The Oregon Ducks have landed on the short list for one of the class of 2028’s biggest EDGE prospects.
Four-star recruit George Parkinson IV revealed his top six schools, and Oregon made the cut alongside Tennessee, LSU, Penn State, Ohio State and Texas A&M, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
Parkinson IV has climbed into the national conversation as a premium pass-rushing prospect. He’s ranked No. 89 overall in the 247Sports composite and No. 15 at EDGE, while also checking in as Pennsylvania’s No. 2 prospect in the class of 2028.
He has not announced a commitment date yet, which fits the timeline for a player who is still heading into his junior season of high school. Most prospects in the class of 2028 are expected to make their decisions during the summer before senior year, though plenty will still choose to announce in the spring.
If Parkinson IV were to commit soon, he would become the first pledge for three of the six schools on his list. Texas A&M, Penn State and Ohio State are the only programs among his finalists that already have at least one commitment in the class of 2028.
For Oregon, Parkinson IV is clearly a priority. He is one of 22 EDGE prospects who currently hold an offer from the Ducks, per 247Sports, and he would give Dan Lanning’s staff a major early boost in the 2028 cycle.
That need at EDGE is easy to see. Oregon already has three EDGE commitments in the class of 2027, but the position is expected to become a major focus again as the Ducks prepare for turnover on the roster.
Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei are both set to be gone after the 2026 season because of eligibility, and Oregon could also see more movement through the transfer portal if players are looking for more playing time.
All of that puts added weight on the Ducks’ work in the next couple of recruiting cycles. Lanning and his staff will likely aim to add at least two EDGE commitments in the class of 2028, with room to take even more.
Even with Parkinson IV on the radar, Oregon’s work in the class of 2027 is not finished yet.
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Oregons 2027 recruiting class still has plenty of star power, but the Ducks are starting to feel the pressure in one of the cycles biggest battles. As of July 12, they already have two five-star commitments in wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and edge rusher Rashad Streets, and theyve continued to add four-star talent while keeping their board busy with top targets across the country.
The tougher news is at wide receiver and defensive back Honor Faalave-Johnson, where Oregon appears to be losing ground as Texas has emerged as the main threat in the race. The Ducks are still involved with linebacker Brayton Feister and defensive tackle Brayden Parks, but the path there is not equally clear, which is why this stretch of the summer matters so much for Dan Lannings staff as it tries to keep momentum from slipping away. [Read more 🡒]
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For Ducks fans, the sight carried a little extra weight because Shough once signed with Oregon in the 2018 recruiting class and still has a connection to the program. His path has included injuries, a reset at Texas Tech and a resurgence at Louisville, and now he is back in the NFL after a rookie season that included nine starts and a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. [Read more 🡒]