Oregon adds Under-the-Radar in-State QB Justin Herbert

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The Oregon Ducks shocked many in the high school football recruiting world when accepting a verbal commitment from in-state quarterback Justin Herbert on Thursday. Herbert’s under the radar status connecting with Oregon was not the shocking part but the Ducks now have three quarterbacks committed to their 2016 class.

Herbert’s recruiting stock may have been higher coming into his senior year had his junior season not been limited to three games but as is the Ducks look to have found a hidden gem. The 6’5”, 215 pound, gunslinger made the most of his three games passing for 688 yards with 10 touchdowns while avoiding a pick. In true Oregon dual-threat quarterback style, he had 161 yards on the ground with one touchdown off 29 carries helping lead Sheldon High School to an 11-2 mark.

The Irish are off to a 3-1 record in 2015 with Herbert leading the charge. He already has 1,220 yards passing with 14 touchdowns against two interceptions and has ran for 226 yards on 41 carries with four additional scores.

Oregon did not have much of a fight to land Herbert against other Division-I programs, in fact there were none. Montana State, Northern Arizona, and Portland State are the only teams to have reportedly extended scholarship offers.

The Ducks now have 14 verbal commitments to their 2016 class, curiously three are quarterbacks. Herbert joins 4-star recruit Seth Green (Minnesota – Allen, Texas) and Terry Wilson. Oregon’s lone 2015 quarterback signed was Servite High School’s Travis Waller.

2016 Oregon Ducks Verbal Commitment List

CB Jared Mayden 6’0”, 190 lbs, Sachse HS, Sachse, Texas

CB Troy Warner, 6’0”, 185 lbs, Mission Hills HS, San Marcos, California

SS Brady Breeze, 6’0”, 185 lbs, Central Catholic HS, Portland, Oregon

SS Troy Dye, 6’3”, 210 lbs, Norco HS, Norco, California

LB Darrian Franklin, 6’1”, 210 lbs, Downey HS, Downey, California

LB LaMar Winston, 6’4”, 200 lbs, Central Catholic HS, Portland, Oregon

DE Hunter Kampmoyer, 6’4”, 240 lbs, Bishop HS, Bishop, California

OG Jacob Capra, 6’5”, 265 lbs, Placer HS, Auburn, California

OT Logan Bathke, 6’5”, 260 lbs, Lutheran HS, Orange, California

TE Cameron McCormick, 6’5”, 230 lbs, Summit HS, Bend, Oregon

RB Vavae Malepeai, 6’0”, 195 lbs, Mililani HS, Mililani, Hawaii

WR Dillon Mitchell, 6’0”, 191 lbs, White Station HS, Memphis, Tennessee

QB Seth Green, 6’4”, 216 lbs, Allen HS, Allen, Texas

QB Justin Herbert, 6’6”, 215 lbs, Sheldon HS, Eugene, Oregon

QB Terry Wilson, 6’3”, 190 lbs, Del City HS, Del City, Oklahoma

Photo credit: kval.com; No. 3 Justin Herbert in action.