The Oregon Ducks still don’t have a verbal commitment in their 2028 recruiting class, but one recent visitor may have just put a name to watch on the board.
Jayce Halasz, a four-star athlete from Kapowsin High in Graham, Washington, was in Eugene for Oregon’s 17-14 comeback win over Nebraska on Oct. 17. After the visit, Halasz reacted to a post noting that On3/Rivals had logged a prediction for Oregon to land him, a sign that a commitment could be coming.
That would be a welcome development for a 2028 cycle that has started slowly for Oregon. The Ducks have already missed on some quarterback targets, including five-star Christopher Vargas, who was offered by Oregon before choosing Ohio State, and three-star dual-threat Trey Wright, who committed to USC over the summer. Oregon also appears to be trailing four-star dual-threat Josiah Boyd, with UCLA emerging as the favorite for the Inland Empire of California standout.
Halasz’s interest matters beyond just the position he plays. Oregon has kept working the Washington pipeline in recruiting, and Halasz would fit right into that pattern. The Ducks have already landed Rainier Beach edge rusher Achilles Reyna for the 2027 class, and they brought in four-star offensive tackle Demetri Manning from Bellevue in the 2025 cycle.
The competition for Halasz is real, though. According to national recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong of On3/Rivals, Alabama, USC, Notre Dame and Wisconsin are all among the programs aiming to host him for a visit.
Even with those schools involved, Halasz came away from Autzen buzzing about what he saw. He told Wiltfong, "I love the energy surrounding the program and the way they trust and develop young talent, especially seeing four true freshmen get opportunities at receiver,"
The 6-2 Halasz also pointed to the crowd noise after tight end Jamari Johnson’s touchdown as one of the loudest moments of the night. And each trip to Eugene, he said, has only made his bond with Dan Lanning and the rest of the staff stronger.
Oregon’s interest in Halasz also fits the program’s broader recruiting style. The Ducks have shown a willingness to target players listed as "athlete" prospects, including class of 2027 commits Tae Walden Jr. and Hayden Stepp.
Still, Halasz looks most likely to end up on offense. His combination of size, speed and long strides after the catch gives him the profile of a wideout, and he already has a 1,000-yard season under his belt at the prep level. That kind of skill set would give offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and wide receivers coach Ross Douglas another dangerous downfield piece to work with.
At the same time, his length and frame could also make him appealing on defense, where he would line up well against future Big Ten receivers. However Oregon chooses to view him, Halasz is the recruit who could give the Ducks’ 2028 class the jolt it needs.
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