Who signed with Oregon football on Early National Signing Day?

Published 2:39 pm Friday, December 6, 2024

Friday, Dec. 6, marks the end of the three-day early signing period in college football, with a majority of Oregon’s class of 2025 recruits signing their letters of intent to become Ducks for next season. 

As of Dec. 6, Ducks head coach Dan Lanning and his staff have gotten the signatures of 21 total players. The haul has the Ducks sitting at the No. 4 in the nation, trailing just Texas, Alabama and Georgia. Oregon holds the highest-ranked recruiting class in the Big 10 at the time of writing, with only Ohio State (No. 4) and Michigan (No. 7) in the top 10 of 247Sports’ rankings. 

The following are brief breakdowns of all 21 signed players. More in-depth assessments can be found with the link attached to each’s name. 

Dakorien Moore, WR, Texas 

Moore became the highest-rated commitment in Dan Lanning’s three-year tenure and the highest since Kayvon Thibodeaux in 2019.

Hailing from Duncanville High School, Moore is rated as the No. 1 receiver in the country, the No. 4 player in the state of Texas and the No. 8 player in the country. He made his commitment official on July 4, choosing the Ducks despite expectations he’d choose Texas.

Moore signed his NLI on Dec. 4.

Na’eem Offord, CB, Alabama 

Offord became the second-highest rated recruit in the class when he flipped from Ohio State to Oregon on Dec. 4. He had previously been committed to the Buckeyes since Feb. 4.

Offord is rated as the No. 12 player in the country, the No. 2 cornerback in the nation and the No. 1 player form the state of Alabama. Many analysts had expected Offord to flip his commitment from Ohio State, but the majority thought it would be to sign with Auburn, his choice of Oregon was a major surprise. 

Offord’s blend of size, patience and cat-quick reactionary athleticism allow him the unique ability to match up and mirror any combination of opposing size, speed, and quickness at the receiver position,” 247Sports national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna wrote about Offord in June. “A toolsy corner with an uptick in ball production as a junior, the Parker High School standout projects as a high level multi-year starter with the ability to quickly become one of college football’s top corner prospects and develop into a potential Top-20 NFL Draft choice.”

Offord chose Oregon over offers from Florida, Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn and Colorado amongst others. He took six official visits, including his trip to Oregon on June 14. 

Dallas Wilson, WR, Florida 

Wilson has been committed to Oregon since Jan. 17, 2023, when he was just a sophomore. According to 247Sports’ recruiting rankings, the five-star recruit is the No. 3 wide receiver in his class and the No. 3 overall player in the state of Florida.

Wilson’s long-standing commitment didn’t stop him from taking visits to Miami, Florida State, Florida and UCF, but ultimately stuck with the Ducks when he signed his NLI on Dec. 4.

Trey McNutt, S, Ohio 

The fourth and final five-star talent Oregon signed Wednesday was McNutt. 

The native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, is viewed as the No. 28 player in the country, the No. 2 player in the state of Ohio and the No. 2 safety in the nation. He made his commitment official Aug. 3 and signed his NLI on Dec. 4. 

McNutt took visits to USC, Florida and Texas A&M along with Oregon. He also held offers from Georgia, Ohio State and Michigan amongst others. 

Brandon Finney, CB, Maryland 

Finney’s recruiting profile lists him as an athlete, but it’s expected he’ll be playing cornerback for Oregon. According to 247Sports composite rankings, he’s viewed as the No. 5 cornerback in the nation and the No. 1 player in the state of Maryland.

His commitment to Oregon came four days after his official visit on June 21, picking Oregon over schools like Michigan, Georgia and Ohio State.

Douglas Utu, OL, Nevada 

Hailing from one of the most respected high school programs in America in Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman, Utu made his commitment to Oregon official Sept. 26 and signed his NLI Dec. 4.

Oregon’s 247 recruiting tracker lists him as an offensive tackle, while the recruiting database has him as an interior offensive lineman in their rankings. He’s rated as a four-star, considered the No. 77 player in the country, the No. 1 player in the state of Nevada and the No. 4 interior offensive lineman nationally.

Utu did not take an official visit to Eugene, but chose Oregon over offers from Tennessee, Alabama and Michigan amongst others.

Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele, QB, Hawaii

A signing day flip for the Ducks, Keawe Sagapolutele’s commitment means a new left-handed Hawaiian quarterback on the Ducks roster. 

