Eric Dungy is not one of the more heralded high school players in the country, but his surname ensured that there would be more-than-passing interest in where he might end up collegiately.
Which is exactly why we are posting on a player who carries a two-star rating from one of the top recruiting services in the country.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Dungy, the son of Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, has given a verbal commitment to Oregon. The Tampa Plant defensive back had offers from South Florida, Central Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico and Louisville to choose from before a weekend visit to Eugene.
The way the younger Dungy talked, it was an easy decision following the visit thanks to the presence of Ducks head coach Chip Kelly.
“I’m definitely happy to finally have a decision made,” Dungy said Monday evening. “I just like the way Oregon does things and the coaches and the players were great.
“Coach Kelly is a great guy so I can understand why anybody would want to play for him. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of top-notch players wanted to go there.”
What’s interesting in all of this whole surprise-offer-to-Dungy thing directly relates to his father. And his father’s recent history with the school.
Following LeGarrette Blount’s “Punch Heard ‘Round the College Football World”, Tony Dungy was one of the figures utilized by Kelly and the university to “rehabilitate” Blount both personally and publicly.
Then, four months later, his two-star son from waaay across the country gets an offer from one of the top programs in the nation, the Pac-10’s representative in the Rose Bowl? After being offered by no team that received a single vote from the voters in the Associated Press or USA Today coaches’ poll final rankings not only this year, but for the 2008 season as well?
Not saying there’s anything wrong with that. Just sayin’...