O’Neil Commits to Oregon, McAninch to Army

Dan O’Neil of Mater Dei High School, one of the top quarterbacks in Orange County, said Friday that he has made an oral commitment to attend the University of Oregon.

Kevin McAninch of Huntington Beach High said Friday he will play football for Army next season. McAninch, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound offensive lineman, said he has been accepted at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was a two-year starter for the Oilers.

O’Neil, 6-2 and 175 pounds, was also considering offers from USC, Alabama, California and New Mexico. He visited Oregon two weeks ago and this week canceled trips to USC and Alabama.

“I decided it was time and committed to Oregon,” O’Neil said. “It’s a good opportunity for a quarterback. I will get to fight for a job as a freshman, and that’s good news.”

Oregon was 8-4 last season and tied for second in the Pacific 10 with Washington.

“This is a good opportunity for me,” O’Neil said. “It’s a program on the rise. I turned down a couple of good places in USC and Alabama, but I had to go where I felt I belonged.”

Last season, O’Neil completed 132 of 210 passes for 1,929 yards and 16 touchdowns to lead the Monarchs to a 6-4 record. He had only two passes intercepted.

As a junior, he completed 117 of 207 passes for 1,728 yards and 17 touchdowns. He had nine passes intercepted.