Legacy Visit: Sam Ngata, Son of Oregon Great Haloti Ngata, Set for Ducks Junior Day
There’s a familiar name heading back to Eugene this weekend - and for longtime Oregon fans, it carries some serious weight.
Sam Ngata, the son of former Ducks legend and NFL standout Haloti Ngata, is set to visit Oregon as part of the program’s first junior day of the year. The Class of 2027 linebacker out of Olympus High School in Salt Lake City confirmed the trip earlier this week after a pair of Oregon coaches - defensive coordinator Chris Hampton and defensive line coach Tony Tuioti - made an in-person visit to his high school.
While his dad built his reputation as a dominant force on the interior defensive line, Sam is carving his own path at linebacker. At 6-foot-4, he brings a similar frame to the field, but with a different skill set. He’s currently rated as a three-star prospect, ranked No. 48 among linebackers nationally and No. 7 overall in Utah, per 247Sports’ composite rankings.
The younger Ngata isn’t short on interest either. Programs like BYU, California, Utah, and most recently Michigan have already extended offers, and more are likely on the way as he continues to develop. But this visit to Eugene will be a meaningful one - not just because of the family ties, but because Oregon is looking to make an impression early in the 2027 cycle.
For Oregon, getting Sam on campus is a big deal. Junior days are designed to plant the seeds of relationships that can grow over the next year or two, and when a legacy recruit with Sam’s upside is involved, the stakes are even higher.
Of course, the Ngata name still carries plenty of weight in Eugene. Haloti Ngata was a game-wrecker during his time with the Ducks, earning consensus All-American honors in 2005 before becoming the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
He went on to have a 13-year pro career, including five Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl title with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. He was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame - a fitting capstone to one of the greatest defensive careers in Oregon history.
Now, the next chapter could be starting.
Oregon is set to host a number of top prospects from the 2027 class this weekend, with Sam Ngata among the headliners. It’s the first of two scheduled junior day events for the Ducks, and while there’s a long way to go in the recruiting process, getting a player like Sam on campus early is exactly the kind of move that can pay off down the road.
The Ducks have built a reputation for developing defensive talent, and with the program’s recent momentum under its current staff, there’s no shortage of reasons for a legacy like Sam to give Oregon a serious look. Whether he ends up following in his father’s footsteps remains to be seen - but one thing’s for sure: the Ngata name is back in Eugene, and that’s something worth watching.