The first week of July gave Oregon a major boost on the recruiting trail, and the Ducks did it in quick succession. After landing five-star cornerback Hayden Stepp, Oregon added five-star wide receiver Xavier Sabb only days later, turning a class that had started the week without a five-star commit into one loaded with elite talent.
That surge moved Oregon up to No. 6 in ESPN’s recruiting rankings, a jump from No. 10. It also pushed the Ducks into the same conversation as some of the sport’s biggest talent hauls.
Oregon now has two five-star recruits, matching the Texas Tech Aggies. In 247 Sports’ class of 2027 rankings, the Ducks are even higher at No. 3 overall. That group includes 24 commits total, with 16 four-star athletes and six three-star athletes.
A few programs still sit ahead of Oregon in the five-star race. Texas leads the way after landing offensive lineman Ismael Camara, Ohio State has four five-stars, and Texas A&M remains No. 1 overall with six committed five-stars, including the class’ third-highest-ranked player, offensive tackle Mark Matthews.
On 247 Sports’ board, Oregon’s class carries a 295.82 power ranking, good for third behind Notre Dame at 296.28 and Texas A&M at 313.94. The numbers are a strong sign for the Ducks, even if there’s still time for the picture to change before signing day.
Sabb made clear what drew him to Eugene when he announced his decision on the Rivals YouTube channel.
"I feel like that was the best fit for me and my family. Also, I feel like that's the best chance I can get to win a national championship," Sabb said during his commitment on the Rivals YouTube channel.
Sabb’s junior season at Glassboro High School was a two-way showcase. He won Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey after lining up at receiver and safety, and he finished with 59 catches for 896 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Stepp also brings a decorated résumé. As a junior All-American in 2025 for Bishop Gorman High School, he posted 24 tackles and four pass break-ups. He also appeared in the Under Armour All-American Game, where he recorded two tackles, and in the Polynesian Bowl.
The pair of commitments underscores the kind of pull Oregon is building through NIL, program philosophy, and coaching. After a busy run of recruiting visits in early June, the Ducks now turn toward Big Ten Media Days from July 28-30 in Chicago, then fall camp and a Sept. 5 season opener against Boise State at Autzen Stadium.
And as the season gets closer, Oregon figures to keep drawing top prospects to its biggest home dates, including Nebraska, Michigan, and Washington.
In Other News...
JT Tuimoloau Headlines July 4 Recruiting Wins Ohio State Won't Forget
July 4 has become an oddly useful marker on the college football calendar, the kind of day when a program can either steal the spotlight or spend the holiday watching someone else do it. Over the years, some of the sports biggest recruiting swings have landed on that date, from blue-chip linemen and receivers to future stars who ended up changing the trajectory of their programs once they got on campus.
For Oregon, the most relevant part of that history is the way the Ducks keep showing up in the middle of the biggest battles, even when the final call goes elsewhere. Dakorien Moores choice of Oregon over Ohio State, LSU and Texas was the latest reminder of how high the stakes can get on a summer holiday, and it fits a broader pattern that includes names like Francis Mauigoa, JT Tuimoloau and Caleb Williams. The common thread is simple enough: July 4 is not just a recruiting deadline, it is a stage, and the programs that win there tend to spend the next few years living with the consequences. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Lands Another Massive Defensive Commitment For Oregon
Oregons defensive recruiting push in the 2027 cycle keeps gaining steam, and the latest addition only strengthens the sense that Dan Lanning is building something formidable on the back end. Hayden Stepp, one of the top cornerbacks in the country and a highly regarded prospect from Nevada, gives the Ducks another premium defensive piece to pair with an already impressive haul of defensive backs. With two highly rated cornerbacks now in the class, Oregons momentum on the trail is hard to miss.
The bigger picture is just as encouraging for the Ducks. Oregons class has climbed from No. 9 to No. 4 nationally and now sits atop the Big Ten, a reflection of how quickly the program has turned early recruiting wins into national attention. Stepps rise has been one of the more notable storylines in that surge, and his official visit in June helped push the process toward a finish that had been building for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Fans Are Already Bracing For 2026's Most Expensive Tickets
If Ducks fans are already looking ahead to 2026, the early ticket market is giving them a clear message: the biggest games are going to cost the most. Based on prices tracked from Ticketmaster, Seat Geek and Gametime as of July 2, the home date with Michigan sits at the top of the list, with Ohio State right behind it and Nebraska also landing among the priciest matchups on the schedule. The pattern is familiar for a program that keeps drawing heavyweight opponents and big crowds, even before the season has started to take shape.
There is a little relief for anyone hunting a cheaper entry point, though, because the Friday night games are showing up as the best bargains on the board. Michigan State and Portland State are the lowest-priced options in the early ranking, which at least gives fans a couple of softer landing spots amid the premium matchups. For those making the trip to road games, the University of Oregon Alumni Association is also lining up travel packages, another sign that Ducks supporters are already planning well beyond the present season. [Read more 🡒]