Jimmie Swain Commits to Oregon: Ducks Land 4-Star OLB

Just a day after losing star running back De’Anthony Thomas to the NFL, via Goducks.com’s Rob Moseley, the Oregon Ducks got some good news in the form of linebacker Jimmie Swain.

A 4-star recruit, Swain has decided to take his talents to Eugene in 2014, via 247Sports’ Justin Hopkins:

Swain later made the news official on his Twitter page:

It’s a much-needed boost to an Oregon program that will need to recover quickly after losing Thomas for next season. Not to mention, the school was recently left off of the final six by highly touted 5-star cornerback Adoree Jackson last week, via his Twitter account.

Regardless, Swain’s commitment makes him the Ducks’ eighth 4-star recruit according to the 247 composite rankings. His addition also brings the school’s 2014 class up to No. 15 in the nation.

For Swain, the deciding factor came down to the men roaming the sidelines.

“At Oregon it’s the whole coaching staff,” he told ESPN’s Damon Sayles (h/t The Dallas Morning News’ E.J. Holland). “My mom really enjoyed them when she came to visit. They’ve been at Oregon so long, and the football there speaks for itself, when a 10-2 season is considered a bad season.”

At 6'2", 229 pounds, Swain has all the physical traits of an explosive defender. Just from watching his tapes, the Olathe, Kan., native displays the instincts and assertive edge that was lacking from the Oregon defense in 2013.

Aside from the Ducks, Swain also considered Texas A&M, Arkansas and Michigan State.