Dan Lanning has made a tradition out of signing top 5 recruiting classes in the country, and while the Ducks are currently outside that mark, it appears Lanning isn't giving up. The Ducks are currently in the middle of college football's peak recruiting season as official visit weekends continue around the country. While Dan Lanning continues to reel in commitments from Oregon's official visits, everyone is also keeping a close eye on the recruits set to make their way to campus.
Kalen DeBoer leaving Washington took him out of the rivalry, but it hasn't ended his rivalry with Dan Lanning. The Ducks and DeBoer's new school Alabama continue to clash, this time on the recruiting trail rather than in the Pac 12.
Oregon predicted to land 5-star with major Alabama ties over DeBoer
One of Oregon's top targets in the 2027 recruiting class has been elite wide receiver Xavier Sabb. Conventional wisdom led many to think that the youngest Sabb brother would be heading to Tuscaloosa as his brothers Keon and Amari are both playing for the Crimson Tide. While Alabama has all the ties to the family, Oregon hasn't relented in it's pursuit.
Dan Lanning has beaten Kalen DeBoer in some massive recruitments, and this cycle that trend may continue. After nabbing the top recruit out of the state of Alabama the last two years with Na'eem Offord and Tank Jones, the Ducks look ready to deal DeBoer another setback.
On Monday, Rivals' Steve Wiltfong logged his expert prediction for the 5-star recruit to commit to the Oregon Ducks.
The Ducks have had to watch closely over the last two weekends as Sabb has taken visits to LSU and UCLA. Sabb visited Eugene back in April, and now the hope is that the Ducks can get him back on campus and close out this recruitment.
It's been an all hands on deck recruitment for the talented playmaker out of New Jersey as even Oregon QB commit Will Mencl has shared how much he's trying to get the 5-star to commit.
The Oregon Ducks & QB commit Will Mencl are coming for WRs!
— Jackson Moore (@JacksonMoore247) May 29, 2026
Mencl said: "We want Dakota Guerrant, we want Xavier Sabb, we want Blake Wong, we want Bode Sparrow. In the 2028 class we really want Braylon Clark - just to name a few.
"I feel really good about Xavier Sabb, Dakota.… https://t.co/2EULosO8J4 pic.twitter.com/oxaHOEdag2
According to Rivals' Industry Recruiting Rankings, Xavier Sabb is the 22nd ranked player in the country, the 4th ranked wide receiver in the class, and the top player out of New Jersey.
Landing Xavier Sabb would mark the biggest splash in this recruiting class, as he'd become the Ducks highest ranked recruit, and the first 5-star in the industry rankings to pick the Ducks. Oregon is looking to build a loaded wide receiver class with high end targets like Xavier Sabb and Dakota Guerrant after landing in-state star Malachi Garlington.
The Ducks will now wait, and hope to pick up the commitment as it's the level of win that could have a major impact on several other targets the staff is hoping to land.
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