Ducks Announce 15 New Recruits
12/19/17 | Football
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Hometown (Previous Schools) |
| Karsten Battles | LS | 6-1 | 240 | Fr. | San Antonio, Texas (Claudia Taylor Johnson HS) |
| Verone McKinley III | CB | 5-11 | 170 | Fr. | Carrolton, Texas (Hebron HS) |
| Jevon Holland | S | 6-1 | 182 | Fr. | Pleasanton, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd HS) |
| Haki Woods | CB | 6-3 | 192 | Jr. | Chicago, Ill. (Pima CC/South Bend Washington HS) |
| MJ Cunningham | LB | 6-3 | 230 | Fr. | Portland, Ore. (Madison HS) |
| Travis Dye | RB | 5-11 | 180 | Fr. | Norco, Calif. (Norco HS) |
| Steven Jones | OL | 6-6 | 340 | Fr. | Temecula, Calif. (Chaparral HS) |
| Christopher Randazzo | OL | 6-7 | 330 | Fr. | Chino Hills, Calif. (Don Lugo HS) |
| Steve Stephens | S | 6-0 | 185 | Fr. | Fresno, Calif. (Edison HS) |
| Adrian Jackson | ILB | 6-2 | 210 | Fr. | Denver, Colo. (Mullen HS) |
| Andrew Faoliu | DL | 6-3 | 255 | Fr. | Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei HS) |
| Dawson Jaramillo | OL | 6-5 | 295 | Fr. | Portland, Ore. (Lake Oswego HS) |
| Tyler Shough | QB | 6-5 | 197 | Fr. | Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS) |
| Sione Vea Kava | DL | 6-6 | 270 | Jr. | Honolulu, Hawaii (Kalani HS/East Los Angeles College) |
| Jamal Elliott | RB | 5-10 | 180 | Fr. | Durham, N.C. (Hillside HS) |
Karsten Battles, LS, 6-1, 240, Fr., San Antonio, Texas (Claudia Taylor Johnson HS)
Named first-team U.S. Army All- America as a senior … Finalist for The Chris Rubio Award for top high school long snapper in the country … The third-ranked long snapper in the country according to 247Sports … Received first-team all-district honors his junior and senior seasons … Named District 26 Special Teams Utility Player of the Year as a junior … Crucial role in helping the Jaguars convert 40-of-41 PAT attempts in 2017 … Invited to play in the 2018 Army All-American game ... Completed one pass his senior year for 56 yards and a touchdown … Also received offers from Army and Incarnate Word.
Verone McKinley III, CB, 5-11, 170, Fr., Carrolton, Texas (Hebron HS)
The 30th-ranked cornerback in the country and 39th-overall prospect in Texas by Rivals … Ranked 40th at his position and 55th in the state by 247Sports … A Rivals four-star recruit … Participated in the The Opening's Dallas Regional … Named first-team All-6A District 5 as a senior … Selected to the 247Sports All-Midlands team ... Made five interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, and 50 total tackles while forcing a fumble … Earned first-team All-6A District 5 as a junior … Intercepted four passes and made 38 tackles while defending 14 passes and recovering two fumbles … Picked off four passes, returning one for a touchdown, while making 28 tackles and recording two tackles for loss as a freshman … Also received offers from Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas State, Baylor, Clemson, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Houston, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, LSU, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Penn State, SMU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa, UCLA, Washington and Washington State.
Jevon Holland, S, 6-1, 182, Fr., Pleasanton, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd HS)
The 14th-ranked safety in the nation and 153rd overall prospect by 247Sports … Ranked as the 21st overall prospect from California by 247Sports … A 247Sports four-star recruit … Accumulated 34 tackles, four pass deflections and a team-high five interceptions as a senior … Named the 2017 North Coast Section Co-Defensive Player of the Year … Also Bishop O'Dowd's top wide receiver in 2017, accumulating 1,012 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns on 35 catches … Helped lead Bishop O'Dowd to a Division III state semifinal appearance … Also returned 23 punts averaging 22 yards per return while scoring five touchdowns … Accounted for 119 total tackles and 18 pass deflections during high school career … Selected to play in the 2018 USA Football International Bowl … Also received offers from Arizona, Boise State, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, Nevada, Notre Dame, UCLA, Utah State, Washington and Washington State.
