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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Midway through a slick commitment video that featured Oregon head coach Dan Lanning explaining how five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord would fit into his program, a familiar octogenarian popped up on screen: Nike cofounder Phil Knight.
The Oregon super booster didn’t say anything in the video that announced Offord, the nation’s No. 2 cornerback and No. 12 overall prospect, had flipped his commitment from Ohio State to Oregon’s 2025 class. But his presence wasn’t a coincidence.
“Uncle Phil,” as he’s known to Oregon players, is doing everything he can to deliver a national title for his beloved Ducks. Getting a must-have 6-foot-1 five-star cornerback out of the state of Alabama and away from Oregon’s toughest Big Ten competition was just part of the plan.
“He played a big role, like a huge, big role,” Offord told CBS Sports of Phil Knight. “He’s actually waiting on me to get up there, he’s got a lot of stuff planned for me. He’s gonna help me make my shoe.”
Knight helped Oregon earn the status of Wednesday’s big winner of the early signing period. In addition to Offord, Oregon flipped four-star quarterback Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele away from old Pac-12 rival Cal and held off Florida to sign five-star receiver Dallas Wilson. The Ducks have the nation’s No. 4 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, which is especially impressive given it only has 19 signees.
With four five-star prospects, Oregon has 247Sports’ highest-rated average recruit at 93.77. Oregon signed two of the nation’s top five receivers (Wilson and Dakorien Moore) and two of the nation’s top five cornerbacks (Offord and Brandon Finney).
Major credit goes to Lanning, one of the best recruiting head coaches in the country, and his chief of…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/phil-knight-spares-no-nil-deal-in-thirst-for-oregon-national-title-hes-gonna-help-me-make-my-shoe/
Author : John Talty
Publish date : 2024-12-05 02:17:00
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