蜜柚直播

The five-star standout from Salpointe Catholic High School, rated by as the top edge rusher for 2024 and best overall prospect in 蜜柚直播, signed with the Oregon Ducks during the early signing period on Wednesday.

Rushing, a 6-6, 251-pounder, is second-highest-rated signee in Oregon鈥檚 鈥�24 class, which ranks fourth nationally, per 247. It鈥檚 the second official recruiting class at Oregon for head coach Dan Lanning, who was previously a defensive coordinator for Georgia鈥檚 stout defense that helped the Bulldogs win a national championship and churn out a plethora of NFL Draft picks.

Lanning鈥檚 defensive coordinator at Oregon, Tosh Lupoi, helped the Alabama Crimson Tide win two national championships under Nick Saban, before a stint in the NFL. Lupoi was at the forefront of Rushing鈥檚 commitment and got the 蜜柚直播 product to decommit from the hometown 蜜柚直播 Wildcats in October, after Rushing initially bucked the trend of Salpointe Catholic stars leaving 蜜柚直播 for other Power 5 programs. Fellow Lancer Keona Wilhite also backed out of his commitment to the UA and flipped to Washington.

They鈥檙e not the only Salpointe Catholic players to leave their hometowns. It鈥檚 well-documented. Atlanta Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson, Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom, Washington offensive lineman Matteo Mele and UCLA offensive lineman Bruno Fina (son of UA great John Fina) are just some of the more recent ones.

Except those aforementioned players, unlike Rushing, never pledged to the UA.

In his decommitment post on Twitter, Rushing said, 鈥淎lthough it is evident that the program is on the rise, I have to consider my future goal. I have come to conclusion that the program is not the right fit for me to take my next step with regard to my development.鈥�

The decision soured many 蜜柚直播 fans hopeful to see a hometown superstar stay home to elevate the local college鈥檚 football program, just like Sean Elliott with did for UA men鈥檚 basketball in 1985. Instead, Rushing had a change of heart and made a decision he believes is the best for him.

At Oregon, 鈥淭hey know what the best of the best looks like and they develop some of the best of the best,鈥� Rushing said Wednesday.

Since the regular season ended, Rushing鈥檚 older brother Cruz Rushing, who transferred from Florida to play safety at 蜜柚直播 in the spring, entered the transfer portal.

Now that the younger Rushing officially signed to Oregon, the edge rusher will participate in the Ducks鈥� pre-Fiesta Bowl practices in Eugene and Phoenix.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited,鈥� Rushing said. 鈥淭his is something I鈥檝e been looking forward to for a year now. I鈥檓 glad I ended up where I鈥檓 at. I鈥檓 just excited because I like to learn; I鈥檓 like a sponge for information. I want to be the best person I can possibly be. That鈥檚 something that鈥檚 exciting for me, having the opportunity to leave early.鈥�

Rushing joined 鈥淪pears and Ali鈥� on ESPN 蜜柚直播 1490-AM this week to talk about signing with Oregon, his message to critical UA fans, and what the Old Pueblo means to him. Here鈥檚 what he said:

What did Early Signing Day mean to you?

A: 鈥淚t鈥檚 huge. It鈥檚 the start of a new journey, a new chapter in my life. To put my family name on the map, it鈥檚 a huge blessing and opportunity to play for the Ducks.鈥�

What was the ultimate deciding factor to sign with Oregon, and what made it the right program for you?

A: 鈥淭hey were the most consistent. When I got to reassess everything, they just made the most sense. You got special people in coach Lupoi and coach Lanning, two defensive minds that you want to play for. They鈥檙e energetic guys and that鈥檚 something any defensive player wants to get behind.鈥�

What do you think you need improve on at Oregon?

A: 鈥淢y get-off and just tweaking any moves I need to. I know I鈥檓 not perfect. I鈥檓 not a perfect pass-rusher and there are some things I need to clean up. I just want to go there, diagnose what I need to clean up, what needs to be fixed and just go from there. That鈥檚 my main focus when I get to Oregon.鈥�

With Oregon joining the Big Ten next year, is there one future conference opponent you鈥檙e eager to play against?

A: 鈥淢y personal opinion is playing Michigan and playing in the Big House, the big environment. They have different traditions and it would be cool to go over there and experience that.鈥�

For 蜜柚直播 fans who were critical of your decision to flip from the UA to Oregon, what鈥檚 your message to them?

A: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 really have too many words. I can鈥檛 please everyone. I鈥檓 just a kid who is making the best decision for me. I can鈥檛 be everything everyone wants me to be. I鈥檓 going to be me at the end of the day and do what鈥檚 best for me and my family. It is what it is in my opinion. I can鈥檛 please everyone. I鈥檓 17, I鈥檓 still growing and still maturing. The decisions I make I gotta stand on. I鈥檓 just doing what鈥檚 best for me.鈥�

You鈥檙e about to live away from 蜜柚直播 for the first time in your life; what did growing up here mean to you?

A: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge part of my heart. This city, it鈥檚 so different. It鈥檚 not like other places, like Phoenix. There鈥檚 just a love and a pride here that I felt. No matter what, I鈥檓 glad I came from here. I don鈥檛 care what anyone says. I鈥檓 from 蜜柚直播, born and raised. I claim this (city). I don鈥檛 claim nowhere else. This is me, this is my home and this is the place I want to represent. This is something that鈥檚 huge for me. The people and the aspects of the city are beautiful. I鈥檓 blessed to be from here.鈥