Oregon’s recruiting surge hit a small but painful snag on Saturday, when one of its former top targets, five-star offensive lineman Ismael Camara, announced he was headed to Texas.
The Ducks have been rolling all summer. They entered the stretch with the nation’s No. 9 recruiting class, and after four weekends of official visits, they’ve climbed all the way to No. 3 with 24 commitments. For Dan Lanning and his staff, it has been the kind of run that has the program looking like it can land just about anyone it wants.
Camara had been one of the names to watch for Oregon throughout the summer. The elite lineman was born in France, plays high school football in Texas, and drew attention from programs across the country. Part of the intrigue was his decision to reclassify into the 2027 recruiting class.
That move came with a catch. Camara was also trying to finish school a year early, and that led him to cancel his official visits this summer.
“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all the coaches and programs who have invited me to take an Official Visit this summer, as well as the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to make these visits so special for players and their families.
That being said, I have decided not…”
Before he backed off those visits, Oregon was widely viewed as the team to beat. Several of the biggest recruiting insiders had projected him to end up in Eugene.
But once Camara didn’t make it back to Oregon this summer, Texas got the chance to make its move. The Longhorns hosted him for his final official visit, and that trip ended up mattering. On the Fourth of July, Camara announced his commitment to Texas.
The 6’6 345 IOL picked the Longhorns over Oregon, SMU, and LSU.
“I’m from Gilmer, TX it’s in my blood. HOOK’EM🤘🏾‼️”
For Oregon, this isn’t a disaster. The Ducks are still in a strong place overall. But losing out on a five-star offensive lineman always leaves a mark, especially one who looked capable of stepping into the Oregon front and making an impact right away.
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