Oregon’s 2026 roster still has familiar headliners, but Dan Lanning made it clear at media day that the Ducks are also carrying a wave of new talent into the season.
Quarterback Dante Moore, center Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu, edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, and tight end Jamari Johnson give the Ducks a proven core. But around that group, Lanning is working with a roster that looks different than it did a year ago, and he’s leaning into that reality.
The incoming class alone tells the story. Oregon’s 2026 high school haul includes 24 new athletes, among them three five-stars, 16 four-stars, and five three-stars according to 247 Sports rankings. The Ducks also added 13 players through the transfer portal, giving the staff a deep pool of newcomers to sort through.
“I thought we had a lot of young talent last year, and certainly a lot of talent," Lanning said. "We lost some guys to the NFL, so we certainly lost some pieces of the puzzle.
But we have a lot back. That being said, there's experience, but talking to our team recently, I said, raise your hand if you're new.
There's still a lot of new faces in that room, so it's going to be about that experience and those young guys and new guys leaning on the people that have been here before on what it's supposed to look like and how it all plays out.”
Lanning also called this group “hungry” to earn playing time, and there are plenty of openings where that edge could matter. Oregon’s offense has real turnover up front after losing starting offensive tackle Isaiah World, tackle Alex Harkey, and guard Emmanuel Pregnon. That makes tackle one of the clearest spots where younger linemen can push for snaps while learning from Laloulu, who brings the kind of trench experience that matters when a room is still taking shape.
The wide receiver room has a similar feel. Evan Stewart gives the Ducks a veteran presence, but he’ll also be helping guide five freshmen with strong high school pedigrees, including Messiah Hampton, Jalen Lott, and Gatlin Bair.
On defense, the secondary is another area packed with youth. Freshman Devin Jackson, Jett Washington, and Xavier Lherisse are in position to absorb knowledge from junior Peyton Woodyard, sophomore Brandon Finney Jr., and Minnesota transfer Koi Perich, one of the more anticipated additions to the unit.
The mix of old and new is exactly what Lanning appears to be banking on. The Ducks have enough established players to provide structure, but enough newcomers to keep the competition fierce.
Nebraska quarterback transfer Dylan Raiola also spoke about the challenge that comes with entering a program like Oregon, especially in a college football landscape where younger players are seeing the field earlier than ever. Raiola, who transferred to Oregon to learn from Moore, said the constant pressure can pull players away from what really matters.
“I think everybody wants everything now, and you asked the question about when's the last time I even started. I processed that over this last six months that I've had, and I just think that when everything's thrown at you, and you're always in the microscope, and everything's always thrown at you very fast, you can kind of lose sight of the process and of football and the journey and enjoying it," Raiola shared about his process of transferring to Oregon to learn from Moore.
In Other News...
Oregon Staffers New Video Raises Serious Questions For Dan Lanning
An uncomfortable off-field issue has put Ra'Shaad Samples in the spotlight at Oregon, where the assistant coach is facing a DUI case tied to a late-night collision in Eugene. Police say Samples backed his vehicle into a parked truck and left the scene, and the University of Oregon has already acknowledged the matter and taken action as the situation continues to unfold.
What has made the episode especially troublesome for Dan Lanning's staff is the picture that has emerged from the initial investigation, including video and statements indicating Samples first denied knowing there had been a collision and used an alias at the scene. Police are still investigating, and with court dates ahead, the Ducks are left dealing with another serious distraction around a coach whose conduct now carries both legal and program-level consequences. [Read more 🡒]
Former Oregon Standout Faces Early NFL Camp Concern Despite Hopeful Outlook
The first week of NFL training camps has brought a familiar reminder for Oregon fans: the transition to the league rarely comes cleanly, even for players who arrive with real momentum. Kenyon Sadiq, one of the Ducks recent standouts, is working back from offseason hernia surgery as the New York Jets open camp, and the expectation around him remains positive even if the calendar has already gotten a little tighter than hoped.
Elsewhere, the early injury list includes more former Ducks dealing with their own recovery timelines. Jordan James is sidelined in San Francisco with a rib fracture, while Noah Sewell is still on the Chicago Bears physically unable to perform list as he rehabs a torn Achilles. For Oregon, it is the kind of camp snapshot that underscores both how much talent has flowed into the NFL and how quickly health can shape the next chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Jersey Patch Debate Feels Bigger Than Just A Sponsor
Across the Power Four, jersey patch sponsorships are starting to feel less like a novelty and more like the next step in college footballs commercial reset. Several programs have already announced deals with corporate partners, and the numbers attached to some of those agreements have only intensified the sense that this market is moving quickly. Oregon, with one of the sports most recognizable brands and deep ties to its local community, has not announced a patch deal yet, but it sits squarely in the group of schools most likely to attract serious interest.
For Ducks fans, the discussion goes beyond whether a logo lands on the uniform. Any future deal would have to fit a program that has built its identity on style, recruiting appeal and a strong sense of place, which is why speculation about possible partners has generated so much attention already. The broader trend suggests Oregon may not stay on the sidelines for long, and when it does move, the choice could say as much about the programs priorities as the dollars involved. [Read more 🡒]