Oregon’s 2027 recruiting class already has some serious star power, but the Ducks may be watching the biggest flip target in this cycle drift a little farther away.
As of July 12, Oregon’s two highest-rated commits in the 2027 class are five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and five-star edge rusher Rashad Streets, according to the 247Sports composite. The Ducks also had their eyes on another five-star name in USC commit Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, but the Cathedral Catholic standout recently shut down the idea that he might flip to Oregon.
Now, Texas has moved into the spot as the biggest threat to land Fa'alave-Johnson.
On3/Rivals national recruiting insider Adam Gorney laid out where things stand, writing, "The Longhorns seem to be playing the long game here in case anything changes at USC after this season or they can circle back closer to signing day because the San Diego (Calif.) standout said Texas is still contacting him every single day," Gorney wrote.
That update suggests Oregon is losing some traction in that pursuit, with Gorney noting that others "have backed down a little bit."
Even so, Dan Lanning and his staff are still piling up wins elsewhere. Oregon has already added four-star athlete Tae Walden Jr. and four-star wide receiver Xavier Sabb, who is also a five-star in the Rivals Industry and ESPN rankings, before the Fourth of July.
The Ducks are not done yet, either. Four-star linebacker Brayton Feister is emerging as a name to watch after his planned July decision was delayed because of a family matter, according to multiple national recruiting reports. Feister, from Washington High in Massillon, Ohio, is expected to make a call soon, and Oregon is sitting at a 94.1 percent chance to land him per Rivals over Georgia and others.
Another target still worth tracking is defensive tackle Brayden Parks of Chicago. The Brothers Rice High standout is in a "tug-of-war" with Notre Dame, according to Tom Loy of 247Sports. The Fighting Irish are currently the favorite, with On3/Rivals giving Notre Dame an 89.9 percent chance to win out for the 6-3, 305-pound lineman.
Oregon remains very much in the mix on the recruiting trail, but the Fa'alave-Johnson chase now looks like one the Ducks may be watching from a step behind Texas.
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Former Louisville QB Tyler Shough Just Had A Full Circle Moment
A familiar face turned up at Oregons indoor practice facility this week, with Tyler Shough back on campus taking reps and making throws in a place that helped launch his college career. The New Orleans Saints quarterback has already packed a lot into his football journey, moving from Oregon to Texas Tech and then Louisville before hearing his name called in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
For Ducks fans, the sight carried a little extra weight because Shough once signed with Oregon in the 2018 recruiting class and still has a connection to the program. His path has included injuries, a reset at Texas Tech and a resurgence at Louisville, and now he is back in the NFL after a rookie season that included nine starts and a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Got An Early Recruiting Signal At A Crucial Position
Oregons 2028 recruiting board got an early boost this week when four-star EDGE George Parkinson IV trimmed his list to six schools, and the Ducks were right in the middle of it. The Pennsylvania standout, ranked No. 89 nationally and No. 15 at his position, also included Tennessee, LSU, Penn State, Ohio State and Texas A&M, giving Oregon a seat at the table for one of the more important defensive targets in the class.
The timing matters because the Ducks are already looking ahead at a future need off the edge. Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei are expected to be gone after 2026, and there could be more turnover through the portal before then, so landing a player like Parkinson IV would help stabilize a spot that figures to matter even more down the road. He has not set a commitment date yet, which leaves Oregon with time to keep pressing in a race that should stretch deeper into the cycle. [Read more 🡒]