Oregon’s push to get rolling with its 2028 class is already taking shape around one of the country’s most intriguing defensive backs.
Mission Viejo (Calif.) four-star cornerback Jordan Hicks is set to be on the sidelines in Eugene when the Ducks host Michigan in what could be a Top 25 matchup. Hicks has seven major game visits lined up, and Oregon is right in the middle of that early process.
The 2028 cycle is moving fast, with top prospects already separating themselves before their junior seasons of high school football. Oregon still hasn’t picked up a commitment in the class, but there’s no sign the Ducks are behind the curve. If anything, they’re setting themselves up for another big fall on the trail while Dan Lanning’s program keeps pushing toward a National Championship.
Hicks is a name worth watching closely. Rivals’ Industry Recruiting Rankings list him as the No. 194 player in the country, the 16th-ranked safety in the class and the 12th-ranked player from California. Rivals and 247 Sports don’t even agree on where he’ll line up next, with Hicks listed as both a safety and a cornerback.
For Oregon, the encouraging part is that Hicks is already down to a final eight, and the Ducks remain in the mix. Even better, Hicks told Rivals’ Adam Gorney in May that Oregon was out front early and that the Ducks are "setting the bar".
Oregon is in the lead for 2028 4-star DB Jordan Hicks, @adamgorney reports🦆
“I love it there, no doubt. Every time I go there it’s just great and I’d say they’re for sure setting the bar right now."
Read: pic.twitter.com/pUDLZNqbhh
- Rivals (@Rivals) May 27, 2026
Mission Viejo could turn into a major recruiting hub for Oregon this cycle. Hicks is one of the Ducks’ top defensive back targets, and the school is also home to Oregon’s apparent top quarterback target, Josiah Boyd. That pairing could give the Ducks a strong path forward with two of their key 2028 targets from the same program.
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The most noticeable update, though, came at quarterback. Dante Moore is listed at 220 pounds after putting on 14 pounds, a notable jump for a player whose development remains one of Oregons biggest storylines entering the season. Moore said teammate Dylan Raiola provided some offseason motivation, and the added size gives another hint at how seriously Oregon views his next step as the Ducks continue to build around him. [Read more 🡒]