The Oregon Ducks made the top five for 247Sports four-star cornerback Steven Ortiz Jr. this weekend, which should come as no surprise.
Rated the nation’s No. 17 cornerback, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound defensive back, out of Desert Edge High School (Goodyear, Arizona), has taken three unofficial visits to Eugene and has already built a strong bond with the coaching staff.
“What stands out about Oregon is the energy of the program and just the winning tradition,” Ortiz said. “I also have a great relationship with coach (Mario) Cristobal and the whole staff.”
That energy was on full display when Ortiz visited Oregon for its 37-35 victory over Washington State last October.
While a win or loss on a visit is rarely a dealbreaker, the Arizona product said the added excitement of a last-second victory left a lasting impression - and he hopes to return for a fourth trip when the NCAA’s coronavirus emergency recruiting “dead period” is over.
“It definitely enhances it because it was such an exciting moment,” he said. “I’m not sure when I can visit again with all this virus stuff it all depends, (but) that would be awesome to visit again.”
The competition to land Ortiz will be fierce, with Washington being viewed as an early favorite by recruiting experts.
And for good reason, as 247Sports laid out in its scouting report:
“Lean, muscular build and strong lower half. Should be able to add some weight and maintain quickness. Stingy defender who thrives in one-on-one battles. Comfortable in space and sticks to receivers in and out of their breaks. Very good ball skills. Competitive play-maker with the straight-line speed to blanket his side of the secondary. Instinctual corner who can fill various roles in the defense. Could improve physicality and tackling technique, particularly in run support. Upside to be a multi-year starter at Power Five level and NFL Draft Day 3 potential.”
-- Andrew Nemec | anemec@oregonian.com | @AndrewNemec