Oregon’s 2028 recruiting board already has one of those names fans circle immediately: LeGarrette Blount Jr.
The Ducks have shifted their attention from the 2027 class to the next cycle, and after a summer that brought commitment after commitment, the staff can start laying the groundwork for 2028. Early in any new recruiting cycle, the in-state targets usually get the first look.
Legacy recruits do too. And in Oregon’s case, Blount Jr. is one of the most intriguing early storylines.
The Ducks offered him this summer, and that alone was enough to make plenty of Oregon fans feel the passage of time. Blount Jr. is the son of former Oregon star and longtime NFL running back Lagarrette Blount, and now he’s becoming a name to watch in his own right.
Oregon isn’t alone at the front of the line, either. According to Rivals’ Brandon Huffman, the two schools that stand out most for Blount Jr. right now are Oregon and Ohio State.
Legarrette Blount Jr. names Oregon and Ohio State as the two schools standing out the most in his recruitment, @BrandonHuffman reports👀
“Both programs have strong football traditions, great coaching staffs and outstanding academic opportunities."
Read: https://t.co/JXxWt6gIGj pic.twitter.com/RBQWnl7ywi
- Rivals (@Rivals) July 30, 2026
Blount Jr. is being projected as a safety at the next level, a different path from the one his father took as a bruising running back. Even so, the athletic traits jump off the page. Rivals’ Industry Recruiting Rankings list him as a 3-star prospect, the 540th-ranked player in the country, the 42nd-ranked safety in the class, and the 14th-ranked player from Arizona.
The film hints at more than just a defensive back profile, though. Blount Jr. looks like a player with real juice in the open field, the kind of athlete who can flash wide receiver-like ball skills. That raises an obvious question for Oregon’s staff: could he eventually be viewed as a receiver?
His own sophomore highlights back up the playmaking. In five games because of transfer, Blount Jr. posted 20 total tackles, including nine solo and 11 assisted, added a sack, picked off two passes, broke up four more, and put up 311 total yards with three touchdowns. He also earned second team all region honors.
💥total tackles -20
💥Height n weight 6’1 170
💥Tckl, solo-9 n assist-11
💥Sack-1
💥Picks-2
💥Pbu-4
💥total yards -311 yards
💥TD’s 3
💥2nd team all region!!! https://t.co/jnA9IJXmzi @CoachJonRoberts @LG_Blount … pic.twitter.com/gdtGe1TCXB
- Legarrette Blount Jr (@LG_Blount_Jr) November 22, 2025
For Oregon, this one already looks like it could turn into a real fight. Ohio State is in the mix, the Ducks are in the mix, and the battle for a legacy recruit with obvious upside is only just beginning.
In Other News...
Sobering Oregon Update Leaves One Prized Freshmans Future Unclear
Tony Cumberlands first months in Eugene were supposed to be about getting on the field and carving out a role in Oregons defensive line rotation. Instead, the freshman has spent his time working his way back from a setback that has kept his football future in limbo, and coach Dan Lanning said the Ducks are focused on keeping him connected to the program while he continues his recovery.
Lanning said he does not anticipate Cumberland being out there this fall, and the uncertainty around his return has only made the support around him more important. Teitum Tuioti said teammates have been helping Cumberland with everyday things as he rehabs, a reminder that for Oregon, this has become about more than football while one of its most touted young defenders tries to regain his footing. [Read more 🡒]
Another Trusted Dana Altman Assistant Is Leaving Oregon At A Tough Time
Kevin McKenna has been one of the more steady figures around Oregon basketball for a long stretch, helping shape the program from the sideline while Dana Altmans teams kept stacking postseason trips. Over 16 seasons in Eugene, McKenna was part of a staff that reached the NCAA tournament nine times and made the Final Four in 2016, while also playing a key role in player development.
His fingerprints were especially visible in the growth of Jackson Shelstad, Nate Bittle and Kwame Evans Jr., all of whom took meaningful steps under Oregons watch. For a program that has leaned on continuity and trust to stay in the national conversation, losing a veteran assistant with McKennas background and history adds another layer of uncertainty at a time when the Ducks are already navigating a difficult stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Facing A Painful Legacy Recruiting Fight Ducks Fans Know Too Well
LaGarrette Blount Jr. is already becoming a familiar name in the 2027 recruiting cycle, and Oregon is in the mix for the cornerback son of the former NFL running back. The Ducks have stayed active with him, and so has Ohio State, with both programs making coaching visits as they work to build a relationship before the class takes shape.
Blount Jr. has also made the trip to Columbus for Ohio States June camp, a sign that this race is still very much in motion even if it has started to tilt in one direction. For Oregon, the bigger concern is less about one visit than the larger pattern around a recruit with national attention, especially when the Ducks are trying to keep pace with a heavyweight like the Buckeyes for a player whose recruitment is only beginning to unfold. [Read more 🡒]