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--> --> Ducks thrilled at signing of lineman EUGENE (AP) - The Oregon football program vaulted another step forward today with the signing of Haloti Ngata, the most sought-after high school defensive linemen in the country. "I think Ngata is the biggest signee in the history of Oregon football," coach Mike Bellotti said. "I don't think there has ever been somebody No. 1 at their position in the entire nation. Maybe there has been, but certainly in my time, the 13 years I've been here, yes, I would say most assuredly so." Ngata, a 6-foot-4, 324-pound player from Highland High School in Salt Lake City, had been wavering between Oregon and Brigham Young after first favoring Nebraska. He is expected to provide immediate help to Oregon's defense, which played only adequately until dominating Colorado during a 38-16 victory in the Fiesta Bowl. "He possesses the physical tools to play right now," Bellotti said. "Haloti is a very focused young man and can step in and compete for not just playing time, but a starting role." Ngata has made it clear that he will go on a Mormon mission for two years after completing his freshman year at UO. "I think we were honest with he and his family," Bellotti said. "We presented an opportunity that he felt was worth taking in an environment that would allow him to continue his spiritual life, his cultural life and his athletic and academic pursuits." Oregon went 11-1 last year and finished No. 2 in the final media and coaches' polls, behind Miami. It was by far the best season in school history, and signing Ngata - ranked as the second-best prep player in the country by some recruiting reports - confirms the Ducks' status as an elite team. "I honestly had written him down on our list about two weeks ago and most of my coaches thought I was crazy. But I felt a kinship with both him and his parents," Bellotti said. Oregon signed 15 other high school players and five junior-college transfers, but Bellotti admitted that he was expecting the recruiting trail to be a little easier, following such a strong season. "But I've said many times, we don't have a large captive local population, so we are going outside our state for approximately 80 percent of our athletes," the coach said. "I've learned to deal with it. The challenge always excites me. "We've gotten some kids from Burns and Ontario that I think have done pretty well, so I put him in the same category," Bellotti said of quarterback Andy Collins, from tiny Zillah, Wash. "I watched him on film and liked him immediately, brought him up for a visit and liked him even more." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing