YELM — After receiving 20 full-ride scholarship opportunities from Division 1 football programs all around the country throughout his high school career, Brayden Platt, Washington’s top football recruit in the class of 2024, answered prep-football fans’ question of where the All-American linebacker would commit.
After narrowing down his top two schools to the University of Oregon and the University of Oklahoma, Platt, surrounded by his teammates, friends, family and coaches on Monday at the Yelm Performing Art Center (PAC), committed to the Oregon Ducks, where he will play football and throw on the track team.
During the ceremony, Platt, the top in-state recruit according to 247Sports, was flanked by his dad, Cy, and mom, Rachel, who celebrated her birthday Monday.
“First, I’d like to thank God for putting me in this situation and being where I’m able to be at today,” he said. “Also, I’d like to thank my mom and dad for making me the person I am today, and my brothers for pushing me and making me the best version of myself, and also my previous coaches that have pushed me and made me the athlete I am today. What I was looking for in a school was a family, and also a school that can develop me at the next level.”
Following his comments, the 6-foot, 2-inch, 240-pound linebacker cut into a cake that was revealed to be green and yellow.
“I’ll be going to Oregon,” Platt exclaimed to thunderous applause from a packed audience as he held up the Duck-colored cake. “What excites me the most is the winning culture [the Ducks] bring with [head coach Dan] Lanning coming from Georgia and winning a natty there.”
Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports’ director of recruiting, spoke before Platt’s commitment about his characteristics as a football player. In addition to the top in-state ranking for the class of 2024, 247Sports has Platt ranked as the eighth-best linebacker in the country and the 72nd prospect overall.
“[He’s] a hard-hitting, fluid and explosive football player that can play sideline to sideline and also be physical at the line of scrimmage,” Wiltfong said.
Oregon’s football program has won 14 conference titles and was a national finalist in 2010 and 2014.
With the addition of Platt, Oregon’s 2024 recruiting class is brought to 11th overall in the country, with time to improve. He’s currently set to join JacQawn McRoy, four-star offensive tackle from Pinson, Alabama; Aaron Flowers, a four-star safety from Forney, Texas; Dakoda Fields, a four-star cornerback from Gardena, California; and 18 other Eugene-bound commits.
He also joins four-star offensive tackle Fox Crader from Evergreen High School in Vancouver, in Eugene.
“I just love the competitiveness of Brayden,” said Brandon Huffman, 247Sports’ national recruiting editor. “He does not want to shy away from contact whether he’s playing linebacker and he’s knocking you over … or if he’s a running back who wants to run through you, rather than around you or away from you.
““He’s a throwback. He’s a guy who would’ve really thrived in football in the ’90s and early 2000s, but he’s been able to evolve as a player. [He’s] a guy that I think Oregon is going to be jacked to get to campus in a few months.”
At the conclusion of Platt’s commitment ceremony, the Oregon-bound linebacker displayed his new Oregon Ducks pendant and took photos with those in attendance.
Platt said his commitment to the Ducks’ football program came down to two big reasons.
“To me, it was the development I could get with Coach[es] Lanning, [Tosh] Lupoi and Coach Big Mike. I also really like the culture there,” Platt said after his ceremony. “Sco’ Ducks, we’re going to win a natty.”
Platt is arguably the most decorated athlete in Thurston County since Jonathan Stewart graduated from Timberline High School-Lacey in 2005. Like Stewart, Platt has received All-American honors, Washington Gatorade Player of the Year — in track and field — honors and a strong reputation amongst coaches and athletes county and statewide.
Platt also committed to the Oregon track program, which has won five national championships and seven outdoor national championships. The men’s track program also has 25 conference championships.
