Dan Lanning addresses the advantage in recruiting Oregon

Even though he just won the national championship with Georgia, Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning is off and running with the new job. Most of his early work has been done on the recruiting trail, with national signing day in the rearview mirror.

During his NSD press conference, Lanning explained how important in-state recruiting will be for him as the head coach at Oregon. He said even though the Ducks have the ability to grab prospects from any state in the country, he wants to make sure the home state is a priority first.

“I think it’s huge,” Lanning said. “My very first day recruiting — first day I could get on the road — I spent that time in Oregon and that time in Portland in the area. That will always be a priority for us. For us, we will have the ability to go anywhere and it’s a blessing but we have to win home first.”

The state of Oregon had two players in the On300 during the 2022 cycle in wide receivers Darrius Clemons and Justius Lowe. The ladder ended up signing with the Ducks, while Clemons went out of the state to sign with the Michigan Wolverines. Both come out of the Portland area.

Thus far with the 2023 class, tight end Riley Williams is the only On300 player for Lanning to recruit within the state. According to the RPM, it’s a heated battle between the Ducks and cross-state rival, the Washington Huskies.

Lanning said Oregon has the ability to go anywhere in the country and the 2022 class validates it. Of the 15 players who signed their letter of intent with the Ducks, there are nine different states represented. All the way out west via Hawaii to the middle of the continental 48 in Nebraska, and even in SEC territory with Tennessee.

Dan Lanning on filling roster holes

As his Oregon roster begins to take shape, Lanning gave an interesting answer on how Oregon is filling holes in their roster.

“Certainly still a little fluid,” started Lanning, in his 2022 National Signing Day press conference. “We anticipate ending up with a couple more guys here today that we’re battling for, that we feel strongly about. That we could end up landing. But ultimately, I don’t know if there’s one position of need. Because you don’t know exactly what position is available, if you know what I mean.

“As things continue to move, shake and shift, I think time will tell what direction we go there.”