One of the most coveted offensive linemen in the class of 2027 has his sights set on the Pacific Northwest.
Avery Michael, a junior offensive tackle for Turlock High School, announced Sunday that he had verbally committed to the University of Oregon. The decision came after a year of aggressive recruiting by major college programs, in which he received 29 Division I offers.
“It’s awesome to say that I’m committed to Oregon,” Michael told the Journal on Wednesday. “Oregon is the best in the business at developing and getting guys to the NFL, and that’s my ultimate goal.”
Since Dan Lanning took over as head coach following the 2021 season, the Ducks have had 24 players — including five linemen — selected in the NFL Draft, the most of any program in the nation. A visit to the university campus in Eugene on Jan. 24, which included a meeting with Lanning, was one of the deciding factors for Michael, who was elevated to a consensus four-star recruit over the past two weeks.
“It was a great experience,” Michael said of his official visit. “The hospitality, the people, the campus and the facilities, it all was top-tier. It was easy to picture myself there.”
The Ducks formally extended an offer to Michael on Dec. 22, just days after Offensive Line Coach A'lique Terry and assistant Ryan Walk first reached out to express interest.
“They said I was a no-brainer for them,” the 6-foot-6, 290-pounder said. “They said I have all the tools to be successful at that level and that I was a really high priority.”
Turlock head coach James Peterson agreed.
“He really came into his own this past season, putting guys on their backs,” Peterson said. “He’s explosive finishing, has great footwork, and can change levels phenomenally, which is impressive for a guy of his size. I mean, he grew a few inches and went from 230 to 285 pounds in a year, and it’s all good weight. He’s a beast in the weight room and has his diet mapped out, it’s impressive.”
Above all, Peterson praised Michael’s attitude, willingness to learn and his work ethic, on and off the gridiron, citing his 3.5 GPA.
“He has a lot of those attributes that gets colleges excited, which is why you saw the way programs went after him, and why they’ll continue to go after him,” Peterson said.
Michael announced Oregon to be a finalist in his recruiting sweepstakes on Jan. 12 alongside Michigan, Nebraska, University of Southern California, Washington and California. Four days later, UCLA came calling with an offer, and last week, Vanderbilt entered the race.
During that time, Nebraska and Michigan upped their game, with representatives from each program, including Cornhuskers skipper Matt Rhule, making stops in Turlock.
Other programs to extend offers to Michael were Washington State, Minnesota, West Virginia, Purdue, Kansas, Duke, Fresno State, Boise State, San Jose State, Colorado State, Nevada, San Diego State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Georgia Southern, Toledo, Sacramento State, Portland State and Texas State.
“We’ve had guys garner college interest and play at the Division I level, but we have never seen a recruiting process like this,” Peterson said. “This is a different level. On one hand, he’s got about 30 offers, which I believe makes him the biggest recruit this program has seen. On the other, you look at the type of teams, whether it’s Oregon, Michigan, Nebraska. This was big time, and I’m sure schools are going to keep trying until it’s time to sign.
“It’s a new experience to me, and it’s so cool, not just for me, but the whole school. It’s a community effort to work with teachers, family and coaches to coordinate times for meetings and calls, but it’s worth it. He is so deserving and we’re so happy for him.”
With his senior season on the horizon, Michael’s goals are clear.
“Obviously, I need to stay healthy, and these next few months, I need to just keep working hard, keep developing and getting stronger to help my team win before heading to Eugene,” he said. “Oregon is a winning program. We’re in the playoffs every year. We’re going to win a (National Championship) soon, too. The trajectory is going up, for sure, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
