On Thursday four-star defensive tackle Kasi Currie committed to Texas. On Friday, five-star defensive tackle Marcus Fakatou announced a final three of Georgia, Texas and Ohio State, eliminating the Ducks.
The two teammates from Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California had been Oregon targets in the 2027 class at a position where big, mobile, disruptive athletes are rare, especially in the West.
Duck fans have witnessed in the last two seasons just how crucial inside pressure can be-- Derrick Harmon became a first-round draft pick after a stellar season in 2024, and senior defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington looks poised for a big year after deciding to come back alongside Bear Alexander. Washington tallied 4.5 tackles for loss and eight pass deflections in 2025.
The Ducks are fine for now. Although the 6-4, 315 Currie is the No. 6 defensive tackle in the country and the 6-6, 275 Fakatou is ranked No. 2, Oregon not only has Alexander and Washington on the depth chart this season, they are well-stocked for the immediate future with Matthew Johnson and Aydin Breland on the two-deep.
Both Johnson and Breland showed the ability to shed blockers and penetrate during the Spring Game, each racking up a pair of touch sacks. Transfers Beau Dantzler and Jerome Simmons will provide depth. Going into 2026, the Ducks have perhaps the deepest and most talented defensive line in college football.
Oregon DT Aydin Breland couldn’t be stopped in the Spring Game. Here’s why Oregon has the most talented and deep DL room in CFB⬇️ pic.twitter.com/dvd7DInCsQ
— LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) April 27, 2026
True freshman Anthony Jones of Irvine, California (not Anthony "Tank" Jones of Mobile, Alabama, an edge rusher) has good position versatility at 6-5, 285. Fellow freshman Tony Cumberland is big and athletic also at 6-5, 285, but he suffered a setback, injured in a car accident this spring. Cumberland may have to redshirt.
But recruiting is about the future, and the NIL bidding wars at a position where top talent is scarce cut both ways. Though Oregon has excelled at edge rusher and defensive end in the 2027 cycle, securing commitments from Rashad Streets, Cameron Pritchett, Zane Rowe and Achilles Reyna, they've struck out swinging at defensive tackle.
Of the Top 25 DTs on the big board at 247Sports, only Fakatou, Sam LeJune of Poplarville, Mississippi, Karlos May of Birmingham, Alabama and Brayden Parks from Chicago, Illinois (6-3, 305) remain uncommitted.
Parks is making his official visit to Notre Dame this weekend. He's scheduled to visit Oregon on June 19, provided Marcus Freeman and the Irish don't lock him up before he leaves South Bend. Pulling a Catholic school player from the Midwest away from ND would be a 305-pound miracle.
In his thumbnail scouting report Tom Lemming of CBS describes Parks, "Great feet, strong and violent hands explosive first step and excellent lateral mobility."
That's a perfect set of traits to replace Washington and Alexander one day, but right now the Ducks are like Princess Leia in the grainy video in Episode IV, pleading, "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
Parks is the last viable defensive tackle on the board. After that, it's the transfer portal, a position switch or a glaring hole on the depth chart. Then again, they pay Dan Lanning $10 million to solve problems like these.
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