Oregon’s 2027 recruiting class already has some serious star power, but the Ducks may be watching the biggest flip target in this cycle drift a little farther away.
As of July 12, Oregon’s two highest-rated commits in the 2027 class are five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and five-star edge rusher Rashad Streets, according to the 247Sports composite. The Ducks also had their eyes on another five-star name in USC commit Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, but the Cathedral Catholic standout recently shut down the idea that he might flip to Oregon.
Now, Texas has moved into the spot as the biggest threat to land Fa'alave-Johnson.
On3/Rivals national recruiting insider Adam Gorney laid out where things stand, writing, "The Longhorns seem to be playing the long game here in case anything changes at USC after this season or they can circle back closer to signing day because the San Diego (Calif.) standout said Texas is still contacting him every single day," Gorney wrote.
That update suggests Oregon is losing some traction in that pursuit, with Gorney noting that others "have backed down a little bit."
Even so, Dan Lanning and his staff are still piling up wins elsewhere. Oregon has already added four-star athlete Tae Walden Jr. and four-star wide receiver Xavier Sabb, who is also a five-star in the Rivals Industry and ESPN rankings, before the Fourth of July.
The Ducks are not done yet, either. Four-star linebacker Brayton Feister is emerging as a name to watch after his planned July decision was delayed because of a family matter, according to multiple national recruiting reports. Feister, from Washington High in Massillon, Ohio, is expected to make a call soon, and Oregon is sitting at a 94.1 percent chance to land him per Rivals over Georgia and others.
Another target still worth tracking is defensive tackle Brayden Parks of Chicago. The Brothers Rice High standout is in a "tug-of-war" with Notre Dame, according to Tom Loy of 247Sports. The Fighting Irish are currently the favorite, with On3/Rivals giving Notre Dame an 89.9 percent chance to win out for the 6-3, 305-pound lineman.
Oregon remains very much in the mix on the recruiting trail, but the Fa'alave-Johnson chase now looks like one the Ducks may be watching from a step behind Texas.
In Other News...
USC Is In A Battle It Cannot Afford To Lose For Local Star
Hayden Koo has become one of the more closely watched local names in USCs recruiting orbit, and for good reason. The four-star wide receiver from Tustin has drawn attention from a long list of programs that includes Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, BYU, Stanford and UCLA, but the Trojans have made a clear push of their own as they try to keep one of Southern Californias better prospects close to home. Koo was on campus for The Opening Finals and later took part in an invite-only USC prospect camp, where he worked out with coach Chad Savage and came away with an offer.
The next stretch of the recruiting calendar could matter a lot here, because Koo is planning to take game-day visits this season even though nothing is locked in yet. USC is one of the schools he wants to see, and the late-September home date against Oregon is already on his radar, which gives the Trojans a chance to make a stronger impression in front of a local target who still has plenty of options. For USC, the appeal is obvious: keeping a top California receiver from drifting elsewhere is exactly the kind of battle it cannot afford to lose. [Read more 🡒]
USC Could Catch Wisconsin In A Coach's Most Desperate Game
Lincoln Rileys seat at USC still draws plenty of attention, but the more fragile situation in this matchup belongs to Wisconsin and Luke Fickell. The Badgers have gone through two straight down years, and after the rough 2025 season, plenty of observers expected a change. Instead, Wisconsin is trying to buy time and stability, while USC enters the game with the kind of expectation that usually comes with being the more talented team on paper.
For the Trojans, that makes this one feel less like a toss-up and more like a chance to keep a struggling opponent from finding any footing. USC is expected to handle Wisconsin, and anything short of that would raise immediate questions about where this program is headed under Riley. For Fickell, the pressure is even more immediate, because the margin for error in Madison has already shrunk to the point where every game now feels like part of a final exam. [Read more 🡒]
USC Ace Mason Edwards Just Delivered A Huge Draft Moment
Mason Edwards rise at USC ended with the kind of draft moment that confirms just how far his college career came. After missing most of the 2025 season because of injury, the former Trojans pitcher returned in 2026 and turned himself into one of the most dominant arms in the country, finishing with 8 wins, a 2.07 ERA and 15.9 strikeouts per nine innings while anchoring USCs staff.
The season also brought national recognition, with Edwards emerging as a finalist for the National Pitcher of the Year Award and earning Baseball Americas pitcher of the year honor. His performance made him the highest-drafted USC player since Brad Boxberger in 2009, and now he heads into the Athletics minor league system with the sort of momentum that can change the early shape of a pro career. [Read more 🡒]