Players leaving their current program and incoming recruits flipping their commitment to play elsewhere is a normal occurrence when the head coach decides to leave for another job.
Unfortunately, it’s just a painful part of the college football universe.
It happened Monday within the Oregon program, but then incoming head coach Dan Lanning proved how good of a recruiter he really is.
One of the many reasons Lanning was hired was his ability to communicate with today’s high school athletes.
Lanning is recognized as one of the top recruiters in the country.
For the last two seasons as Georgia’s defensive coordinator, Lanning has helped the Bulldogs bring in some of the top marquee defensive talent in the nation.
While spending his Monday in and around the Hatfield Dowlin Complex, Lanning faced his very first blitz, and it was a big one.
Oregon star running back Seven McGee announced publicly his desire to enter the transfer portal to find another home to play his college football.
In the midst of the chaos of Mario Cristobal’s departure, McGee being another extremely talented player to leave the program would have been another significant blow to next year’s squad.
His anticipated productivity and potential offensive threat on a team of young talented stars is something everyone in college football is waiting to see.
Including Lanning himself.
Of course, no one could blame the running back/wide receiver hybrid player for his desire to transfer because his primary reason for coming to Oregon was Mario Cristobal.
And as we all know, the new chapter in the Cristobal era is now being written in Miami where many speculated McGee would either join Cristobal or at the very least transfer to a school much closer to his home in Rochester, NY.
Then Lanning worked his magic.
After winning the introductory press conference where he ingratiated himself to fans and former players alike, Lanning then won the hearts of the players that are currently on the roster.
Whatever he said to McGee, with an assist from director of player personnel Don Johnson, the pitch worked because McGee promptly changed his mind just hours later via Twitter.
This would have been impressive enough if McGee played defense since Lanning comes to Eugene as a defensive specialist.
Naturally, players on the defensive side of the ball will gravitate towards the new coach.
But Lanning proved he’s got the chops to be a head coach.
He proved his ability to connect with McGee and undoubtedly showed him the blueprint for next season and how that plan will include McGee’s toolbox of talent.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that very important conversation.