Sometimes the rich just get richer!
That’s certainly the case for the Oregon Ducks and their wide receiving group for the 2021 recruiting class.
Even before four-star WR Dont’e Thornton committed to Oregon football on Tuesday afternoon, the Ducks had what most national recruiting outlets described as the program’s top class in school history.
Thornton, who is not only ranked the second-best recruit in the State of Maryland, but he’s also a 247Sports Top 75 player across the country.
Thornton announced his commitment to the program via Instagram and now joins arguably the strongest class of receivers of any power five program in the country.
As a junior Thornton caught 38 passes for 1,021 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also held offers from Arizona State, Penn State, Notre Dame, and USC.
The Ducks pass-catching group is headlined by five-star receiver Troy Franklin. In addition to Franklin, the Ducks also feature two additional four-star recruits in Isaiah Brevard and Kyron Ware-Hudson. Oregon also received commitments from two four-star and highly regarded tight ends in Moliki Matavao and Terrance Ferguson.
The commitment of Franklin solidifies the Ducks grip on a top 3 class nationally, sitting just behind Alabama and Ohio State in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.
It also keeps the Ducks atop the Pac-12 conference rankings, where USC is closely behind ranked in the number two slot. The Trojans are also ranked sixth nationally.
“Oregon was my dream school,” said Thornton. “And I just felt like if I had the opportunity to go to my dream school, why not take the opportunity?”
“Why live with the regret of not going to a school I always dreamed of when I have the chance right in front of me?”