Haki Woods, CB, 6-3, 192, Jr.,Chicago, Ill. (Pima CC/South Bend Washington HS)
The ninth-ranked junior college cornerback and 13th-ranked player out of Arizona according to 247Sports … 76th-ranked overall prospect … A 247Sports three-star recruit … Originally committed to Indiana State, where he redshirted in 2014 before transferring to Pima Community College for two seasons … Ranked 86th among all junior college prospects in the nation according to Rivals ... Named a 2017 second-team NJCAA All-American … Received 2017 Western States Football League first-team defensive back and first-team All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference honors as a sophomore … Recorded 45 tackles, 35 solo, and five pass breakups in 2017 … Two-time all-state and all-conference selection at Washington High School in South Bend, Ind. … Also received offers from Arizona, California, Oklahoma State and Utah.
MJ Cunningham, LB, 6-3, 230, Fr., Portland, Ore. (Madison HS)
The 26th-ranked athlete in the country and eighth overall prospect in Oregon by 247Sports … Ranked 33rd among athletes and eighth in the state by Rivals … A 247Sports three-star recruit … Transferred to Madison High School for senior season after spending first three years at Franklin High School … Missed all of senior season due to injury … Threw for 1,282 yards and 21 touchdowns while running for three more as a junior … A first-team All-Portland Interscholastic League selection at linebacker as a sophomore, helping Franklin to an OSAA 6A state playoffs appearance … Intercepted five passes and made 57 tackles while recovering two fumbles and forcing two … Also received offers from Hawaii, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah, Utah State and Washington State.
Travis Dye, RB, 5-11, 180, Fr., Norco, Calif. (Norco HS)
The 67th-ranked running back in the nation and 113th overall prospect in California by 247Sports … Ranked 96th in the state by Rivals … A 247Sports three-star recruit … Named the Big VIII League Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2017 … Ran for 2,383 yards on 255 carries with 34 touchdowns … Averaged 216.6 rushing yards per game and 9.3 yards per carry and ran for more than 100 yards in nine games … Racked up 1,878 yards on the ground on 259 carries with 15 touchdowns as a junior … Surpassed 100 yards eight times while averaging 7.3 yards per carry and 156.5 yards per game … Caught 29 passes for 465 yards and six touchdowns … As a sophomore, ran for 844 yards on 94 carries with nine touchdowns … Averaged 9.0 yards per carry and 84.4 yards per game … Brother of Oregon sophomore linebacker Troy Dye.
Steven Jones, OL, 6-6, 340, Fr., Temecula, Calif. (Chaparral HS)
Ranked eighth in the country among offensive guards and 28th overall in California by Rivals … The ninth-ranked offensive guard in the nation and 30th-overall prospect in the state by 247Sports … Ranked 31st in the state and 16th at his position by ESPN … A 247Sports four-star recruit … Named first-team All-Southwestern League as a senior … Helped open holes for a Chaparral offense that averaged 205.7 rushing yards per game and surpassed 200 yards six times … Earned first-team All-Southwestern League honors as a junior … Paved the way for a running game that averaged 177.1 yards per game and went over 100 rushing yards in eight games … Also received offers from Boise State, California, Colorado, Iowa State, Louisville, San Diego State, TCU, UCLA, UNLV, Utah, Washington and Washington State.
Christopher Randazzo, OL, 6-7, 330, Fr., Chino, Calif. (Don Lugo HS)
The 48th-ranked offensive tackle in the country and 70th-overall prospect in California by Rivals … Ranked 75th among all prospects in the state and 57th at his position by 247Sports … A 247Sports three-star recruit … Named first-team All-Mt. Baldy League as a senior … Opened holes for a Don Lugo offense that averaged 149.6 rushing yards per game and eclipsed the 100-yard mark in every game … Helped lead the Conquistadors to a CIF Southern Section Division 7 runner-up finish … A second-team All-Mt. Baldy League selection as a junior … Paved the way for 246.5 yards per game on the ground and 34.1 points per game, helping Don Lugo to a Mt. Baldy League title … Part of an offensive line that led the way for 164.5 rushing yards per game and 344.5 total yards as a sophomore … Also received offers from Arizona State, Fresno State, Utah and Washington State.
Steve Stephens, S, 6-0, 185, Fr., Fresno, Calif. (Edison HS)
The 11th-ranked safety and 15th overall prospect in California by 247Sports … Ranked 116th overall according to 247Sports … A 247Sports four-star recruit … Named the California Metro Area Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … A 2018 Under Armour All-American Game selection … Recorded 53 tackles, including four tackles for loss and one sack, as a senior … Broke up 14 passes and led the team with four interceptions … Scored two touchdowns as Edison's punt returner, averaging 21 yards per return … A dual-threat on offense and defense, catching 12 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns as a senior … Also received offers from Arizona State, Boise State, California, Colorado, Eastern Washington, Fresno State, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon State, San Jose State, USC and Washington State.
