Dan Lanning is already talking like a coach who expects his freshmen to matter sooner rather than later.
After watching Oregon’s latest recruiting class settle into its first fall camp, Lanning said Monday evening that the early returns have stood out to him. He pointed to the way the newcomers have handled the transition, and he tied that progress to what’s happening around them.
"I'll say the growth has been really impressive from this group," Lanning said at his Monday evening press conference. "I think a lot of that comes from the leadership on our team - guys helping prepare people for what to expect."
He still stopped short of attaching labels to specific players. Lanning made it clear he’s more interested in what the group shows once the games start than in projecting too far ahead right now.
"I anticipate something similar to last year," he said of freshmen making an impact. "We didn't necessarily know what that looked like or which guys were going to be able to help and make an impact, and I think that same thing could happen. I think somebody who might not impact this game on Saturday could be a guy who's impacting the game later on in the year.
"I'm excited about the growth of that group and feel like we have some really talented players in there."
That kind of patience makes sense after what Oregon got from its 2025 class. True freshmen Dakorien Moore and Brandon Finney Jr. stepped in as day one starters, while running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. grew into bigger roles as the season progressed. Other members of that class also carved out smaller jobs as the year went on.
The 2025 class was ranked fifth nationally, but this year’s group has gone even higher for Oregon’s program standard. The 247Sports 2026 recruiting rankings have the Ducks at No. 3, and the class includes former 5-star recruits Tank Jones, Jett Washington and Immanuel Iheanacho.
Those three names stand out, but the biggest immediate chances to crack the lineup may belong to offensive lineman Tommy Tofi and defensive back Davon Benjamin. Both are rumored to be in position to start this season, which would make them two more freshmen ready to play a real role right away.
In Other News...
Former Oregon QB Austin Novosad Faces Another Uncertain Turn
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Bowling Green head coach Eddie George went in a different direction, naming Jay Kastanin the starter and pushing Novosad into a backup role. For a quarterback who left Oregon looking for clearer footing, it leaves his next step just as unsettled as the last one, with his future at the position still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Gabriels NFL Debut Just Hit An Early Crossroads
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When Gabriel becomes eligible to return, the Browns will have to decide how to handle the next step in his development, whether that means adding him back to the active roster or sending him to the practice squad. In the meantime, Deshaun Watson will open as the starter with Shedeur Sanders behind him, leaving Gabriel waiting for the opening he hoped to earn during camp. [Read more 🡒]
Dierre Hill Jr. May Be Solving Oregons Biggest Early Offensive Concern
Dierre Hill Jr. spent the offseason working on the kind of details that can quietly reshape an offense, and the Ducks are paying attention. Ahead of the Week 1 meeting with Boise State, the sophomore running back talked about his improvement in pass protection, a trait that can determine how much confidence a quarterback has in the backfield. Hill already showed he can be a productive weapon as a true freshman, finishing with 656 rushing yards and 16 catches, but the focus now is on becoming more complete and more trusted in all phases.
Dante Moore has noticed the difference, praising Hills dedication to sharpening his blocking and taking on a bigger leadership role in the offense. For Oregon, that matters because pass protection is often the first test for a young skill player trying to earn more snaps and expand his role in a big game. Hill and Moore both framed it as part of the offenses growth, and the Ducks will get an early answer against Boise State on whether that work has translated when the pressure starts coming off the edge. [Read more 🡒]