Oregon Hits Up Florida Again Landing 2017 RB Darrian Felix
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The changing of the guard at Oregon from Mark Helfrich to Willie Taggart had some snags for Ducks’ recruiting in early December. By mid-December, Taggart was able to steady the ship and push forward landing four verbal commitments since moving from South Florida to Oregon. On Sunday, Taggart’s ties to Florida reaped another reward helping sway all-purpose back Darrian Felix from Fort Myers to the west coast.
Felix worked his way into being a highly prized recruit with Fort Myers High School. The 5-11, 194 pound, playmaker started jumping on recruiting boards as a junior rushing for 1,029 yards with 14 scores while pulling in 17 passes for another 304 yards with two more touchdowns. During his senior season, Felix became more of a workhorse in the rushing attack notching 190 totes for 1,477 yards with 20 trips to the end zone padding his stat line with six receptions covering 186 yards with three more scores.
At least 30 different teams offered Felix including Arkansas, East Carolina, Auburn, Louisville, Central Florida, Miami, Rutgers, Central Florida, Arizona, and West Virginia. Felix took official visits to Tennessee (Nov. 12) and North Carolina (Dec. 2) with scheduled officials to Clemson (Jan. 13) and Nebraska (Jan. 20). Oregon hosted Felix on Oct. 7 under Helfrich. The combination of the school, facilities, and addition of Taggart was a selling point for Felix.
Oregon fans found out about Felix’s commitment via a fun post reading, “Ya Ma it’s [sic] OREGON!! #COMMITTED #QUACK.”
Taggart’s presence at Oregon has already opened up a recruiting trail back to Florida. Of the four players to commit under Taggart, three are from Florida. Darrian McNeal was the first followed by Jordon Scott and now Felix. Thomas Graham, a four-star from California, is the lone commit from outside Taggart’s old recruiting ground.
Rivals rates Oregon’s 2017 class No. 48 in the nation with four four-star recruits and nine three-star prospects.
Oregon Ducks 2017 Verbal Commitment List (14)
CB Demetrius Douglas, 5-11.5, 173, Jesuit, Portland, OR
CB/ATH Jaylon Redd, 5-9, 180, Rancho Cucamonga HS, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
LB Sampson Niu, 6-1, 217, Madison, San Diego, CA
DT Popo Aumavae, 6-4, 315, St. Mary’s HS, Stockton, CA
DT Rutger Reitmaier, 6-3, 270, Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, TN
DT Jordon Scott, 6-1, 345, Pinellas Park HS, Largo, FL
OT Alex Forsyth, 6-5, 280, West Linn HS, West Linn, OR
RB Darrian Felix, 5-11, 194, Fort Myers HS, Fort Myers, FL
RB CJ Verdell, 5-9, 195, Mater Dei HS, Chula Vista, CA
WR Johnny Johnson III, Chandler HS, Chandler, AZ
K Adam Stack, 6-2, 175, Kamehameha, Honolulu, HI
ATH Darrian McNeal, 5-9, 160, Armwood HS, Seffner, FL
ATH Nick Pickett, 6-2, 185, Salesian HS, Los Angeles, CA
K Adam Stack, 6-2, 175, Kamehameha HS, Honolulu, HI
Photo credit: USA Today; No. 6 Darrian Felix breaks free.