4-star LB Brayden Platt commits to Oregon: 'It feels like a big family there'

Oregon wasn’t the first offer for Yelm (Wash.) four-star linebacker Brayden Platt, but the Ducks weren’t far behind.

He has been recruited by the program since his freshman year, and once Dan Lanning took over as head coach, the communication went to a new level. The Ducks have been a consistent presence in his recruitment ever since, even as other programs came and went.

Oklahoma, Michigan and UCLA were among his other top schools, but on Monday, the No. 205 ranked player in the On3 Industry Ranking publicly announced his commitment to the Ducks.

“Oregon is my choice because of the coaching staff and what they are doing with the program,” he told On3. “They are developing athletes at the linebacker position, the culture is great for student-athletes and it feels like a big family there. Life after football also was a factor into my decision. I feel like they can help in my future.”

Official visit to Oregon changed the direction of Platt’s recruitment

Platt took official visits to UCLA and Oklahoma in May and June, and after his trip to Norman, he wasn’t sure if he would make it out to Eugene.

Coming out of the Oklahoma visit, he felt confident that the Sooners would be his choice. But getting back to Oregon, spending time with the coaches and others recruits, and seeing Lanning’s vision for the future changed things.

“That visit had a big impact on me,” he said. “The coaches showed me their plan and that was a big factor. Learning more about the culture, how the team was together and what the coaches are doing there also made a big impact when I was on campus. I made my decision a few weeks after my official visit to Oregon. I told the coaches about a week later in the middle of July. I kept it quiet to announce it on my mom’s birthday.”

Platt has been up to the Ducks’ campus three times as a football recruit, but he’s also been there numerous times for track and field events. He loves the city of Eugene and the atmosphere around the university and the team.

“I love the vibe,” he added. “The team and the culture are like family. Everyone is like your brother out there. The culture that Coach Lanning has created is about winning and family. He has brought what he had at Georgia to Oregon. He is about family and he really wants to win.”

Tosh Lupoi and Lanning led the charge

Platt also feels a genuine connection with the coaching staff at Oregon, and especially defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi.

“He has been my guy for the longest,” Platt said. “I trust him, and he can develop players. I have trust in him and my relationship with coach Lupoi was big. I like who he is and the kind of people on the staff.”

He also believes in Lanning and what he is building as the Ducks head into the Big Ten.

“I like his style, who he is as a person and he is a coach I feel I can learn a lot from,” he said. “I see him as a coach who will be there in drills with you and working to make his team better. I think Coach Lanning can raise the program up. He is recruiting well, they are moving to the Big Ten and I think the program is only getting better.”