Around this time a year ago, Oregon appeared well on its way to landing the best class in program history. On June 27 of last year, the Ducks added a commitment from 4-star wide receiver Tre'Shaun Harrison to give the Ducks 15 commitments and boost Oregon's class to No. 5 nationally.

If all of this sounds familiar, it's because it should. Almost a year to the date later, the Ducks added a four-star wide receiver commitment, this time from Lance Wilhoite, on Thursday which gave them 14 members in their 2019 class and the fourth ranked group nationally.

The gist is this, Oregon is slightly ahead of where they were a year ago. They have one less commitment, but the commitments are of slightly higher caliber, giving them a slightly better team ranking. All of this is by the slimmest of margins. Harrison gave the 2018 class nine four-star players, just as Wilhoite gives the current class nine too.

The difference is the top of Oregon's class is better. The trio of Mykael Wright (35th nationally per the 247Sports Composite), Mase Funa (40th) and Jeremiah Criddell (53rd) are all better than the 2018's best verbals at the same period — led by four-star safety Steve Stephens.

The current wave of success should put to bed any questions about whether Mario Cristobal and company are on par with Willie Taggart on the recruiting trail. This year's flock of talent is not only highly skilled, but just as last year's class appeared to be tracking to the best in program history, that seems to be the path this year's class is on as well.

It's worth noting, that last year's class enjoyed continued success through the summer and into the season. They landed a handful of pledges at the Saturday Night Live camp and then added additions sporadically throughout the fall. The next few months could prove crucial for this year's class as well, and it is likely to start on July 27 at this year's SNL camp.

At this stage last year, the class was made up of the following players: safeties Steve Stephens and Jevon Holland, wide receivers Warren Thompson, Braden Lenzy and Harrison, offensive linemen Dawson Jaramillo and Christopher Randazzo, linebackers Adrian Jackson and MJ Cunningham, running backs Jamal Elliott and Travis Dye, defensive linemen Mohammad Diallo and Jonathan King, corner Isaiah Bolden and tight end Spencer Webb.

The reason the 2018 class fell short of surpassing the 2010 and 2011 classes (both ranked 12th in the final 247Sports team rankings) for best in program history, is because of the mass exodus in December following Willie Taggart's departure. That decision resulted in 12 de-commitments, six of which were committed prior to July 1 of last year.

Another head coaching change seems farfetched. Cristobal has already stated he's in for the long haul in Eugene. If he stays true to his word, this year's class seems a cinch to become the best ever.