Hart Lineman DeGroote Decides to Play at Oregon

Hart High lineman Tim DeGroote, twice a Times All-Valley football selection, has committed to the University of Oregon, choosing the Ducks over Colorado State and Washington State.

DeGroote (6-foot-3, 255 pounds) was Hart’s only two-way starter, playing defensive tackle and center for the Indians last fall. DeGroote, who can sign a national letter of intent Feb. 6, the first day of the winter signing period, made his decision after taking a recruiting trip to Washington State over the weekend.

“I didn’t want to leave Washington State out. It was hard to decide,” he said. “It was getting hectic the past few days; I was getting a ton of phone calls from all three schools. I’m relieved to have made the choice.”

The stability of the coaching staff at Oregon and the natural setting of the campus in Eugene swayed him, DeGroote said.

“They have been there a long time and I knew they were going to be around for my five years there,” said DeGroote, who plans to play center at Oregon.

DeGroote helped lead Hart to the Southern Section Division III semifinals and was a first-team All-Southern Section and second-team all-state selection. Hart Coach Mike Herrington called DeGroote the school’s best lineman in the past 20 years.