Oregon Ducks football recruiting update prior to December's early signing period

The Oregon Ducks football team has its focus on Friday's Pac-12 Championship against Utah.

However, recruiting is always in the back of the Ducks coaches' minds and maintaining the momentum it has kept throughout the season.

Not only has Oregon (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12) been successful on the field, but the Ducks have been great in securing recruiting commitments as well. According to 247Sports, Oregon currently has the No. 9 recruiting class in the nation leading up to the early National Signing Day, which will be held Dec. 15-17. The Ducks are also ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12 Conference.

The Ducks invited a number of recruits to home games throughout out the season, including linebacker Devon Jackson, who committed after the Ducks' 41-19 victory over Arizona.

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"We've shown that we are a consistent program," Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said about recruiting. "We've been consistent on what we say that we are going to do, and we've been consistent on the way we validate our goals and consistent on the way our players are developing and going on to the NFL and being up for some impressive accolades, Thorpe Award candidates, Nagurski Award candidate, Outland (Trophy) winners.

"This is a program that's built on substance, toughness, physicality, and doing it right. When you do it right and have the right people and those things become a reality. So recruiting continues to take an upwards trajectory, and we expect another strong finish."

Among the recruits who have verbally committed prior to early National Signing Day is offensive lineman Kelvin Banks out of Humble, Texas. Banks is the gem of the 2022 class as he is currently the Ducks' lone five-star recruit.

More: Oregon reaches its third straight Pac-12 title game with win over Oregon State

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman would be the highest-rated offensive line signee in Oregon history, even higher than 2019 Outland Trophy winner Penei Sewell. Banks is the No. 14 rated player of the 2022 class and ranked second among offensive linemen.

It doesn't stop there for the Ducks as they have nine four-star recruiting commitments, highlighted by wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan of Anaheim, Calif. McMillian is the nation's No. 29 overall prospect and No. 3 wide receiver.

At 6-3 and 185 pounds, McMillan would be a standout target for the Ducks, especially considering the youth of Oregon's receivers He is the second receiver to commit verbally, joining three-star Stephon Johnson Jr. of DeSoto, Texas.

In 12 games this season, McMillian has 80 receptions for 1,235 yards and 17 touchdowns for Servite High.

While Anthony Brown will leave the Ducks program after their bowl game, Oregon has another quarterback ready to enter the fold in Tanner Bailey, who committed last March.

Bailey, who's from Gordo, Ala., is considered more of a natural passer with his smaller frame at just over 6 feet and about 190 pounds.

More: Report has Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead top target for Akron head coaching job

Harrison Taggart leads the way among the three-star recruits as he is the 40th-ranked linebacker of the 2022 class. In 14 games for Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) this season, Taggart recorded 97 tackles and 12 tackles for loss.

Although Oregon has 19 verbal commitments currently, a lot could change between now and the second National Signing Day window Feb. 2. Certainly, a third consecutive Pac-12 championship and a Rose Bowl appearance wouldn't hurt Cristobal and the Ducks entering the recruiting period.

2022 Oregon commits

Five-star recruits

OT Kelvin Banks | Humble, Texas | Composite: 0.9922, No. 2 OT

Four-star recruits

WR Tetairoa McMillan | Anaheim, Calif. | Composite: 0.9756, No. 4 WR

CB Jalil Tucker | San Diego, Calif. | Composite: 0.9432, No. 17 CB

LB Devon Jackson | Omaha, Neb. | Composite: 0.9403, No. 16 LB

IOL Dave Iuli | Puyallup, Wash. | Composite: 0.9231, No. 13 IOL

LB TJ Dudley | Montgomery, Ala. | Composite: 0.9204, No. 22 LB

CB Jahlil Florence | San Diego | Composite: 0.9128, No. 29 CB

QB Tanner Bailey | Gordo, Ala. | Composite: 0.9113, No. 15 QB

S Trejon Williams | Portland. | Composite: 0.9082, No. 20 S

DL Gracen Halton | San Diego | Composite: 0.9066, No. 34 DL

Three-star recruits

LB Harrison Taggart | Draper, Utah | Composite: 0.8889, No. 40 LB

DL Ben Roberts | Salt Lake City, Utah | Composite: 0.8863, No. 54 DL

EDGE Emar'rion Winston | Portland | Composite: 0.8860, No. 22 EDGE

OT Cameron Williams | Duncanville, Texas | Composite: 0.8818, No. 39 OT

S Landon Hullaby | Arlington, Texas | Composite: 0.8817, No. 38 S

TE Andre Dollar | Mustang, Okla. | Composite: 0.8817, No. 20 TE

WR Stephon Johnson | Lancaster, Texas | Composite: 0.8784, No. 67 WR

OT Michael Wooten | Chatsworth, Calif. | Composite: 0.8594, No. 71 OT

DL Sir Mells | Henderson, Nev. | Composite: 0.8559, No. 124 DL

Pac-12 Championship: No. 10 UO vs. No. 17 Utah

When: 5 p.m. Friday at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

TV: ABC. Radio: KUJZ-FM (95.3) and KUGN-AM (590).

Contact Antwan Staley at astaley@registerguard.com and follow him on Twitter @antwanstaley.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Ducks football recruiting update prior to December's early signing period