The Oregon Ducks have been riding a wave of success on the recruiting front over the past month, marking a historic surge for the program.
In just the span of the last month, the Ducks have secured commitments from a total of seven recruits, with a significant highlight being the addition of four commitments within the past week alone. This recent flurry of commitments has included two highly coveted five-star talents, reflecting Oregon’s aggressive pursuit and success in landing top-tier prospects.
One of the most anticipated announcements came on Monday when five-star tight end Linkon Cure, hailing from Goodland, Kansas, revealed his college decision during a 247Sports Livestream event. However, to the disappointment of Oregon fans, Cure opted to commit to the Kansas State Wildcats instead of the Ducks.
Cure explained his decision-making process, emphasizing his admiration for the culture and environment at Kansas State. In an interview with On3, Cure highlighted the camaraderie among the players and the leadership exhibited by the coaching staff as pivotal factors influencing his choice.
“I love everything about Kansas State,” Cure remarked. “The biggest thing there is the culture and being around the program. That’s definitely something I noticed, guys that I will be around all the time if I choose Kansas State. I thought that was really important. The leadership there and the coaching staff are great. I really love everything about Kansas State. I love what coach Chris Klieman has done there. There’s a lot of guys around there that I respect and it’s a great place to be.”
Cure’s decision followed a series of official visits to various universities, including Kansas, Texas A&M, Oregon, and finally Kansas State. These visits provided Cure with valuable insights into each program, making his choice a challenging one due to the strong merits of each school.
Reflecting on his recruitment journey, Cure acknowledged the unpredictability and intensity of the process, which included navigating through coaching changes and other factors. Despite the challenges, Cure expressed gratitude for the experience and remained steadfast in his decision-making approach.
“The year was an absolute roller coaster,” Cure shared with On3. “It did not play out the way I thought it would. I had a lot of mixed emotions throughout the whole process because of some coaching changes and things like that. It was a crazy process, but I enjoyed every little bit of it. I stayed true to my process and took in the whole thing. I took those four OVs and the decision was a lot tougher than I expected it to be, but I’m pretty settled in on what I see in those schools, what I want and what I can be.”
Ranked as a five-star recruit, Cure is highly regarded in national recruiting circles, standing as the No. 27 player in the nation overall, the No. 2 tight end prospect, and the No. 2 player in the state of Kansas according to the On3 Industry Rankings.
While Cure’s decision marks a missed opportunity for Oregon, the Ducks’ recent recruiting success underscores their ability to compete for top talent nationally. With several commitments secured and ongoing efforts to bolster their roster, Oregon remains poised to continue making significant strides in the competitive landscape of college football recruiting.