Landen Williams-Callis is down to the final stretch.
The class of 2027’s top uncommitted running back is set to announce his commitment Saturday, and the decision will land with one of the programs that has spent months pushing for the elite back. Before A'mir Sears reclassified from 2028 this week, Williams-Callis was the nation’s best available player in the rising-senior cycle.
At 5-foot-7 1/2 and 190 pounds, the Richmond (Texas) Randle standout has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous playmakers in the country. 247Sports lists him as the nation’s No. 38 overall prospect, the No. 3 running back nationally and the No. 3 player in Texas.
Williams-Callis has been a force in the Lone Star State, helping lead his high school to multiple 5A-II state title game appearances. His rise started early, too. As a freshman, he burst onto the scene with nearly 2,000 rushing yards and district MVP honors.
The production has piled up fast from there. Over three high school seasons, Williams-Callis has rushed for 7,551 yards and 125 touchdowns, while also catching 54 passes for 728 yards and seven more scores.
His background is loaded with football bloodlines. Cousins James Rodgers and Jacquizz Rodgers both had notable college careers before reaching the NFL, and his uncle, Michael Lewis, was a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles after playing at Colorado.
Williams-Callis has also been a track and field standout, posting strong times in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and qualifying for state in the 4x100-meter relay.
The recruiting chase has been just as intense as the production. Williams-Callis says he has 70 offers from programs around the country and took seven official visits during the spring and summer. One of those schools will land a potential difference-maker when he makes his choice this weekend.
In Other News...
Oregon May Have A Late Backcourt Decision To Make
A federal court ruling this week added an unexpected wrinkle to Oregons offseason roster planning, with a U.S. District Court judge granting a preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to declare eligible all high school class of 2022 athletes who used up four seasons of eligibility this spring. For a Ducks program that has already largely assembled its roster but kept a few openings available, the decision arrives at a time when backcourt depth is still worth monitoring.
One name to keep in mind is Takai Simpkins, the former Oregon guard who was part of the case. Even with the portal already in motion and the roster picture mostly settled, the ruling creates a late-stage possibility the Ducks may have to weigh, especially if they want to preserve flexibility in the guard rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Is Suddenly In The Mix For A Proven Guard Again
A court ruling in Colorado has reopened the college basketball market in a way few programs could have predicted, giving players from the 2022 recruiting class another year of NCAA eligibility and prompting a fresh round of roster shuffling. For teams like Oregon, it has created an opportunity to revisit experienced backcourt options at a time when proven guards are always in demand.
Among the players drawing attention is Memphis guard Dug McDaniel, whose path has already included stops at Michigan and Kansas State before his time with the Tigers. Oregon is reportedly among the programs showing interest, and the broader appeal is obvious: a seasoned ballhandler suddenly available again, with multiple schools now trying to sort out where he might land next. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Tight End Battle Could Change The Ducks Offense Fast
The tight end room is shaping up as one of the more interesting parts of Oregons 2026 roster, with five-star newcomer Kendre Harrison already looking like a player who could push for immediate snaps. He brings the kind of blend the Ducks value there, with enough blocking ability to hold up in the run game and enough receiving skill to be more than just a line-of-scrimmage option. Add in his athletic profile, plus the expectation that he will also spend time around college basketball, and Oregon has a rare kind of mismatch piece entering the program.
Jamari Johnson gives the Ducks a proven returning option, which makes the battle feel less about finding one usable tight end and more about sorting out how quickly the offense can take advantage of two different skill sets. If Harrison adapts fast, Oregon could open the season with a much more dangerous group at the position than most teams in the country can match. The bigger question now is not whether the Ducks will have talent there, but how soon they can turn it into a real edge on offense. [Read more 🡒]