The Oregon Ducks are still chasing a 2027 class with top-five upside, and one of the names drawing the strongest buzz is four-star athlete Tae Walden Jr. The Collierville High School standout is set to announce his commitment on Wednesday during the Rivals Summer Signing Day Show, and Oregon has emerged as a serious contender in his recruitment.
Walden Jr. brings the kind of flexibility coaches love to work with. He is rated by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 56 prospect, the No. 4 athlete, and the No. 3 player in the Tri-Star state. That athlete label fits because he contributes on both sides of the ball for Collierville.
On offense, Walden lined up at wide receiver and put together a strong 2025 season. MaxPreps lists him with 42 catches for 912 yards and 10 touchdowns. That means he scored on nearly a quarter of his receptions, finding the end zone once every 4.2 catches.
Still, the more likely college fit appears to be cornerback. Walden backed that up with a big defensive season in 2025, finishing with 17 pass breakups and five interceptions, according to MaxPreps. That production stood out as one of the top cornerback stat lines in Tennessee.
There’s also an NFL connection behind the profile. Walden’s father, Erik Walden, was known as a strong tackler at linebacker and EDGE, and spent time with the Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, and Indianapolis Colts. He ended his career with more than 300 tackles and 35 sacks.
That background, along with Tae Walden Jr.’s size - listed at around 6-2 by 247Sports - is part of why many believe he can develop into a standout corner at the next level.
Oregon is not alone at the top of the race, but it does appear to be firmly in the mix. Rivals lists Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, and Ole Miss as the finalists. The Ducks are also drawing the momentum in predictions, with multiple Rivals reporters and experts including Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons projecting Oregon to land him.
If that prediction holds, Walden would become Oregon’s second commitment at cornerback.
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