Oregon’s work on the 2028 recruiting class is already starting to show up in a big way.
With the Ducks’ 2027 class largely in place after a huge summer for Dan Lanning and his staff, the attention is beginning to shift toward the next wave of talent. That means Oregon is not just trying to finish strong on the current cycle - it’s also trying to get ahead of the pack for 2028, and one of the biggest early wins is making the final six for elite edge rusher George Parkinson IV.
Parkinson, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound defender from Douglassville, Pa., announced a group that also includes Penn State, Texas A&M, Ohio State, LSU, and Tennessee. Rivals lists him as the 99th-ranked player in the country, the 11th-ranked edge rusher in the class, and the No. 2 player in Pennsylvania.
That’s a loaded field, and it’s easy to see why. Penn State and Ohio State are both in the mix for a top Pennsylvania prospect, Texas A&M has the development track record under Mike Elko, LSU brings Lane Kiffin’s recruiting pull, and Tennessee now has Jim Knowles after his time at Penn State. Oregon is fighting from across the country, but it has already done enough to stay in the race.
Parkinson visited Eugene in April and returned again in June, giving the Ducks a real foothold with one of the top defensive prospects in the class. Getting him back on campus this fall for a game at Autzen Stadium would be another important step.
For Oregon, these early battles matter for more than just one commitment. Recruits are reclassifying more often, and being in position now can pay off later if a player jumps into college early. Even if a prospect goes elsewhere, those relationships can still matter down the road.
As junior seasons approach and recruiting lists tighten, Oregon’s ability to keep landing on finalist lists gives the program another chance to build momentum in the 2028 cycle.
In Other News...
Maddox Molony Just Put Oregon's Omaha Hopes In Limbo
Oregons infield picture got a lot more complicated when shortstop Maddox Molony came off the board in the 2026 MLB Draft, landing with the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round at No. 187 overall. Molony still has a year of college eligibility left, which keeps the Ducks in the conversation for one more run, but it also puts him in the middle of the familiar summer tug-of-war between a pro opportunity and a return to Eugene.
The timing matters because Oregon did not lose just one name on draft day. Second baseman Ryan Cooney went to the Blue Jays, commit Andruw Giles was taken by the Pirates, and pitcher Cal Scolari went to the White Sox, leaving the Ducks to sort through multiple draft decisions at once. Molonys choice will loom largest because of what he means to the lineup and because his path could help shape whether Oregons Omaha push stays intact or starts to thin before it even gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Why Koi Perich Could Change Oregon In More Ways Than One
Koi Perich arrives in Eugene with the kind of profile Oregon can use in more than one phase of the game. The former Minnesota safety is expected to matter on defense and on special teams, bringing a blend of vertical athleticism and ball disruption that should fit neatly into the Ducks plans. His ability to affect field position is part of the appeal, too, after showing real value as a returner.
Perichs college tape already points to a player who can change the feel of a game without needing a full workload to do it. He has been productive as a playmaker in the secondary and has also handled punt and kickoff returns, giving Oregon a versatile piece with a chance to influence games in ways that go beyond the usual safety responsibilities. The bigger question now is how quickly those traits translate once he gets fully plugged into the Ducks system. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Got A Ryan Cooney Update Fans Were Dreading
Ryan Cooneys draft stock finally turned into a real decision point for Oregon baseball, and it came with the kind of uncertainty Ducks fans were bracing for. The second baseman was taken in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft, a sign that pro teams see enough upside to make the college-to-pro jump a legitimate option, even with more development still available in Eugene.
Cooney still has college eligibility left, which keeps Oregon in the conversation for now, but the clock is already ticking toward a July 27 decision. He is not the only Duck in that spot, either, with Cal Scolari and Maddox Molony also expected to hear their names called and then weigh the same choice between returning to campus and starting their pro careers. [Read more 🡒]