will his mission be accomplished? Will he ride his victory to the pros?

That remains to be seen, but for now he's staying put, and he's sure to succeed.