Oregon’s late push for 2027 wide receiver Relando Jefferson IV got off to a strong start over the weekend, and the Fresno (Calif.) Central East standout came away impressed after his campus visit in Eugene.
Jefferson, a three-star receiver, said the offer from the Ducks carried a special meaning for him after he recently decommitted from Fresno State. Oregon was the first new school to jump in since he reopened his recruitment, with previous offers including BYU, Arizona, Oregon State, Washington State, and more.
“My reaction to getting offered by Oregon was very surreal knowing that I've dreamed of going to this university since I was 9 years old.”
The trip also gave Jefferson a front-row seat to Oregon’s win over No. 20 Northwestern, and he had a personal connection to the moment. He watched former Central East teammate Brandon Smith break out for the Ducks, finishing with 114 yards and the go-ahead touchdown.
“The game experience was unbelievable,” Jefferson said. “I got to see my former teammate from high school Brandon Smith score his first touchdown as a Duck. My favorite part of the visit was being able to witness Dan Lanning's post game speech he gave after the big Northwestern win.”
Oregon’s message to Jefferson was direct: get on campus and get to work.
“The Oregon coaches message to me was to come in as soon as possible, and work my tail off in the weight room.”
For now, Jefferson says he hasn’t lined up any other visits. Cal and USC have also shown previous interest, along with the schools that have already offered him.
Oregon is trying to move quickly here, and the Ducks already have company in the 2027 wide receiver class. Their current commitments at the position are five-star Dakota Guerrant, four-star Xavier Sabb, and three-star home-state pledge Malachi Garlington.
The Ducks now hold 25 commitments overall and own the nation’s No. 2 ranked class. Their most recent addition came in August, when four-star athlete Brayton Feister joined the group.
In Other News...
Na'eem Offord Gets His Biggest Oregon Test Yet Against Ohio State
After the win over Northwestern, Oregons attention turns quickly to a far bigger measuring stick: an 11th-ranked Ohio State team that will bring plenty of national attention and a familiar storyline with it. Cornerback Na'eem Offord sits right at the center of it, not just because of the matchup, but because he was once an Ohio State recruit before flipping to Oregon and becoming one of the more interesting figures on this weeks radar.
For Ducks fans, it adds another layer to a game that already carries weight. Offord now gets a chance to show what he can do against the program that once wanted him, and hell be doing it against an Ohio State offense that is missing key players. However the matchup plays out, it gives Oregon one of its most intriguing individual tests of the season and a spotlight moment for a defender whose path to Eugene already made him a talking point. [Read more 🡒]
Bucky Irving Just Gave Oregon Fans Another Reason To Dream
Bucky Irving keeps giving Oregon fans plenty to track on Sundays, and his latest outing was the kind that turns heads far beyond Tampa Bay. In a 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the former Ducks standout carried the offense in a way that felt almost old-school, piling up career highs with 27 carries and 170 rushing yards while finding the end zone once.
The Buccaneers also made franchise history with 323 rushing yards, and they did it in a game where they did not complete a pass, a rare feat in the Super Bowl era. For Irving, it was another sign that his rookie-to-second-year surge is real, with his season now on pace to be his best yet as he continues to build a reputation as one of the leagues most reliable young backs. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Heads Into Ohio State With A Worry Fans Cant Ignore
Oregon got past Northwestern, but the win came with the kind of injury fallout that can linger into a much bigger week. The Ducks took hits at running back and on special teams, with Jordon Davison leaving with a leg injury, Dierre Hill Jr. getting banged up and returner Dakorien Moore also dealing with an issue as the team turned its attention to Ohio State.
Dan Lanning said Davison will need further evaluation, while Hill is still being described as a little banged up. Moore, though, is expected to be ready for the Buckeyes, and Jeremiah McClellan is back practicing as he works his way back from a broken foot. Even with some encouraging signs, Oregons depth is about to be tested in a game where every healthy body matters. [Read more 🡒]