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How the Ducks were built
The "cool" factor has allowed Oregon to extend its recruiting footprint


If you change the uniforms, they will come. And come they have, from all regions of the country. Oregon has thrived on the "cool" factor, which has afforded the opportunity to infiltrate otherwise untouchable areas, like Texas and Hawaii, to expand the Ducks' footprint. The whole key for Oregon's recruiting under Mike Bellotti, Chip Kelly and now Mark Helfrich has been getting players to come on campus, which isn't easy given the location. However, when they do, Oregon usually wins. The Ducks have developed and evaluated very well and are starting to attract more high-profile guys, such as RB Royce Freeman.

Cumulative recruiting class rankings
Based on recruiting rankings alone, the Ducks have no business being in the College Football Playoff. Over the last five years, Oregon has recruited the 18th-best talent in the country, far behind the three other playoff teams: Alabama (first), Florida State (second) and Ohio State (fourth). Despite falling short in the national rankings, the Ducks have recruited very well in the Pac-12; only USC has brought in higher-ranked players in that time span.

Philosophy in action
The "cool" factor gives Oregon the opportunity to evaluate longer than just about any program in the country. In fact, from 2010-13, the Ducks built the majority of their classes (56 percent) after November of a player's senior year. Plus, the Ducks don't make an offer to a player until they see them in person on campus, which gives the coaching staff even more time for evaluating recruits. This wait-and-see approach has helped the Ducks identify and secure under-the-radar prospects and late bloomers while limiting their misses. By waiting out the recruiting process, Oregon finds exactly what it wants and needs and competes for championships.

Key out-of-state pipeline
Unlike the other College Football Playoff participants, the Ducks do not reside in a talent-rich state. Oregon, which has produced only the 35th-most FBS prospects since 2006, simply does not provide enough players to field a competitive team, so the Ducks must find talent in other places, like California. Over the last five classes, 31 percent of Oregon's signees are from the Golden State, including difference-makers Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, De'Anthony Thomas, Royce Freeman and Hroniss Grasu. While California is Oregon's main pipeline, the Ducks recruit nationally, as players from 22 states have suited up over the last few seasons. Oregon's ability to convince players to venture way beyond 274 miles from home, the median for all FBS recruits, has been a great asset on the trail.

Inside Oregon's Classes
Oregon's recruiting classes are generally nowhere near the top 10 in the rankings, and the 2015 class is ranked No. 19. Development and long-range scouting is the name of the Ducks' game as finding the right fit is more important than star power.

Year Rank ESPN 300 Commits Top Recruit
2010 22 4 Lache Seastrunk
2011 14 5 De'Anthony Thomas
2012 18 3 Arik Armstead
2013 26 5 Thomas Tyner
2014 27 5 Arrion Springs


Recruits who exceeded expectations
Marcus Mariota just won the Heisman Trophy, but he was not a heralded recruit coming out of Saint Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mariota, who was more of a track star in high school, started only one year under center and had just one other football scholarship offer. On the other side of the ball, cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu was a four-star coming out of high school, but he was not offered by in-state powers USC and UCLA. In Eugene, Ekpre-Olomu has played like a five-star, as he is a three-time, first-team All-Pac-12 player and an All-American in 2014.

Signature recruit now in the NFL
Although he is small in stature, De'Anthony Thomas was a hugely hyped prospect coming out of Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles) in 2011. Thomas was the No. 16 player in the country, one of the fastest and most dynamic players in recent memory as well as a Pop Warner legend who was anointed the "Black Mamba" by rapper Snoop Dogg when Thomas was just 12 years old. He was a big-deal recruit, and his signature was an even bigger deal for Oregon because it made Eugene a legitimate destination for the best players in California, specifically Los Angeles. -- Tom Johnson and Tom Luginbill

Sustaining success in 2015
Oregon looks destined to finish, at worst, with a top-20 recruiting class in 2015. With this class, the Ducks have officially turned the corner from grabbing under-recruited prospects who fit their system and are instead winning huge recruiting battles for some of the country's top prospects. Immediate impact players dot the top of the class, as 6-foot-6, 280-pound defensive end Canton Kaumatule will enroll early and could see time in the rotation as a freshman. Running back Taj Griffin isn't likely to supplant Royce Freeman as the starting tailback but is talented enough to not need a redshirt year.

What the future holds
The 2016 class is already off to a fast start for the Ducks, as they hold commitments from three ESPN Junior 300 prospects. Quarterback Seth Green was Oregon's top target at the position, while safety Brady Breeze is a local standout and wide receiver Dillon Mitchell is a two-sport star with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State and Ohio State, among others. The Ducks don't often send out a number of offers to the upcoming class, but Oregon's success on the field already has it in the mix for recruits who could make next year's haul ever more impressive than the 2015 group. -- Erik McKinney