2026 Class post-ESD

[StevensTechU]

This is my 'how did we do' thread. All personal opinion based on watching too many Hudl videos and pouring over Athletic.net times and MaxPreps stats. In the past and continuing now, I take the perspective of how the class combines with the class before because I think that's going to be the majority of your starters in 3-4 years if everything goes well.

The Great:
The size and athleticism is ridiculous, but it also didn't prevent the staff from finding ballplayers who might not have ideal measurables. What I mean is that the Ducks signed as many freak athletes as anyone in the country - Jett Washington (6'5 safety), Tommy Tofi (6'6, 330), Immanuel Iheanacho (6'6, 340), Kendre Harrison (fluid 6'7 TE) - but they also got guys who I expect to be outstanding college players even if they don't have amazing measurables. I expect Azel Banag and Hudson Lewis to be super productive players. You'd prefer to have elite physical traits combined with elite football skills, but sometimes you get Canton Kaumatule (physically gifted but not talented) and Nikko Reed and Jabbar Muhammad (less physically gifted but very talented). Overall, I like the combination of both in this class.

Our secondary and wide receivers, assuming we sign at least one of Jalen Lott and Chris Henry Jr., are ridiculously talented. Sign me up for Devin Jackson and Trey McNutt for the next few years at safety. Davon Benjamin has lots of upside and Banag will be ready to play as soon as he can physically get strong enough. Harrison is a truly elite tight end, Jalen Lott has all the tools you could want, and Hudson Lewis is the fast, slippery, annoying little slot receiver I've been dying for for years. Gatlin Bair coming off his mission projects as a Devon Allen type with Olympic-level straight line speed.

The Good:
We needed offensive linemen who might be able to play early, and we got two in 'Nacho and Tofi. There's no telling exactly when they'll be ready, but combined with Stascausky and Utu from the last class, I feel reasonably confident we'll have a good offensive line in a couple years.

The Bad:
Quarterback and interior defensive line clearly had swings and misses. I generally like what I see from Tony Cumberland, but this class saw the decommitments of 3 interior defensive linemen and never recovered, leaving it devoid of both talent and depth that will have to be filled via the portal (which is fine, it just carries some risk). At quarterback, I'll just say that I don't think Beaver will ever be a starter for Oregon. Will Akili Smith JR? I have no idea, but we've probably all seen commentary that he's struggled in his first year in the program. Given the relative importance of defensive line and quarterback, you'd like to have hit on those positions better.

The Unknown:
I have no opinion on Koloi Keli due to lack of tape. Similarly, Tradarian Ball seems to mostly play slot receiver at his high school so I have no opinion on what kind of running back he might be. There are lots of articles talking about Tristan Phillips and his production at the small-school level in California, but there's no senior tape for me to have an opinion.

[OregonFan4Life]

Wasn’t 2025 in general a weak class for IDL? We have a lot of young talent that could be great, who saw Washington be the player that he is? And I’m sure they’ll find another Bear Alexander type in the portal.


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[StevensTechU]

Rough depth chart based on '25 and '26 classes.

QB: Akili Smith Jr., Bryson Beaver
RB: Dierre Hill Jr., Jordan Davison, Tradarian Ball
LT: Zac Stascausky
LG: Immanuel Iheanacho
OC: Koloi Keli
RG: Douglas Utu, Demetri Manning
RT: Tommy Tofi, Ziyare Addison
WR1: Dakorien Moore, Messiah Hampton
WR2: Jalen Lott/Chris Henry Jr., Gatlin Bair
WR3: Hudson Lewis, Cooper Perry
TE: Kendre Harrison, Vander Ploog

Kicker/Punter: none
Longsnapper: none

DE: Anthony Jones, Prince Tavizon
DT: Matthew Johnson
DT: Tony Cumberland
Edge: Tobi Haastrup, Nasir Wyatt, Dutch Horisk
ILB1: Gavin Nix
ILB2: Braylon Hodge, Tristan Phillips
Nickel: Azel Banag,
Safety1: Trey McNutt, Devin Jackson,
Safety2: Jett Washington, Xavier Lehrisse
CB1: Brandon Finney Jr., Dorian Brew, Trevon Watson
CB2: Na'eem Offord, Davon Benjamin

[UOducksTK1]

That's a pretty special lineup in itself. So much talent...

[pezsez1]

Any reports from insiders about how Akili Smith Jr. has looked in practice? I heard from a radio guy that he's struggled a bit this year but not sure if that's his skillset, grasp of the playbook, etc, or if it's just nothing.

I'd LOVE for him to be the guy just because his dad was QB during my freshman year. That would be pretty cool to see him light it up!