Oregon’s recruiting machine is humming-and it’s only January. With their second straight Junior Day on tap this weekend, the Ducks are wasting no time building out their 2027 class. The message is clear: Dan Lanning and his staff are playing the long game, and they’re playing it aggressively.
Let’s start with a name that’s quickly gaining traction in Eugene: Dakota Guerrant. The Harper Woods (MI) standout is a two-way athlete, but it’s at wide receiver where he’s turning heads-and drawing predictions to Oregon from multiple national analysts.
At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Guerrant is a smooth, polished route-runner with sticky hands and a knack for making the game look easy. He’s not just fast-he’s fluid.
There’s a natural rhythm to the way he runs routes and snatches the ball out of the air, and his sophomore numbers back it up: over 1,600 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns in 2024. That’s the kind of production that makes recruiters take notice.
Guerrant already made two trips to Eugene-one back in late September and another just last weekend. The Ducks have been stacking elite talent at wide receiver in recent years, and if they land Guerrant, it would be another big-time addition to that pipeline.
But the Ducks aren’t stopping there.
Another rising prospect Oregon is targeting hard is Noah Roberts, a dynamic running back out of Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona. Roberts is the kind of back who brings the full package-power, speed, vision, and balance.
He’s already piled up 2,168 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in his high school career, and he’s not slowing down. Clocked at a blazing 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, Roberts is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball.
He’s coming off a monster season where he helped lead the Bears to a 12-1 record and an Open Division State Championship. Naturally, powerhouse programs like Tennessee, Alabama, Notre Dame, and USC are all in pursuit-but Oregon is firmly in the mix, and making a strong push.
Up front, the Ducks are also eyeing a major addition in the trenches. Avery Michael, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive tackle from Turlock, California, is down to six schools: Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Cal, USC, and Nebraska. He was in Eugene for last weekend’s Junior Day and also hosted Oregon offensive line coach A’lique Terry for an in-home visit the week before.
Michael is the kind of prospect who can anchor a line for years. He’s got the size, the frame, and the footwork that O-line coaches dream about. And with Oregon continuing to build a physical identity on both sides of the ball, adding a player like Michael would be a foundational piece for the 2027 class.
Bottom line: Oregon isn’t just recruiting-they’re building. The Ducks are identifying elite talent early, getting them on campus, and putting themselves in position to win battles against some of the biggest names in college football. As the 2027 cycle heats up, don’t be surprised if Eugene becomes a frequent stop for some of the nation’s top high school stars.