Oregon gets the first crack at one of the class of 2028’s biggest prizes, and that matters.
Five-star defensive lineman Kellan Hall has locked in his fall visit schedule, and the No. 2 Ducks will host the 6-5, 275-pound standout from Christian Academy of Louisville on Sept. 5 when Oregon opens against Boise State. It will be Hall’s second trip to Eugene, giving Dan Lanning and his staff another chance to leave a mark early in the process.
That first stop comes with plenty of pressure. Hall’s schedule is packed with heavyweight programs, and Oklahoma already sits at the top of his list of 12 schools. The Sooners are also the clear favorite right now, with On3’s prediction model giving them an 83.9 percent chance to land him, while Ohio State is next at 3.3 percent.
Still, Oregon has a real opening here. Hall is the No. 1 defensive lineman in the country and one of the most sought-after players in the entire 2028 class. His tour begins in Eugene before moving through a run of major Power Five matchups, including six SEC games and three Big Ten showdowns.
His fall slate is set to take him to:
Sept. 5: No.
2 Oregon vs. Boise State
Sept. 12: Kentucky vs.
No. 13 Alabama
Sept. 19: No.
10 Oklahoma vs. New Mexico
Sept. 16: No.
3 Georgia vs. No.
10 Oklahoma
Oct.
3: No. 8 Texas A&M vs.
Arkansas
Oct.
10: No. 1 Ohio State vs.
Maryland
Oct.
17: No. 17 Michigan vs.
No. 18 Penn State
Oct. 31: No.
5 Texas vs. Mississippi State
Nov. 4: No.
4 Notre Dame vs. No.
7 Miami
Nov.
21: No. 20 Tennessee vs.
No. 11 LSU
Oregon is the only West Coast school on the list, but geography clearly isn’t a deal-breaker for Hall. The Ducks also have the benefit of familiarity, since this will be his second visit to campus.
The Ducks’ defensive front is loaded right now, but the long-term picture is starting to shift. Bear Alexander, A’Mauri Washington and Matayo Uiagalelei, along with Teitum Tuioti and Jerome Simmons, are all running out of eligibility.
That helps explain why Oregon’s 2027 class still has room to grow up front. The group is ranked No. 4 nationally, but only two of the 25 commits are true interior defensive linemen: four-star Zane Rowe and three-star Achilles Reyna. As it stands, the Ducks have just one top-150 recruit in that group.
Even so, Oregon and defensive line coach Tony Tuioti have earned the benefit of the doubt. Tuioti has put five defensive linemen into the NFL draft since 2023, and three more former Ducks signed as undrafted free agents. He also spent two years coaching the defensive line for the Cleveland Browns, and he brought Rip Rowan over from the Las Vegas Raiders as assistant defensive line coach and pass rush specialist for the 2026 season.
Hall would be a natural fit in Oregon’s 3-4 scheme, where the edges line up as outside linebackers. He could play inside or line up as a big end, and he would likely become the focal point of Tuioti’s front.
There are other schools trying to make their case, of course. Hall has worked with Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, and the Buckeyes could pair him with Jameer Whyce, a five-star defensive lineman already committed to Ohio State. He has also spoken highly of Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame’s defensive line development, and Kentucky remains a factor because staying in state always carries weight.
But Oregon gets the first swing, and that’s the key here. Hall begins his 10-visit run at Autzen Stadium during a Stripe Out for the No. 2 team in the country, with an established relationship with Lanning and the Ducks already in place. That gives Oregon something several of the other contenders don’t have.
Oklahoma still has the massive lead. Oregon just gets the first chance to try to close the gap.
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