RECRUITING: Fast-moving George chooses Oregon
Elijah George prefers to be moving all the time. So it makes sense that the senior offensive lineman from Arbor View would choose to play for the fastest offense in college football.
George made an oral commitment to Oregon on Sunday, selecting the Ducks over Duke following an official visit to the Eugene, Ore., campus. He is the first player in Arbor View's eight-year history to earn a Division I football scholarship.
Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day George can sign a letter of intent is Feb. 6.
"Oregon has a very quick offense, and that's what I like," George said. "I'm not the type of person that likes to gloat about anything, but I take pride in what I accomplished. I'm proud to be the first player in school history to go D-I."
The 6-foot-5-inch, 260-pound George was a second-team all-state selection as a junior and was first-team all-state last season, helping the Aggies finish 10-1 and advance to the semifinals of the Sunset Region playoffs.
Not bad for someone who started playing football as a freshman.
"This is a big deal for him, and a big deal for Arbor View football," Aggies coach Dan Barnson said. "He's a good kid. I'd let him babysit my own kids, he's that type of kid. He's a hard worker and dedicated."
George had scholarship offers from 14 schools, including UNLV. He visited Duke last weekend before traveling to Oregon.
"It's a football town. The whole community supports the team, and I really liked that, too," George said. "The coaches that were recruiting me believe I have a lot of untapped potential, and I believe that, too. I believe going to that program will show me the way to meet that untapped potential."
George played tackle at Arbor View and said he will start out at that spot with the Ducks.
"His sophomore year we were running no-huddle, and he liked that," Barnson said. "He remembered the no-huddle, and it's Oregon. Oregon is like the new USC. ... Oregon is kind of like his dream school, so when they came through, he was excited."
