The Oregon Ducks have quietly built a reputation for producing standout safeties in recent years, and that trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. After Tysheem Johnson delivered a strong 2024 campaign, Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman took things to another level in 2025, earning second-team All-American honors and anchoring the back end of Oregon’s defense. Now, as the Ducks look ahead to 2026, they’re expecting another immediate impact - this time from Minnesota transfer Koi Perich, who’s poised to step in and contribute right away.
So yes, Oregon’s safety room is in a good place. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Dan Lanning and his staff, it’s that they don’t settle. They reload.
Enter Zayden Gamble.
The four-star safety out of powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale just dropped his top ten schools, and Oregon made the cut.
He’s considering a stacked list that includes Florida, Ohio State, LSU, Georgia Tech, Miami, Georgia, Texas A&M, Auburn, and Notre Dame - a who’s who of college football heavyweights. That Oregon is in the mix speaks volumes about the program’s national recruiting presence, especially in the talent-rich state of Florida.
Gamble is currently ranked as the No. 23 safety and No. 216 overall prospect in the 2027 class, per the 247Sports Composite. He’s also listed as the No. 23 player in Florida, which is no small feat considering the depth of talent that comes out of the Sunshine State every year.
At 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, Gamble doesn’t have prototypical size just yet, but that’s not unusual for a rising high school junior. He’s got time to add to his frame before he suits up for a college program, and the tools - instincts, range, ball skills - are already there. It’s clear why Oregon’s staff is interested.
What’s also clear is that the Ducks are building something special in their secondary. The 2026 class already includes five-star safety Jett Washington, plus four-stars Devin Jackson and Xavier Lherisse.
That’s a high-ceiling trio that could form the foundation of Oregon’s defense for years to come. But with no safeties committed yet in the 2027 class, Gamble would be a major addition - both in terms of talent and long-term depth.
For Oregon, the message is simple: the standard in the secondary is high, and they’re working to keep it that way. Adding a player like Zayden Gamble would be another step in that direction.