A handful of Oregon players have made verbal commitments ahead of National Signing Day:
* Lake Oswego's
Tyson Coleman, a first-team all-state defensive back and first-team all-state running back has verbally committed to Oregon. He was the player of the year for his conference. Offensively, he rushed for 1,580 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. With Coleman starting for three years, Lake Oswego won 31 of 38 games. The 6-2, 210-pound Coleman plans to enroll at Oregon in March and will participate in spring ball this year.
* Jesuit running back
Jordan Talley has verbally committed to Eastern Washington. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Talley was a first-team Class 6A all-state selection in 2010 when he rushed for 2,856 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Crusaders (11-2). He led all 6A players in rushing and scoring. During his two varsity seasons, he ran for 4,664 yards and 58 touchdowns.
* Jesuit senior defensive back
Miles Weatheroy has accepted an appointment to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Weatheroy plans to attend the Air Force Academy Preparatory School for one year before joining the Falcons in 2012. He will join his brother, Paul Weatheroy, at the academy. The older Weatheroy was named the Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year at Jesuit in 2006 and will be a senior at Air Force next season. Sidelined by three knee surgeries, he has yet to play for the Falcons.
* Marist (Eugene) lineman
Matthew Devereux made a verbal commitment to play at Montana State. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior lineman was first-team, all-state on both offense and defense. The Bobcats won the Big Sky Conference title in 2010.
• Crater High School lineman
Zach Zelecki has verbally committed to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Zelecki, 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, was an all-Southwest Conference second-team selection at offensive tackle and also on the defensive line. He also had offers from Yale, Brown and Portland State.
• Crater quarterback
Tyler Turituri (6-2, 215) verbally committed to Portland State.
ASLAND, EAGLE POINT FOOTBALL TO BE IN MIDWESTERN LEAGUEThe
Ashland and
Eagle Point football teams will be members of the Class 5A Midwestern League beginning this fall. The Grizzlies and Eagles played an MWL schedule last season and were included in the league's all-conference awards, but were not eligible for the league championship. Athletic directors of Oregon's 37 5A schools voted to allow Ashland and Eagle Point membership in football only. The 5A Midwestern League schools are: Churchill, Marist, Marshfield, North Eugene, Springfield and Willamette. In other sports, Ashland and Eagle Point will play in the Southern Oregon Hybrid league that includes 6A schools North and South Medford, Roseburg, Grants Pass and Crater.