One of Oregon’s top linebackers will be heading a little south for college.
On Thursday, Central Catholic’s Donnie Vercher announced on social media that he is committing to the University of California, Davis.
A 6-foot-1, 210 pound linebacker and edge rusher, Vercher is considered a three-star recruit per 247Sports and is considered to be the No. 14 recruit in Oregon’s class of 2026.
He also had offers from Idaho, Air Force, Dartmouth, Penn and Portland State, among others.
Vercher has helped lead Central Catholic to a combined 34-3 record over the past three seasons and was a part of the 2023 Class 6A state championship team.
As a junior, he recorded 56 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, had two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was a first team all-league selection and an all-state honorable mention.
In 2024, Central Catholic went 11-1 and were undefeated in Mt. Hood Conference play in their first season under head coach Charlie Landgraf. The Rams’ season ended in the state semifinals with a 33-24 loss to Lake Oswego.
The Aggies are coming off an 11-3 season, finishing No. 2 in the Big Sky. UC Davis made it to the FCS National Tournament, besting Illinois State 42-10 in the second round and falling 35-21 to South Dakota.
— Nik Streng covers high school sports in Oregon. Reach him at [email protected] or @NikStreng