Oregon Football Recruiting: Top scout forecasts blockbuster finish for Oregon in 2026 class

National recruiting director for Rivals and Yahoo Sports Adam Gorney has been scouting and forecasting high school football players for 16 years, evaluating prospects, interviewing, working at camps and clinics.

In an article Monday morning he predicted the destinations of the Top 50 recruits in the country for the 2026 class, and he has Oregon landing six of them and in the running for a half dozen more.

Adam Gorney's projected Oregon commits from the Top 50:

1. Jackson Cantwell, offensive tackle

The No. 1 recruit and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country, Cantwell is a 5-star prospect from Nixa, Missouri and a national champion in the shotput, 6-8, 300 pounds. Both his parents were Olympians and his father Christian won silver at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

Cantwell is a powerful blocker with an appropriate nasty streak between the whistles. He led his team to the Missouri Class 6 state final last season while recording 158 pancake blocks. Gorney has him choosing the Ducks over Georgia, Michigan, Miami and Missouri.

3. Ryder Lyons

A five-star quarterback from Folsom, California, Lyons will begin his college career in 2027 after serving a religious mission. In 2024 the 6-2.5, 205-pound dual threat completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,011 yards and 46 touchdowns while rushing for 585 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the Bulldogs to a state championship as a sophomore in 2023.

Gorney has Lyons picking Oregon over USC, BYU, Ohio State and Ole Miss, but notes a lot could change depending on the decision of fellow top quarterback Jared Curtis. Lyons told Rivals, " I'm not very scared of competition. There's gonna be competition anywhere I go, so I'm gonna have to compete."

8. Richard Wesley

A 6-5, 255 edge rusher from Sierra Canyon High in Chatsworth, California, Wesley reclassified from 2027 to 2026. As a 14-year-old freshman he was 235 pounds with a 4.0 grade average and had six sacks in his first three games. Now Rivals ranks him as the No. 8 prospect and No. 1 edge, even after reclassifying.

In quickness and athletic ability he compares to Kayvon Thibodeaux as a high school prospect. Dave Schuman of NUC Sports said, "This is a player that makes a huge impact, that can run down people from behind and is a bonafide baller." He's quick off the ball and tenacious in pursuit, wanting to play like his football role models Aaron Donald and Von Miller.

Gorney has the Ducks in the running but missing on marquee prospects Jared Curtis, Immanuel Iheanacho, Brandon Arrington and Tyler Atkinson, though things are always fluid with Top 25 recruits. Many of those decisions will be a battle to the end. So too with Jireh Edwards, Chris Henry Jr. and Boobie Feaster.

22. Kendre Harrison

The tight end from Reidsville, North Carolina has shut down his recruiting and spurned an offer from Bill Belichick at North Carolina. He's the country's No. 1 tight end and a four-star recruit in basketball, fluid and powerful at 6-6, 250.

41. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt

Gorney has the 6-1, 172 four-star going to the Ducks, the nation's No. 5 receiver from Mater Dei who caught 50 balls for 693 yards and five touchdowns for the five-time national champion Monarchs.

50. Jalen Lott

Lott's a speedy 6-0 receiver from Panther Creek High in Frisco, Texas but the Rivals analyst has him picking the Duck despite heavy pursuit from the Longhorns. His father was a cornerback at UT. The son is explosive with a 10.75 100 meters and a 38-inch vertical jump.

Lott runs track also. He's high jumped 7-0 and posted a top time of 14.86 in the high hurdles. His athletic versatility extends to football, too-- he's also a top prospect at cornerback and has talked about playing both ways.

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