Oregon’s win over Ohio State did more than boost the Ducks in the rankings. It also put them squarely back in the middle of the national recruiting conversation, and now Dan Lanning’s program is trying to turn that momentum into a flip.
The latest name to watch is four-star running back JP Jones-Priest, a Virginia Tech commit who is expected in Eugene for Oregon’s Nov. 14 matchup with Michigan, according to Oregon insider Max Torres of On3. Oregon has stayed on him throughout the process, and Torres noted that the Ducks never backed off their pursuit of the Arlington, Texas, native from Martin High.
“Jones-Priest was offered by Oregon running backs coach and the Ducks last December. He has visited Eugene twice and was originally scheduled to take an official visit on June 19, but that trip fell through,” Torres wrote.
That visit matters because Oregon is looking to add another back to its 2027 class, and the need is real. The Ducks currently have only one running back committed in that cycle: four-star CaDarius McMiller, a Tyler, Texas, native who became one of Oregon’s earliest pledges in February.
The room itself is still young, too. Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison are sophomores for the 2026 season, while freshman Brandon Smith has worked his way into the third spot during Oregon’s late-season surge. Smith has already helped fuel upset wins over Northwestern and Ohio State, averaging 10.3 yards per carry against the former and piling up 219 total rushing yards in limited action.
Jones-Priest would give the Ducks another explosive piece to build around. He’s listed at 5-10, 190 pounds and has the kind of burst that keeps coaches coming back. As a senior, he has rushed for 1,171 yards and scored 27 touchdowns for Martin.
His game is built on more than raw speed. Jones-Priest is described as a cutback runner with a strong plant-and-go style, and once he reaches the second level, he can turn a crease into a long touchdown in a hurry. That’s the type of back Oregon has consistently targeted: the home run hitter who can change a drive with one carry.
If the Ducks can land him after the Michigan game, it would be a major addition for a 2027 backfield that could already be deep, especially with Hill and Davison eligible to return as juniors before any NFL Draft decisions come into play. And with the early December signing period less than a month away, Oregon doesn’t have much time to make its move.
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Virginia Tech Suddenly Has A Bigger ACC Problem Than One Loss
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But the bigger concern may be what the rest of the ACC is doing around them. Georgia Techs 44-17 loss to Louisville pushed the Yellow Jackets to four straight defeats, and the league continues to churn with other results and looming games that could reshape the standings again. Even NC States reported move to hire former quarterback Philip Rivers as head coach adds to the sense that the conference picture is shifting fast, and Virginia Tech cannot assume one bad night is the only problem it has to solve. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Reynolds Has Virginia Tech Fans Watching A Bigger Race
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For Virginia Tech, the recognition is a reminder that Reynolds season has carried beyond the usual weekly box score chatter. Being in the semifinal field keeps him in the conversation at a position where production and impact can be hard to separate, and now the focus shifts to whether he can turn that nod into something even bigger as the award race tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Has A Real Chance To Reset The Tone Saturday Night
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Stanford brings its own familiar pieces into the matchup, with Davis Warren directing the passing game and Micah Ford leading the run game, but this is the kind of home date Virginia Tech should expect to control. ESPNs Football Power Index has the Hokies favored, and what happens under the lights will say plenty about whether they can turn a solid season checkpoint into something that feels like a stronger finish. [Read more 🡒]