Keawe Sagapolutele had been committed to Cal since July 8 and has been one of the biggest risers in the nation. Some outlets view him as a five star, but the 247 composite rankings have him as the No. 88 player in the country, the No. 9 quarterback and the No. 1 player from the state of Hawaii. 

Keawe Sagapolutele has clearly established himself as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks this off-season,” 247Sports national recruitign analyst Greg Biggins wrote about the quarterback in July. “n make an argument he has the strongest arm in the country but doesn’t just throw all fastballs and has really improved in his ability to change speeds and throw with touch. His deep ball accuracy is among the best in the country as well and he can really layer the football in to tight windows…

“The next big jump we want to see this fall is improving his mobility, avoiding sacks and being more of a threat running the ball when the pocket breaks down. All the physical tools are there and Keawe Sagapolutele has a very high ceiling and NFL potential if he continues to develop at his current rate.”

Keawe Sagapolutele also held offers from Oregon State, Georgia, Washington and UCLA amongst others. Eugene was his final official visit, coming to town Oct. 26. He signed his NLI on Dec. 4. 

Ziyare Addison, IOL, Florida 

Addison plays left tackle for Sumner High School in Riverview, Florida, but is listed as an interior offensive lineman in his recruiting profile, suggesting an expected move to guard or center. Addison is a four-star recruit and is considered by 247Sports as the No. 10 IOL in the class, the No. 94 player nationally and the No. 13 player in Florida.

He also adds a multi-sport profile competing in both wrestling and track, clocking an impressive 12.84 100-meters at 6-foot-5, 290 pounds as well as going 7-2 on the mat.

Addison committed to Oregon on June 10 after visiting three days earlier. He also took visits to Penn State and Florida before signing with the Ducks on Dec. 4. 

Cooper Perry, WR, Arizona 

Perry hails from Scottsdale, Arizona, and has played all of his prep ball for Notre Dame Preparatory High School. He signed his NIL on Dec. 4.

A two-time Under Armor All-American on the lacrosse field, Perry has decided to pursue a football career long term. On the gridiron, Perry is considered the No. 2 player from the state of Arizona, the No. 18 WR and the No. 147 player in the nation.

Perry officially visited Oregon on June 7 after announcing his commitment April 10.

Dierre Hill, RB, Illinois 

Hill, a two way athlete playing both cornerback and running back, was named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year for the second-straight season in 2024. Hill is expected to play running back for Oregon and is viewed as the No. 10 running back nationally, the No. 5 player in his state and the No. 156 player in the country. 

Hill committed to Oregon on May 10, visited Eugene on June 21 and signed his NLI on Dec. 4. He chose Oregon over offers from Ole Miss and Ohio State, amongst others. 

Jordon Davison, RB, California 

The second running back to sign in the cycle, Davison is considered the No. 12 back in the country, the No. 14 player from the state of California and the No. 166 player nationally. 

Davison hails from west coast powerhouse Mater Dei High School and earned over 50 offers in his recruitment. He committed to Oregon on June 28, two weeks after his official visit, signing on Dec. 4. Davison chose the Ducks over offers from Ohio State, Michigan and Alabama. 

Nasir Wyatt, EDGE, California 

Another signee from Mater Dei, Wyatt is ranked just behind Davison as the No. 15 player in the state of California. He is also viewed as the No. 21 player at his position and the No. 181 player in the country. 

Wyatt announced his commitment May 3, signing with Oregon on Dec. 4 and turning down offers from Alabama, Auburn and Baylor. 

Akili Smith Jr., QB, California 

The second of three quarterback signings in the 2025 class, Smith Jr. is the son of former Oregon quarterback Akili Smith Sr. 

Smith Jr. has been committed to Oregon since July 31, 2023 and signed nearly 18 months later on Dec. 4. Smith Jr. is viewed as the No. 17 player in California, the No. 17 quarterback in the class and the No. 194 player in the nation. 

Smith Jr. took no other visits, but chose Oregon with offers from Cal, Boston College and Colorado on the table. 

Vander Ploog, TE, California 

The final player in the Top 200 for Oregon, Ploog has been committed to Oregon since Nov. 10 after decommiting from Washington and signed with the Ducks on Dec. 4. 

“(Ploog) only played football for two years but shows natural talent,” Greg Biggins wrote about Ploog in February. “Still raw in some areas and needs to add upper body mass and strength to help become more physical in the run game but has frame to do so. Can make plays down the field, wins 50-50 balls and contested catches and already looks more fluid and explosive getting in and out of his breaks this off-season.”

