As National Signing Day draws near, Oregon’s 2026 recruiting class just got another boost - and this one came from a player who’s been flying under the radar until now.
Cornerback Azel Banag, out of A.C. Flora High School in Columbia, South Carolina, made one of the most significant late climbs in the final 247Sports rankings update. Banag, who committed to the Ducks in December, saw his stock soar from an 87 rating to a 92, earning him a coveted fourth star and a spot among Oregon’s top dozen signees in the Top247 rankings.
Let’s put that jump into perspective: Banag was previously ranked as the No. 86 cornerback in the country. Now?
He’s sitting at No. 25.
In the 247Sports Composite - which blends rankings from across the industry - he rose from No. 38 to No. 29 at his position, and from No. 426 to No. 272 overall. His composite rating now stands at .9091.
That’s not just a minor bump. That’s a leap that puts him firmly in the conversation as one of the more underrated gets in this class - until now.
At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Banag brings a versatile, playmaking presence to Oregon’s secondary. His senior season numbers tell the story: 72 tackles, 12 pass breakups, 5 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.
He wasn’t just a shutdown corner; he was a turnover machine. And he didn’t stop there - Banag also chipped in on offense with 9 receptions for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Banag committed to Oregon after official visits to Northwestern, Wisconsin, Duke, and Georgia Tech. He made his trip to Eugene in late November and locked in his pledge on December’s National Signing Day.
His offer list was extensive - 32 in total - and included programs like Auburn, West Virginia, Air Force, Army, Navy, Coastal Carolina, and Liberty. He was once committed to Harvard, which speaks volumes about the kind of student-athlete Oregon is getting.
His rise adds even more firepower to an already loaded Ducks secondary class. Oregon now has five defensive backs with four or more stars in the 2026 cycle, headlined by five-star safety Jett Washington out of Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. Washington holds a 98 rating and leads a group that’s shaping up to be one of the most talented in the country.
Four-star corner Davon Benjamin from Oaks Christian (California) and four-star safety Devin Jackson from The First Academy (Florida) both sit comfortably inside the Top 100. Xavier Lherisse, a safety from Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida, earned his fourth star back in November and just got another bump - from a 90 to a 91 rating.
All five of those defensive backs signed with Oregon in December, giving the Ducks a deep and dynamic group in the back end of their defense.
With the recent addition of Brandon Smith, Oregon now holds 21 commitments in the 2026 class. The breakdown: 3 five-star recruits, 14 four-stars, and 4 three-stars. That kind of talent distribution has propelled the Ducks to the No. 3 spot in the national team recruiting rankings, according to 247Sports.
In short, Oregon’s 2026 class is loaded - and Azel Banag’s rise is just the latest sign that the Ducks are stacking elite talent across the board, especially in the secondary. This group has the potential to be special.