Three-point stance: Oregon's huge weekend; Michigan's draft success

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here with a look at a team coming out of a recruiting slump in a huge way, Michigan’s draft resurgence and some 2018 prospects that remind him of 2017 first-round draftees.

Last week, I wrote about five cold teams on the 2018 recruiting trail and the Oregon Ducks were on the list. Maybe someone heard me and wanted to make me look foolish. New head coach Willie Taggart had one of the best recruiting weekends of the spring and perhaps in Ducks recruiting history as he reeled in six commitments, that’s right six, including five different four-star prospects and a high three-star as well, plus he added another three-star on Monday. Clearly the Ducks were the story of the weekend and deserve national props. Here’s my breakdown of the impact of each commit in order of when they popped.

This one wasn’t a surprise as he was a Ducks fan growing up and an in-state prospect, but with Washington targeting the state more than ever, it seems keeping him home was key. He needs to fill out, but has a good frame and footwork, so as he bulks up, he will keep that athleticism.

The Colorado four-star was a surprise commitment and a welcome one as defensive help is needed. Jackson has length and speed and will fill out nicely and add some much needed tackling ability down the line. This is a good steal out of Colorado with the Buffs recruiting so well.

The lone three-star of the weekend flurry, but don’t be fooled – this is a great get. Webb has size, he’s athletic and he is an important Northern California commitment. This is an area the Ducks need to hit and hit hard to be successful.

A steal from Florida State, this shows the ability of Taggart to recruit in his stomping grounds of Florida. Trust me when I say this, it isn’t easy to lure kids from Florida all the way to Oregon. They usually show interest but rarely pull the trigger but now he has two four-star flips from the Sunshine state on his resume. As talented as Bolden is, the fact that he’s from Florida is the biggest deal.

Remember when the Ducks used to be a player in North Carolina? Those were the Keenan Allen days and that was a long time ago, but this pull from the Tar Heel State is a big one. He’s the perfect fit for what Oregon has become known for on offense, a speedy back who can work in space.

Stevens, along with Bolden, will be key to the defensive backfield and bring both size and versatility to the table. Stephens could play corner, Bolden could play safety and so on. That’s key for the defensive backfield. Fresno produces defensive backs as well and this keeps Oregon in the mix for future stars there.

Another Northern California commitment and another defensive back. Holland may not be ranked as high as Stevens or Bolden, but that doesn't always mean a lot. Oregon safeties coach Keith Heyward's recent success with defensive backs in the NFL or headed to the NFL has a lot to do with this rash of defensive back commitments - he can make a three-star play like a five-star.

There were many storylines of the NFL Draft this past weekend, but one of the biggest is the emergence of Michigan football as a producer of NFL talent. After a few down years, Michigan set a school record with 11 players drafted in the seven rounds of the draft, leading every program in the country.

The previous record for Michigan was 10 in 1972 and 1974. Michigan had more players picked than Alabama and, more importantly, Ohio State, last weekend. While the Buckeyes had an amazing 12 selected last season and added three more first-rounders this year, the Wolverines added two first-rounders and the number of picks brings them a bit closer to Ohio State when it comes to selling the NFL dream to potential recruits. The two first-rounders, Jabrill Peppers and Taco Charlton, signal the first time since 2005 that the Wolverines had multiple first-round picks.

What does this prove? It proves that Brady Hoke certainly recruited some talent at Michigan and Jim Harbaugh took that talent and turned it into not only a winning program and Big Ten contender but also molded a bunch of NFL-ready prospects. Now imagine what he will do with the much heralded 2016 and 2017 recruiting classes in years to come. Selling the NFL dream is crucial in recruiting and has been a massive advantage for Ohio State over Michigan in recent years. And while the Buckeyes still have that edge, especially when it comes to big-time first rounders, this is a clear sign the gap is closing.

The NFL Draft is over and as I watched round one, a few guys from the 2018 class reminded me a bit of 2017 first rounders. Here are a few.

First-round comparison: Jamal Adams, LSU

While Radley-Hiles is smaller than Adams and projects more towards corner as Adams was a safety, both are versatile, fearless in tackling and pure leaders. The energy they convey on the film comes through the screen.

First-round comparison: Derek Barnett, Tennessee

Of course there have been Jadeveon Clowney comparisons, but those are way off and I’ve already addressed them. Jonathan Allen comes to mind here as he was quick twitch and good against the run as well as a pass rusher in college, but Barnett’s game at Tennessee reminds me of Thomas now.

First-round comparison: Garrett Bolles, Utah

Mays is bigger and built more like a guard, but the aggressiveness in their games and the downright nasty disposition on the field are similar to me. Bolles took a rocky road to success, a very rocky road, while Mays seems much more focused as a youngster, but these guys are alike because they love to thump people.

First-round comparison: Mike Williams, Clemson

The Williams we see now is obviously much more filled out and physical than Ross, but the body control, catch radius and speed are similar. Can Ross fill out as much as Williams did? Time will tell, but he could be the best big receiver in this class and do a lot of the things Williams did for Clemson.

First-round comparison: Malik Hooker

Hooker wasn’t nearly as polished as Johnson out of high school, but when you look at the range and ball skills of Johnson and how Hooker played center field at Ohio State, you see similar traits. Johnson plays corner, but look at how he comes off coverage when he needs to and how he works the middle of the field while also coming up and supporting the run. That’s the elite stuff of a great safety.