Adrian Jackson, ILB, 6-2, 210, Fr., Denver, Colo. (Mullen HS)
The No. 1 ranked recruit out of Colorado and 11th-ranked inside linebacker according to 247Sports … A 247sports four-star recruit … A 2017 first-team all-state selection … Invited to play in the 2018 Under Armour All-American game … Racked up 65 tackles, 54 solo, along with two interceptions and a fumble recovery as a senior … Accounted for 160 total tackles during high school career … Ran on the Mullen's track team, earning three first-place finishes as a part of the Mustang's 4x100 meter relay squad … Also received offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, TCU, USC, Utah and Wisconsin.
Andrew Faoliu, DL, 6-3, 255, Fr., Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei HS)
The 86th-ranked defensive end in the nation and 167th overall recruit out of California according to 247Sports … A 247Sports three-star recruit … Recorded 42 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two pass deflections as a senior … Helped Mater Dei win the 2017 California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section state title making three tackles and two sacks in the championship game against St. John Bosco … Made five tackles in Mater Dei's CIF bowl win over De La Salle … Invited to play in the 2018 Polynesian Bowl … Brother of Oregon freshman defensive lineman Austin Faoliu … Also received offers from Arizona, Illinois, Texas-San Antonio and Utah State.
Dawson Jaramillo, OL, 6-5, 295, Fr., Portland, Ore. (Lake Oswego HS)
The 15th-ranked offensive tackle in the country and the No. 4 overall recruit out of Oregon according to 247Sports … A 247Sports four-star recruit … Selected to play in the 2018 Under Armour All-American Game … Picked to participate in the 2018 Polynesian Bowl … Helped Lake Oswego reach the Oregon State 6A semifinals his senior season … Named to the 2017 Class 6A first-team offense … 2017 all-league selection … Earned all-league and all-state honorable mention recognitions his junior year … Also received offers from California, Oregon State, TCU, UCLA, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Tyler Shough, QB, 6-5, 197, Fr., Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS)
The fifth-ranked pro-style quarterback in the nation and top overall recruit in Arizona by 247Sports … Ranked 128th among all prospects and fifth among pro-style quarterbacks by Rivals … A 247Sports four-star recruit … Participated in the Elite 11 camp with the nation's top quarterback prospects … Selected first-team 6A Premier League as a senior … Named first-team All-Chandler Unified School District … Threw 30 touchdowns and five interceptions, finishing with 3,071 passing yards while completing 62.4 percent of passes … Passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns to lead Hamilton to a first-round win in the Arizona Interscholastic Association State Championships … Earned All-Premier League honorable mention recognition as a junior in 2016 … Finished with 2,079 yards passing, 27 touchdowns and a 62.3 completion percentage … Tossed three touchdown passes and threw for 262 yards in a state quarterfinal loss … Also received offers from Alabama, Arizona State, California, Colorado State, Florida State, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon State, San Jose State, South Carolina, Texas-San Antonio, Washington State and Western Kentucky.
Sione Vea Kava, DL, 6-6, 270, Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii (Kalani HS/East Los Angeles College)
Ranked 30th among all junior college prospects in California and 32nd at defensive tackle by 247Sports … A 247Sports three-star junior college recruit … Played two years at East Los Angeles College … Ranked the 51st junior college prospect in the nation according to Rivals ... 2017 All-California Community College Region IV Defensive Player of the Year … Named the Metro League Defensive Player of the year as a sophomore … Recorded five sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss with 23 tackles and a forced fumble … Made 22 tackles and had two sacks with five blocked kicks as a freshman … Graduated from Kalani High School in 2016 … Named second-team All-Hawaii by ScoringLive as a senior in 2015 … Earned honorable mention all-state recognition from the Honolulu Star Advertiser … Selected first-team All-OIA … Recorded three sacks in a season-opening win … Also received offers from Arizona State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Hawaii, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon State and Syracuse.
Jamal Elliott, RB, 5-10, 180, Fr., Durham, N.C. (Hillside HS)
The 13th-ranked running back in the nation and 11th overall prospect in North Carolina by 247Sports … A 247Sports four-star recruit … Played in three games his senior season before being sidelined due to injury … Racked up 290 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns over the three-game span, rushing for 128 yards on 38 carries and catching 13 passes for 164 yards … Led Hillside with 11 touchdowns scored as a junior; nine rushing, two receiving and one kickoff return … Finished junior year with 684 rushing yards on 83 carries, averaging 8.2 yards per carry … Ran for more than 100 yards four times in 2016 … Also received offers from Appalachian State, Arizona, Boston College, Charlotte, Duke, East Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Mississippi State, N.C. State, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Players Mentioned
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