Ploog was rated as the No. 10 tight end nationally as the No. 198 player in the country and No. 18 player in California. He chose Oregon over Washington, Utah, Arizona State and others. 

Alai Kalaniuvalu, IOL, Nevada 

Another offensive lineman from Bishop Gorman, Kalaniuvalu committed to Oregon on July 10. 

The Utah native moved from Provo to Las Vegas to play for the Gaels, also moving from offensive tackle to center. Kalaniuvalu is expected to stick at center at the next level, being touted as the No. 4 player in the state, the No. 11 interior offensive lineman and the No. 204 player nationally. 

Kalaniuvalu chose Oregon over offers from Utah, USC, Michigan and Nebraska when he signed his NLI on Dec. 4. 

Gavin Nix, LB, Florida 

Nix, who shares no relation to the former Duck quarterback, made his commitment to Oregon on Dec. 3 after decommitting from Miami the same day. he signed with the Ducks on Dec. 4. 

Nix hails from IMG Academy, an east coast football powerhouse and chose Oregon over offers from Miami, Florida State, Alabama and more than 20 others. He is rated as the No. 26 linebacker, No. 35 Florida recruit and No. 239 player nationally. 

247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins compared Nix to former Georgia Bulldog Nakobe Dean and said, “(Nix is a) battle-tested, high-IQ linebacker that displays outstanding key-and-diagnose ability for his age. Will exit IMG Academy as a multi-year starter after earning varsity snaps as a sophomore. Sifts through traffic with a win-at-all-cost mentality and is consistently violent at the point of attack. Should offer some value at the next level as a blitzer with his stack-and-shed capabilities.” 

Zac Stascausky, OT, Oregon 

Another flip from rival Washington, Stascausky committed to the Ducks on Dec. 1 and signed Dec. 4. He is one of three in-state signings, hailing from Central Catholic High School. 

“Stascausky plays left tackle for Central Catholic and shows the feet, balance and length to play tackle at the college level as well,” Biggins wrote of the local product. “He’s pushing 6-6 with a well proportioned 280 pound frame and room to add good weight down the road. He’s light on his feet and shows the mobility you want to see in a young lineman. He’s fluid as a pass blocker and can get down the field and has no issues putting his body on a linebacker or safety. He’s a finisher as a run blocker and plays through the whistle.

“There’s highlights of him taking his man 40 yards down the field before burying him in to the turf. You want a lineman with some edge and nastiness to him and Stascausky shows it on a consistent basis.”

Stascausky is rated as the No. 1 player from the state of Oregon, the No. 27 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 243 player nationally. He chose to stay in-state despite offers from Michigan, Georgia, Washington and others. 

Tobi Haastrup, EDGE, Texas 

Another signing day flip, Haastrup was born in London and did not start playing football until his senior year of high school. 

Haastrup stands at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and posted impressive track and field times in the 100 meters and 200, with a 10.93 and 21.89, respectively. He also competed in shotput with a 52-foot toss. 

Despite just one year on the football field, Haastrup was rated as the No. 24 edge rusher in the class, the No. 270 player nationally, the No. 37 player from Texas and garnered 23 offers. Oregon was his final visit on Nov. 30 before committing on signing day. 

Matthew Johnson, EDGE, California 

Johnson committed to Oregon on Feb. 9 before signing his NLI on Dec. 4.

Hailing from De La Salle High School, Johnson was rated as the No. 323 player in the country, the No. 33 edge rusher in the nation and the No. 27 player in the state. 

Johnson’s only visit came to Oregon on Nov. 30, but also held offers from Arizona, Texas A&M and Miami amongst others. 

Demetri Manning, OL, Washington 

Manning hails from Bellevue, Washington and made his commitment to Oregon on June 11 after his visit to Eugene four days earlier. He signed his NLI on Dec. 4. 

At 6-foot-6, 336 pounds, Manning plays left tackle for Bellevue High School but is listed in his recruiting profile as a player to potentially move to the interior. He is ranked as the No. 4 player in the state, No. 39 interior offensive lineman and No. 549 player in the nation. 

Mark Wiepert, QB, Oregon 

A local product from Wilsonville High School, Wiepert was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Oregon on Dec. 6. He is not currently rated by any recruiting outlets, but was offered by the Ducks following his eight-touchdown performance in the 5A state championship. 

Wiepert played both safety and quarterback for Wilsonville and is currently slated to attend Oregon as a quarterback. Prior to his signing with Oregon, Wiepert was committed to play baseball at Oregon State as a catcher.