Unveiling the Game-Changers: Meet the 5-Star Recruits Set to Redefine the Class of 2026

When it comes to college football recruiting, few programs have been as relentless or as successful lately as the Oregon Ducks under the guidance of Dan Lanning. The 2026 class? Absolutely stellar—landing the No. 2 spot in the rankings by 247 Sports isn’t happenstance, especially when you’ve got five coveted five-star recruits in the fold. This isn’t just a one-off fluke either. The Ducks have been on a steady climb, stacking up top-tier classes year after year—No. 3 in 2024 and No. 4 in 2025—not to mention these fresh faces are already making waves on the field with game-changing performances. The clock’s always ticking in college football, and with 21 signed already from the ’26 class and the CFP on the horizon, Oregon’s staff is already sharpening their sights on the creme de la creme of 2027. Trust me, if Dan’s after someone, you better believe they’re worth watching. LEARN MORE

The 2026 recruiting cycle was extremely successful for head coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks, as they reeled in the No. 2-rated class per 247 Sports buoyed by the signing of five five-stars.

It continues a string of the Ducks bringing in highly-rated recruiting classes under Lanning, as they finished No. 4 in 2025 and No. 3 in 2024.

The recruits have made a difference on the field as well, with a bevy of freshman headlined by cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., wide receiver Dakorien Moore and running back Jordon Davison making instant impacts on the field this season.

As is the nature of college football in 2025, the clock moves quickly. With 21 players signed as part of the 2026 class and preparations beginning for the Ducks‘ eventual College Football Playoff appearance, the staff is already looking ahead to the 2027 class.

Lanning has proven that he’s going to go after all just about every elite recruit; here are the five-stars to watch for in the 2027 class.

CB John Meredith III

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9988)

247 Sports National Ranking: 1

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Meredith has been offered by Oregon.

OT Mark Matthews

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9986)

247 Sports National Ranking: 2

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Matthews has not been offered by Oregon.

CB Joshua Dobson

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9979)

247 Sports National Ranking: 3

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Dobson has not been offered by Oregon

OT Kennedy Brown

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9973)

247 Sports National Ranking: 4

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Brown has been offered by Oregon.

DL Jalen Brewster

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9973)

247 Sports National Ranking: 5

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Texas Tech. Brewster has been offered by Oregon.

WR Jamier Brown

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9972)

247 Sports National Ranking: 6

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Ohio State. Brown has been offered by Oregon.

RB Kemon Spell

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9970)

247 Sports National Ranking: 7

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Spell has been offered by Oregon.

EDGE DJ Jacobs

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9969)

247 Sports National Ranking: 8

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Jacobs has been offered by Oregon.

WR Monshun Sales

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9968)

247 Sports National Ranking: 9

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Sales has been offered by Oregon.

IOL Maxwell Hiller

Maxwell Hiller is a 5-star and the No. 7️⃣ overall prospect in the updated SC Next Jr. 300 @HillerMaxwell

A high level competitor with who has power, flexibility, and strong technique that makes him one of the top prospects in the country. pic.twitter.com/6RGPxBdER7

— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) November 13, 2025

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9964)

247 Sports National Ranking: 10

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Hiller has been offered by Oregon.

EDGE Zyron Forstall

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9959)

247 Sports National Ranking: 11

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Forstall has not been offered by Oregon.

WR Easton Royal

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9948)

247 Sports National Ranking: 12

247Sports Position Ranking: 3

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Texas. Royal has been offered by Oregon.

OT Cooper Hackett

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9936)

247 Sports National Ranking: 13

247Sports Position Ranking: 3

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Oklahoma. Hackett has not been offered by Oregon.

RB David Gabriel Georges

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9936)

247 Sports National Ranking: 14

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Georges has been offered by Oregon.

OT Caden Moss

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9928)

247 Sports National Ranking: 15

247Sports Position Ranking: 4

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Moss has not been offered by Oregon.

S Honor Fa’alave-Johnson

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9926)

247 Sports National Ranking: 16

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Fa’alave-Johnson has been offered by Oregon.

WR Nick Lennear

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9917)

247 Sports National Ranking: 17

247Sports Position Ranking: 4

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Lennear has been offered by Oregon.

EDGE Anthony Sweeney

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9913)

247 Sports National Ranking: 18

247Sports Position Ranking: 3

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Sweeney has been offered by Oregon.

TE Ahmad Hudson

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9913)

247 Sports National Ranking: 19

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Hudson has been offered by Oregon.

EDGE Chris Whitehead

Alabama has extended an offer to 2027 5 ⭐️ EDGE Chris Whitehead (@chriswhiteheadz).

Whitehead plays for Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, VA. He is listed at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds.

As his film shows, Whitehead is a versatile edge defender that flashes a lot of potential… pic.twitter.com/8SvHXvB9MJ

— Brody Smoot (@BrodySmoot) May 12, 2025

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9907)

247 Sports National Ranking: 20

247Sports Position Ranking: 4

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Whitehead has not been offered by Oregon.

LB Cooper Witten

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9906)

247 Sports National Ranking: 21

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Witten has been offered by Oregon.

IOL Albert Simien

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9898)

247 Sports National Ranking: 22

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Simien has not been offered by Oregon.

ATH Xavier Sabb

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9895)

247 Sports National Ranking: 23

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Sabb has been offered by Oregon.

LB Kaden Henderson

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9894)

247 Sports National Ranking: 24

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Henderson has been offered by Oregon.

QB Kavian Bryant

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9887)

247 Sports National Ranking: 25

247Sports Position Ranking: 1

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Bryant. Bryant has been offered by Oregon.

QB Elijah Haven

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9883)

247 Sports National Ranking: 26

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Haven has not been offered by Oregon.

IOL Kaeden Penny

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9882)

247 Sports National Ranking: 27

247Sports Position Ranking: 3

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Oklahoma. Penny has not been offered by Oregon.

IOL Ismael Camara

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9880)

247 Sports National Ranking: 28

247Sports Position Ranking: 4

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Camara has been offered by Oregon.

S Tory Pitman III

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9876)

247 Sports National Ranking: 29

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Nebraska. Pitman has been offered by Oregon.

CB Donte Wright

Long Beach Poly 2027 CB Donte Wright, a Georgia commit, drawing the assignment of Cathedral 2027 WR Quentin Hale pic.twitter.com/vwScrSJp0S

— Tracy McDannald 📎 (@Tracy_McDannald) July 12, 2025

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9853)

247 Sports National Ranking: 30

247Sports Position Ranking: 3

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Georgia. Wright has been offered by Wright.

WR Kesean Bowman

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9850)

247 Sports National Ranking: 31

247Sports Position Ranking: 5

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Bowman has been offered by Oregon.

S Chance Gilbert

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9845)

247 Sports National Ranking: 32

247Sports Position Ranking: 3

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Gilbert has not been offered by Oregon.

EDGE Jaiden Bryant

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9844)

247 Sports National Ranking: 33

247Sports Position Ranking: 5

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Bryant has not been offered by Oregon.

DL Marcus Fakatou

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9843)

247 Sports National Ranking: 34

247Sports Position Ranking: 2

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Fakatou has been offered by Oregon.

RB Landen Williams-Callis

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9841)

247 Sports National Ranking: 35

247Sports Position Ranking: 3

Commitment/Recruitment: Uncommitted. Williams-Callis has been offered by Oregon.

S JayQuan Snell

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247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9839)

247 Sports National Ranking: 36

247Sports Position Ranking: 4

Commitment/Recruitment: Committed to Texas A&M. Snell has been offered by Oregon.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Introducing the 5-stars to know in the class of 2026