Oregon Ducks football coach Mario Cristobal doesn’t need much help when it comes to recruiting.
Prior to his promotion to head coach, Oregon had never signed the top recruiting class in the Pac-10/12.
So far, he’s been the head man for three recruiting cycles and the Ducks have led the conference all three years.
The 2022 recruiting cycle marks his fourth and Oregon is currently No. 7 in the country and No. 1 in the Pac-12 Conference.
But those results will get even better in the 2023 recruiting cycle.
On this week’s “Recruiting with Andrew Nemec” on 1080 The FAN, I explain how all the stars are aligning for a massive recruiting haul next year.
Just a few of the factors:
- Oregon is set for a big season after beating Ohio State, establishing itself as a legitimate college football playoff contender
- Several of the traditional power recruiters in the Pac-12 Conference are slumping at the wrong time: Arizona State (NCAA investigation, multiple coaches suspended), California (0-2 start, key decommitments), Washington (historic 0-2 start, Jimmy Lake on the hot seat) and USC (fired coach Clay Helton two games into the season)
But the biggest advantage Cristobal and his coaching staff may have going forward comes from USC’s coaching search.
According to
I hear that #USC’s top choice for job is Oregon coach Mario Cristobal
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 16, 2021 " target="_blank">veteran reporter Scott Wolf, USC’s primary target for the vacant coaching job is Cristobal.
I hear that #USC’s top choice for job is Oregon coach Mario Cristobal
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 16, 2021
Assuming he stays in Eugene, Cristobal can go into any living room in the country, especially California, and have a sizable advantage over the Trojans, his primary competition for top prospects on the West Coast.
Sitting across from recruits and parents who are considering Oregon and USC, Cristobal can say, “I’m the best coach to develop your son. USC can’t tell you that because they hired (Coach X), but I was the top choice.”
It’s a major recruiting tool - and one that Cristobal and his staff could use liberally for a massive 2023 recruiting haul.
Listen here (if embed doesn’t load, click here):
Full show:
-- Andrew Nemec | anemec@oregonian.com | @AndrewNemec