Ponder Point:

Getting ready for the season and watching some old games, I find myself wondering something, and I would really appreciate feedback from this Most Incredible Forum With Decorum.

Given Dan Lanning's enormously successful recruiting strategy with an emphasis on Team, character, authenticity, strong relationships, with a focus on family values and building a winning culture, I have been wondering if you guys (Oh Most Learned Fishduck Aficionados) think that Dan Lanning and crew would have tried to recruit Cliff Harris or Colt Lyerla (or any other wildly gifted former Ducks who self-destructed)?

I personally thought both of them were exceptionally talented, but felt they were a little more "it's all about me" than the Dudes who Dan has recruited. Thoughts?

With Lanning, Cliff could have experienced the professional culture he's brought to the team and that could have help him sturdy his career with more professional decision making. With Harris, Lanning would have had one of the biggest X factors in college football that could single handedly change a game. I'm sure they could have made it work.

Interesting thought.

Colt definitely would have been recruited. His "issues" I think surfaced later. George Wrighster called him the physically gifted TE ever at Oregon, including Sadiq.

Cliff, his offer may have been rescinded when he had an altercation in HS with his brother. However, one reason that may have been overlooked is that at that time the Ducks had to take chances on some recruits.

Thankfully that isn't the case anymore.

I agree with Steven A.

It made sense to take some chances in those years.

One case in point: Onterrio Smith, of Whizzinator fame.

1 hour ago, Steven A said:

Interesting thought.

Colt definitely would have been recruited. His "issues" I think surfaced later. George Wrighster called him the physically gifted TE ever at Oregon, including Sadiq.

Cliff, his offer may have been rescinded when he had an altercation in HS with his brother. However, one reason that may have been overlooked is that at that time the Ducks had to take chances on some recruits.

Thankfully that isn't the case anymore.

Actually, Colt was already using heroin in high school. I knew the AD at Hillsboro High, and he stated that he truly hoped Colt could stay away from the drugs, alcohol, and trouble.

The guy was a tremendous athlete, a man against boys at the high school level.

Always interesting reflections on Colt. At the time, I think he was considered a physical outlier for the position, and worth the risk. Today, I think Oregon usually has several TE prospects that fit that mold, so it is less a huge selling point? So the calculus might be a bit different?

Now, I believe Colt had left the program about five months before the combine and a couple months even further from his pro day workout at Portland State. So, maybe over that time he hadn't got himself in the best shape, I don't know?

But for comparison, look at his (2014) RAS (relative athletic score) compared to Terrence Ferguson (2025), Ed Dickson (2010), and Johnny Mundt (2017):

Ferguson: 9.32 out of 10

Height: 6-5.3

Weight: 247

Arm: 32.88

Hand: 9.25

Bench: 15

40: 4.63

20: 2.67

10: 1.61

Vertical: 39.00

Broad: 10.02

Lyerla: 8.51 out of 10

Height: 6-3.7

Weight: 242

ARM: 32.75

Hand: 10.25

Bench: 15

40: 4.61

20: 2.67

10: 1.61

Vertical: 39.00

Broad: 10.08

Ed Dickson: 7.51 out of 10

Height: 6-4.2

Weight: 249

Arm: 33.0

Hand: 10.75

Bench: 23

40: 4.67

20: 2.74

10: 1. 65

Vertical: 34.0

Broad: 9.07

Johnny Mundt: 6.68 out of 10

Height: 6-4.2

Weight: 243

Arm: 32.38

Hand: 9.63

Bench: 21

40: 4.61

20: 2.67

10: 1.61

Vertical: 30.0

Broad: 9.05

My suspicion is both Kenyon Sadiq and Jabari Johnson will be close to Ferguson's score (if Sadiq were about an inch taller I would say it would be a near lock); and, I'm not sure Ferguson was even thought of as a huge physical outlier for the TE position at Oregon?

Some more Colt stuff. Seems like the NFL found him to be a poor route runner and largely disinterested blocker (Ryan McCrystal); but, did appreciate his athletic traits.

• Athleticism is elite, but measurables are below average for the position.

• He's shorter than most pass-catching tight ends (just under 6'4") and has relatively short arms.

• Routes are sloppy. He doesn't run straight routes, even when unimpeded by the defense, and his cuts are frequently rounded off.

• Surprisingly ineffective at fighting through linebackers trying to throw him off his route. Doesn't show great balance and sometimes lacks the awareness to even anticipate the hit.

• Extremely inconsistent effort as a blocker.

• Has moments when he gets intense and fights hard as a blocker, but also has moments when he barely even feigns interest and easily gets tossed aside.

• Frequently loses balance and slides off his blocks. Also tends to lunge and often whiffs on linebackers at the second level.

• Impressive athlete with a nice blend of size, speed and agility for the position.

• Has enough speed to stretch the field in certain matchups.

• Quick off the snap and builds speed quickly, which will give certain linebackers and safeties issues in man coverage.

• A matchup nightmare who can give linebackers issues with his speed, but can cause trouble for defensive backs due to his size.

• Demonstrates great body control and an ability to adjust to poorly placed passes.

• Impressive leaping ability helps to make up for his modest height and makes him a threat in jump-ball situations.

• A very smooth athlete who moves well and is capable of making crisp, explosive cuts, giving him elite potential as a route-runner.

• Elite ability after the catch, both in terms of pure speed as well as an ability to make guys miss in the open field and occasionally break some tackles.

