Oregon was back in the headlines on Friday night when the Ducks landed a commitment from 2025 Concord (Calif.) De La Salle EDGE Matthew Johnson. As usual, I’m breaking this commitment down from all angles. RECRUITING IMPACT Oregon was looking for their first defensive commitment in this class, and getting one of the best defensive linemen out West is a great way to kick things off. The defensive line talent on the West Coast isn’t nearly as loaded in 2025 as it was in 2024, so hitting on this position is a big priority for the Ducks. Johnson made a return visit to Eugene last weekend, but like he said in his interview, him going to Oregon was almost meant to be. Tosh Lupoi played a massive role in this recruitment and him being a De La Salle alum made Johnson Oregon’s to lose in my eyes. With Johnson in the fold, Lanning and company are up to five total commitments, and they’re all quality players. I feel like the Ducks are primed to go on a big run on the recruiting trail before long. I feel really good about where the Ducks stand with a number of other recruits in the 2025 class, but I’d tab Da’Saahn Brame, Cooper Perry, Nasir Wyatt and Trajen Odom as the main ones worth watching right now. Wyatt and Odom are the main names to watch on defense, especially because we know how big of a priority Oregon likes to place on defensive line. EVALUATION Johnson looks like a pretty pure pass rusher at first glance. He plays with tons of raw power and has a great bull rush. He’s got great upper body strength and plays with violent hands to shed his blocker. Adding to his appeal is good closing speed, a high motor and physicality. He’s got pretty nimble feet and is also solid shooting the gap to stop the run. Plays with good leverage. I see him as a player who could earn a ratings/rankings boost with a strong senior season playing some of the best teams in the country. His upside is even more intriguing when you consider the fact that he plays on both sides of the ball and nearly 100 snaps a game, so he’ll likely see much more improvement when he focuses on one side of the ball at the next level.
Johnson plays a premium position, but it’s one that’s fairly crowded in Eugene. The Ducks will be looking for some more talent after they lose Jordan Burch, but he’ll have to beat out some quality players to find the field early.
