The 2027 recruiting race is entering its final stretch, and Oregon is once again positioned to make noise right before the Early Signing Period. With less than a month to go, Dan Lanning and his staff still have a Top 5 national class intact, and they haven’t seen any flips yet. That kind of stability gives the Ducks room to keep pushing, especially with another big recruiting weekend ahead as Michigan comes to Autzen Stadium.
One of the more interesting names on Oregon’s board is Virginia Tech running back commit JP Jones-Priest, who is set to take an official visit to Eugene on Saturday. Rivals reported the visit, and it gives the Ducks a chance to make one more run at a player they were once heavily involved with.
At one point, Oregon looked like the leader in Jones-Priest’s recruitment. Then TCU surged, and James Franklin ultimately landed the commitment. Now, with the Early Signing Period approaching, the Ducks are back in the mix and trying to flip the script late in the cycle.
Jones-Priest is rated by Rivals as a 4-star recruit, the 256th-ranked player in the country, the 18th-ranked running back in the class, and the 37th-ranked player from Texas. The 5-foot-10 back has put together a huge season, rushing for 1,171 yards and 27 touchdowns while also adding 212 receiving yards and three touchdown catches.
Oregon already has one running back committed in the 2027 class in fellow Texas native and 4-star recruit CaDarius McMiller. And if the Ducks are looking for a recent example of how late-cycle running back additions can pay off, true freshman Brandon Smith is the name that stands out. He was the last back Oregon added late in a cycle, and he’s been a home run for the program.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Added Fuel To Oregons Michigan Buildup
The buildup to Oregons meeting with Michigan at Autzen Stadium has already started to take on the edge fans would expect from two programs with real stakes attached. Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham recently pointed to Dan Lannings recruiting success and the financial resources behind Oregons program, and it was the kind of comment that tends to linger once the teams are headed toward a showdown.
Lanning answered in a way that kept the focus on the Ducks while still nudging the conversation back toward the Wolverines. He praised Whittingham, but also suggested Michigans spending priorities could end up shaping how the program recruits. With the game still ahead, the exchange has only added another layer to a matchup that was already going to draw plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Walks Into An Oregon Atmosphere Fans Already Hate
Autzen Stadium is getting a little extra theater for Oregons first meeting with Michigan since 2003, and the Ducks are leaning all the way into it. For the matchup, Oregon will break out a special Godzilla-themed uniform combination with black, silver and green jerseys, grey pants and a matte black helmet built around the movie monster motif.
The look is only part of the rollout. Oregon is also tying the game to its Ducks of a Feather NIL brand with related merchandise created in collaboration with Toho International, giving the weekend a full promotional package around one of the seasons most anticipated home dates. For a fan base that already treats Autzen as a weapon, the Ducks are clearly aiming to make the atmosphere feel as loud and as unmistakably Oregon as possible. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Playoff Push Just Took A Brutal Hit Before Michigan
Oregons playoff momentum has been building again after a pair of recent wins lifted both its record and its College Football Playoff standing, but the Ducks are heading into a crucial stretch with a major loss on the defensive front. Edge rusher Teitum Tuioti will miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury that requires surgery, a setback that cuts into one of the more disruptive parts of Oregons pass rush just as the schedule is tightening.
The timing is especially awkward with Michigan next on the slate, even as the Wolverines are dealing with their own turbulence after a loss and the firing of offensive coordinator Jason Beck. Interim offensive line coach Jim Harding has taken over play-calling duties, and head coach Kyle Whittingham is still weighing quarterback options for the games ahead, leaving Oregon to prepare for a matchup that suddenly looks very different on both sidelines. [Read more 🡒]