I guess the point, back around 2010, if you could find an athletic TE at Oregon with an 8.5 level RAS, it probably was more worth the gamble than today, where most TE recruits considering Oregon will be in that profile range?

Take a look at 6-7 and 250 pound TE recruit Kendre Harrison, with a 6-11 wingspan and 10.5 hands might look with 4 years of strength and conditioning under his belt.

Great topic, Pitt. Even now...both would be worth the gamble, and both would have had a much better chance succeeding under Lanning than under Chip and Helf. In the end...I'll bet Cliff would have made it, but Colt's incredible talents would fall short of his demons.

Touchdown...Lyerla.

2 hours ago, Charles Fischer said:

Great topic, Pitt. Even now...both would be worth the gamble, and both would have had a much better chance succeeding under Lanning than under Chip and Helf. In the end...I'll bet Cliff would have made it, but Colt's incredible talents would fall short of his demons.

Touchdown...Lyerla.

Thanks to all who commented. I knew you guys would give me food for thought!

I agree, CH and CL were products of a different era, where maybe the coaches really had to take them, and their baggage.

I also agree with Charles, that DL would have given both a better chance of successs.

At the end of they day, each of us is responsible to control our own demons, nobody else can do it for us.

And AnotherOD, thank YOU for the Colt Lyerla inside info and Tight End comparison! Great Stuff!

Edited Saturday at 04:30 AM2 days by PittDuck
Sp

Colt absolutely would be recruited by Lanning. In large part because he was a highly rated Oregon recruit and protecting your backyard, even if small is important.

I feel Colt was close to Kelly and didn't have a connection or relationship with Helfrich. I think the coaching change hit him really hard.

I feel Lanning's culture could keep Colt in line. The Lanning culture is really focused on wider relationships..

Also Kelly and Helfrich were both coaches you did their things and you either related to them and connected or didn't. Winning covers up a lot of culture problems.

The behind the scenes stuff shows a lot of how Lanning's culture works and it gives players a LOT of structure. Something that Colt needed for sure.

Also the game has changed a lot and the rules around coaches and players have changed a lot in the last decade and player coach interactions aren't as limited as they used to be to the season.

19 hours ago, Triphibius said:

I agree with Steven A.

It made sense to take some chances in those years.

One case in point: Onterrio Smith, of Whizzinator fame.

Never forget LeGarrette 'Sugar Ray' Blount. The guy packed a punch! 😁

Monetary penalties for 'bad behavior' are being written into many Revenue Sharing and NIL agreements.

Keep an eye on the Wisconsin vs. Miami suit to see if a contract signed by a to-be-compensated player, pending House settlement approval, holds up. The player in question was under a contractual agreement with a 'condition subsequent'; these looking-forward agreements are generally enforceable.

Wisconsin refused the player's request to transfer. Regardless, he transferred to Miami and signed a new deal with the Canes. The Canes knew Wisconsin did not approve the transfer when it signed the player. The Big Ten's Form Revenue Sharing Agreement, drafted and approved by the B1G, was used by Wisconsin. The Big Ten is backing the Wisconsin suit.

I hope this move by the Canes will frustrate any hope of Miami joining the B1G when the ACC implodes.

As to whether Dan would offer and sign potential problem cases, see Bear Alexander. A guy Dan helped recruit to Georgia and then recruited out of the portal. To date, Bear has been a model player.

Agree, DL would have recruited them. They’d just have been on a shorter leash.

I don't want to ruffle any feathers here (small pun intended); but, regarding Bear, I can see an argument about "past on the field" issues (chasing playing time, moving around 8 schools in 9 years); but, any behavior "off the field" that has caused any alarm?

OP's question seems to be about recruits with possible "bad actor" pasts, haven't seen that apply to Bear?

A guy who wants more snaps to me is maybe in a different category than DUII (Carrington), heroin and cocaine and assault (Lyerla), meth (Maloata), theft and criminal mischief (Leiato), SA (Wallace), indecent exposure (Merrit), or murder (Prevot). The Brandon Austin (SA) situation from the basketball program probably best fits. I don't think Dan is giving Austin a shot.

I would guess the fan argument would be a guy who jumps around a lot would be a bit of a "me first" type of player (and trouble in the locker room)? It doesn't necessarily mean "bad locker room" guy automatically (I'm sure there are always guys who want to play more). Haven't seen any real reports of it, other than perhaps some angry USC fans talking about effort and commitment, which is pretty standard these portal situations.

2 minutes ago, AnotherOD said:

OP's question seems to be about recruits with possible "bad actor" pasts, haven't seen that apply to Bear?

I think this might come under the category of "what we as fans don't know," because Danno knew Bear at Georgia, and we haven't yet had any issues with Bear thus far. In fact, he seems to be taking his last year seriously, and is currently slated as a starter.

With the young, talented depth at defensive line? If Bear takes downs off--he will lose playing time, IMHO.

When I heard the Ducks were recruiting Bear, I had very muixed feelings. He thought he was the biggest star on the team at the beginning of year 2 (he contributed some as a freshman), was chippy with his OL teammates, got his b--t kicked several times in practice, and sulked because nobody saw his value. Portaled to USC and badmouthed Georgia for the next year. This Spring before signing with Oregon, he explored returning to Georgia, Kirby put the inquiry to a yes/no vote of the upperclassmen and they said that he needed a new start elsewhere.

So now he's a Duck and I wish the best for him. But I have to admit that I am more than a little nervous about this one. Hopefully, he truly has grown up.