Oregon Ducks News: Arrington sprints to the finish, Ducks West's top RB group, Taking over NFL

In a recruiting photo finish, Brandon Arrington decides Thursday.

Mount Miguel High School 5-star cornerback Brandon Arrington, the No. 8 recruit and No. 1 Athlete in the 2026 class, is down to Texas A&M and Oregon and will announce on Thursday July 19, a day before a trip to College Station.

Monday night the California state 100 meter and 200 meter champion, cornerback and wide receiver eliminated Alabama and USC from his list of schools, announcing on X that it was a decision between the Aggies and the Ducks.

"God's Plan!!" he wrote, posting a graphic of himself in uniform on the Southern California shore, flanked by both mascots, Dan Lanning and A&M coach Mike Elko.

Both teams covet Arrington, 6-3, 175, as a dynamic talent, blazing fast. He's run the 100 meters in 10.21, the 200 in 20.35. As a football player last season he racked up 26 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception on defense, 57 catches for 527 yards and five touchdowns on offense.

The Aggies are fierce and insanely aggressive on the recruiting trail. Their class currently ranks No. 6 in the country with 16 commitments; the Ducks have eight. They've won bidding wars for defensive tackle David Hicks Jr. and defensive end Lebbeus Overton in past seasons.

Should Oregon win this one, it indicates their recruiting strategy and funding are still sound. Arrington visited Eugene on the weekenf of June 6. The Ducks made the final two despite recent visits to Washington and Alabama.

Phil Steele magazine ranks college football's best running back units

With 74 days until Duck football, the 2025 edition of the bible of college football has come out, the Phil Steele preview magazine.

Each year Steele power ranks the 134 FBS teams by position groups, and he rates Oregon's running backs as the No. 6 unit in the country and best in the West.

Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes ran for 1,401 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and seven runs of more than 30 yards. Junior Noah Whittington posted 540 yards and six touchdowns at Oregon in his first season back from knee surgery.

Along with redshirt freshman Da'Juan "Dink" Riggs, the Webfoot backfield three-headed monster could eclipse 2500 yards this season. The Ducks churned out 2805 in 2022.

Ducks continue to elevate NFL profile

Continuing to rise after having 10 players drafted in 2025 and eight in 2024, Oregon currently has 47 active NFL players, eighth-best in college football. That number includes four quarterbacks, Justin Herbert, Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Marcus Mariota, one of pro football's best offensive tackles in Penei Sewell, and NFL All-Rookie team selection offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Oregon defensive linemen Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, both No. 1 draft picks, are entering their 11th and 10th seasons in the league.

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