Mississippi Group Flocking to Oregon

In the 2023 class, Lawrence Hopkins, a recruiting specialist in Mississippi, opened the doors for the Ducks in SEC territory. Eventually, his son, running back Dante Dowdell, signed with Oregon.

In 2024, Oregon is looking to continue the pipeline, offering most of the top players from the Sip. For Oregon’s Spring Game (April 29), nearly a dozen of Hopkins’ charges will visit Oregon.

As earlier reported, Trey Petty, a 3-star gunslinger from Starkville, will be on campus. 

Petty, a dual threat, threw for 30 touchdowns and ran for 17 more. He completed 63% of his passes for 2,737 yards while running for 766.

Joining Petty will be Hastin Nelson, a currently unranked wide receiver from Baldwyn High.

It will be Nelson’s second known visit to Eugene, the first being for the Ducks’ game against Washington.

In his junior year, Nelson reeled in 49 catches for 737 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Dowdell’s successor in the Picayune Memorial backfield, Chris Davis, also will make the trip.

Davis has a busy spring on tap, visiting multiple schools, but Oregon will have its chance to make an impression. Davis has visited the in-state Ole Miss Rebels a total of four times.

Offensive linemen Isaiah Autry of Itawamba Agricultural will see Oregon for the first time. Autry – a 6-foot-7, 275-pound 3-star – has taken seven visits to Ole Miss.

The Rebels lead in his recruitment according to On3’s Recruiting Projection Machine, with a 69.2% to land the giant.

Running back Kahnen Daniels of West Point also will camp at Oregon for the first time. He recently took an unofficial visit to Alabama, and his recruitment is starting to boom.

Oregon does not currently have a 2024 commitment at running back, so the spot is wide open. Daniels recently jumped up to a 4-star on On3 and in the composite On3 Industry Ranking.

One of two sophomores in the group is Dillon Alfred of Gautier High. Alfred was recently offered by Ole Miss.

Alfred collected 32 receptions for 711 yards and nine touchdowns last year, which has him picking up steam on the trail.

Switching to the defensive side of the ball, Oregon will get a visit from linebacker Tristan Jernigan of Tupelo. Jernigan is one of the hottest names in the country, adding recent offers from Georgia, Oregon, Georgia Tech and more.

As a junior, Jernigan recorded a whopping 96 tackles, eight of them for a loss. He had 8.5 sacks and recovered two fumbles.

Dowdell’s Picayune Memorial teammate Jamonta Waller is another fast riser. Waller recently earned his fourth star after a junior year when he had over 100 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, an interception, five pass deflections, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

It will be Waller’s first visit to Oregon, and he is tripping to nearly a dozen other schools in the upcoming months. 

Patrick Broomfield – a lengthy 6-foot-2, 160-pound corner out of Clarksdale – also will be in Eugene. Broomfield recently earned an Oregon offer and is considering the Ducks heavily alongside both Mississippi and Mississippi State. 

The final visitor is another sophomore. ScoopDuck previously reported Jarcoby Hopson of Lake Cormorant would be on campus for the spring game.

Hopson is a dynamic playmaker who holds offers from such elite programs as Texas, Auburn, Tennessee, Oregon, Florida State, Texas A&M, LSU and the two big in-state Mississippi schools.