Recruiting sites try to project 18-year-old high school students three years into the future. They do a good job, but it’s far from an exact science. For the Ducks, players like Kenjon Barner, Brandon Bair, Spencer Paysinger, Jeff Maehl and Dion Jordan all wound up playing a different position than they were evaluated at as prospects.
Oregon’s coaching staff does an exceptional job of evaluating and developing players, finding the right fit. A big part of that is they draft a lot of athletes with intelligence and multiple skills. Two examples stand out in the 2012 class, although there are several.
Evan Baylis, a 6-5, 225-lb. tight end from Aurora, Colorado, is a 4-star tight end. He’s a fierce blocker and a capable pass catcher, as well as being an A student. So far he sounds a lot like a young David Paulson. But he’s also a high-volume tackler at linebacker, with 105 tackles and 8 sacks in his senior year. Project Baylis a year or two in the future at 240 with Jim Radcliffe’s staff improving his already-excellent strength and agility, and you have a fearsome inside linebacker.
Another example is Bralon Addison from Texas, a speed athlete who was a high school quarterback that accounted for 46 tds as a senior. Addison could develop into a star as a Duck at wide receiver, running back or defensive back, and Chip Kelly says he’s also a pretty good quarterback, although perhaps lacking in arm strength. When he makes the travel squad the Ducks have the added benefit of having an emergency quarterback who could pose problems for the defense running the zone read.
Versatile athletes create extra depth on the roster, and sometimes a player can develop into a surprising star in an unexpected place.
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