With Travis Dye now at USC, the pressure is on Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning
Travis Dye is now a USC Trojan, and that sting will last for Oregon fans.
Dye rushed for 1,271 yards and 16 touchdowns, and he had 402 yards and two touchdowns receiving for the Ducks in 2021.
When USC hired Lincoln Riley, everybody knew there would be a huge battle for talent between Oregon and USC.
But Riley has taken it up a notch in the transfer portal, not only landing a proven talent like Dye, but taking him away from a top rival in the Pac-12.
Well played.
Dye had more rushing yards than anybody on USC last season, and he had just as many rushing touchdowns as the Trojans had as a team.
What will be new Oregon coach Dan Lanning’s counter move?
There is still time before the 2022 recruiting cycle ends, and still time to grab players from the portal.
Also, can Lanning convince CJ Verdell to stay at Oregon, especially with Dye now at USC?
It’s great that Lanning won a national title earlier this month as Georgia’s defensive coordinator, but now he has ground to make up.
He’s added three commitments so far in January, but only one ranked in the top 300 — four-star defensive lineman Gracen Halton.
He needs some recruiting wins, and then hit the ground running in spring practices, especially at the quarterback position.
The battle is expected to be between last season’s backup Ty Thompson and newly transferred Bo Nix from Auburn.
But the heat is on.
USC has come out swinging, and now it’s on the Ducks to keep pace.
Is Lanning the coach to do it?
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: After USC takes Travis Dye away, what is Oregon Ducks' counter move?
