Oregon recruiting: this 2012 prospect merits major attention

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Jeremy Castro

Vista Murrieta H.S. (Murrieta, CA)

Ht: 6-1
Wt: 240

Rivals rating: 4*-5.8rr; unranked WDE
Scout rating: 4*; #20 OLB
ESPN rating:
247 Sports rating: 3*-84 rating; unranked WDE

Reported Offers: Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, Iowa State, LSU, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, UCLA, Washington

(photo at left, Jeremy Castro, from uclascout.com)

Forget the 40 time: no one has put a stopwatch on linebacker/defensive end Jeremy Castro, but coaches don’t need one: as a high school junior he had 111 tackles and 11 sacks.  Already he has offers from a host of schools, including LSU and Oklahoma.

Oregon has led for most on the spring on this top-drawer talent, but recently he had a visit to UCLA at their football camp that made a strong impression, so much so that he may have a new favorite.  He told huskerjournal.com, “Hopefully I’m going to take a visit to Oregon this summer. I love everything about Oregon; it’s kind of close I like that. Oregon wants me as an outside linebacker/defensive end; stand up guy in the 4-3 defense.”

On the field, he ranges, swarms and swoops, and makes plays.  He has a strong, mature body and a great first step, a real nose for the football in pursuit.  With a tremendous motor he could be a defensive playmaker at the next level, the kind of player offensive coordinators have to adjust their scheme for.  He plays with great intensity and passion, a natural leader on the field.  He’s the kind of talent that can anchor a defense and shape its personality, maybe the critical get of this recruiting class.  Take a look at the video:

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