Oregon's biggest recruiting 'what ifs' of Dan Lanning's tenure

When Mario Cristobal left the Oregon Ducks for Miami, it was an uncertain moment when the program landed on first-time head coach Dan Lanning, who found his success as Kirby Smart's protege. The hopes of every Oregon fan couldn't have come close to what Lanning has brought to Eugene, as he's clearly among the best coaches in the sport. What Oregon fans likely didn't realize was the role he'd have in this new era.

College Football's NIL era was arriving, and pairing an elite recruiter in Dan Lanning with the NIL resources Oregon could provide was a major recipe for success. Every year Oregon's reeling in a top 5 class in the country, and any time the Ducks' zero in on a recruit, they seemingly win out in the battle.

There have been some rare cases where Oregon has missed out on recruits, whether it was right when Dan Lanning arrived or as the time has gone on. Throughout the Dan Lanning era, there's 5 major what-ifs which may have altered the trajectory of the program for better or worse, and may have delayed Oregon's first National Championship.

The 5 biggest recruiting what-ifs of the Dan Lanning Era

Dallas Wilson leaving after he signed with Oregon

The story of Dallas Wilson isn't necessarily a recruiting what-if, as the Oregon Ducks actually got him to sign his Letter of Intent. The whole story on why Dallas Wilson left Oregon still hasn't fully come to light, as he's talked about his grandmother's health along with him and the Ducks "not seeing eye to eye", but in the end he ended up joining Florida. When Wilson has been healthy, he's looked like a superstar wide receiver, and if he can end up playing a full season, Oregon may have regrets about letting him walk.

What if Peyton Bowen correctly submitted his LOI?

In Dan Lanning's first full recruiting cycle at Oregon, he nearly hit a home run, landing a commitment from 5-star safety Peyton Bowen when he flipped from Notre Dame on National Signing Day. Instead, Bowen didn't correctly sign his Letter of Intent, and the error allowed him to land at Oklahoma. Aside from the fact that Bowen's an incredible player, Oregon lost out in several ways, as his brother Eli Bowen is a star DB at Oklahoma as well, while the flip kept Oregon from signing what would've been the Ducks' best class in program history at the time.

What if Dante Moore signed with Oregon out of High School?

The biggest what-if of the Dan Lanning era may have been what would've happened if Dante Moore never flipped from Oregon in the 2023 recruiting class. Kenny Dillingham's departure for Arizona State allowed the hometown UCLA Bruins to make a move for Dante Moore, and they ended up landing the Nation's 3rd ranked player.

Dante Moore then went to UCLA where he started for the Bruins, likely before he should've played. The move led to Dante Moore realizing he needed to take a step back from a starting role to develop, bringing him back to the school he flipped from.

The story of Dante Moore at Oregon is still being written heading into his final season of eligibility. This season, Dante Moore could lead Oregon to a National Championship and win the Heisman Trophy which would make him the most accomplished player in school history. It'll crazy to think about the turns his career could've taken.

If Dante Moore sticks with his Oregon commitment, does he end up leaving due to not getting early playing time? Does he end up being the same level of player without the early growing pains at UCLA? Was sitting behind an experienced veteran in Dillon Gabriel the best possible outcome for Moore to learn what it took to succeed at the college level?

What if Tetairoa McMillan gave Dan Lanning a chance?

When Mario Cristobal left Oregon for Miami, it left Oregon's recruiting class in flux as the Ducks needed to try to hold onto their commitments. Among the players with a decision to make was wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who ended up flipping to Arizona rather than waiting until the later signing date. Having a player like McMillan would've gone a long way for Oregon, especially in the 2024 season when the Ducks didn't have enough weapons to beat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

What if Kelvin Banks stuck with his Oregon commitment?

After Mario Cristobal left for Miami, another recruit whose future was in limbo was 5-star offensive tackle Kelvin Banks. Two days before Dan Lanning was hired, Kelvin Banks opted to reopen his recruitment. Before Dan Lanning could even settle into the job, Banks ended up signing with Texas. Banks went on to become an All-American and a 1st round pick, and while Oregon had solid offensive line play, it's hard not to dream about what a duo of Josh Conerly and Kelvin Banks Jr would've looked like.

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