Oregon’s push for elite 2028 defensive tackle Kellen Hall just got a lot more real.
The Ducks already had Hall on their board after landing in his top 12 last week, but now they’ve moved into the next phase of the fight: a gameday visit. Hall, the nation’s No. 2 recruit in the 2028 cycle, dropped his list of 10 game day stops on Friday morning, and Oregon is set to get the first swing.
That matters because Hall is shaping up as a major priority for Dan Lanning and his staff. Oregon’s 2027 class is basically wrapped up, with 4-star linebacker Brayton Feister possibly the final addition unless there are flips, and while that group looks like another top-five haul, it also left the Ducks with just one interior defensive lineman. That gap is part of why the staff is already pushing hard in 2028.
Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong said on “The Wilfong Whiparound” that Hall could be Oregon’s top target on the board.
"Kellen Hall might be their top overall target on the board because defensive tackle is going to be one of the biggest points of emphasis for Lanning and the Ducks in the 2028 cycle. They had Kellen Hall on campus once.
He's dropped his top 12 last Friday. He's gonna drop his visits this coming Friday.
I expect Oregon to be on that list. And he gushed about the opportunity to play for the Big 10 powerhouse.
He's talked about them being in contention for the national championship."
Oregon is in a crowded race, but the Ducks have reasons to stay in it. Wiltfong pointed to Hall’s regular communication with Lanning and the work Tony Tuioti has done on the trail. He also noted that Hall likes the way Oregon uses its defensive linemen.
"He's been talking regularly with Dan Lanning. Tony Tuioti's done a great job recruiting him.
He loves the versatility and the way that they utilize their defensive linemen across the front and give them an opportunity to make plays in a variety of ways. Oregon is a program to watch as they battle Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ohio State, to name a few others."
Oklahoma is the early leader, but Oregon has time to keep chipping away. And with defensive tackle set to be a central focus in this class, the Ducks are swinging at the kind of prospect who can change the ceiling of a recruiting cycle.
There’s also a clean football pitch here. Oregon’s defensive line is loaded this season, and if veterans A'Mauri Washington and Matayo Uiagalelei turn into first-round picks, that only sharpens the message to Hall about what the Ducks can do with top-end talent.
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