One of the specious arguments USC and Washington fans like to make on social media is "Dan Lanning can't develop players."
It's assuredly false, as he's sent 18 to the NFL in the last two years. It's absurdly disingenuous, because he's only been a head coach for three.
He signed his first recruiting class in December 2021, just two weeks after stepping off the plane in Eugene with his three boys and his wife Sauphia.
Josh Conerly is the first Oregon player from the class of 2022 to reach early entry draft eligibility, taken in the first round with the No. 29 pick. Of the top 20 players in the 247 Sports Composite that cycle, eight made the NFL draft after three years.
Top 20 in 2022 Player Rankings, 247 Sports Composite
1 Travis Hunter 1st round No. 2
2 Walter Nolen 1st round, No. 16
3 Drew Allar still in college
4 Malaki Starks 1st round, No. 27
5 Harold Perkins Jr. still in college
6 Evan Stewart still in college
7 Mykel Williams 1st round, No. 11
8 Josh Conerly Jr.1st round No. 29
9 Shemar Stewart 1st round, No. 17
10 C.J. Hicks still in college
11 Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy still in college
12 Travis Shaw still in college
13 Cade Klubnik still in college
14 Luther Burden III 2nd round, No. 39
15 Domani Jackson still in college
16 Jihaad Campbell 1st round, No. 31
17 LT Overton still in college
18 Daylen Everette still in college
19 Nick Singleton still in college
20 Zach Rice still in college
Just 7 seven of the top 20 players in the class of 2022 were taken in the first round in 2025. Luther Burden went in the second. The rest are still in college and some of those are floundering, on their 3rd or 4th team.
The kind of move-the-goalposts jibe the critics come up with is something like, "All of Dan Lanning's draft picks have been transfers, developed at other places."
That doesn't wash either. Derrick Harmon wasn't even a full-time starter at Michigan State. He posted 2.5 sacks as a sophomore. Bo Nix's career had cratered at Auburn, destined to be a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent before Kenny Dillingham and Will Stein resurrected his career.
Nix improved his passer rating from 126.2 at Auburn to 177.8 with the Ducks. As a sophomore with the Tigers he threw just 12 touchdown passes with 7 interceptions. As a senior at Oregon he was a Heisman finalist and a first-round draft pick.
There's simply no truth to the claim that Lanning hasn't developed NFL talent. In terms of his recruits, he hasn't had time. In the 2026 draft, Matayo Uiagalelei and Iapani Laloulu reach early-entry draft status after this season, and they'll be Day 1 or Day 2 picks if they decide to go. The Ducks could have a dozen players taken this year.
Back to my roots of the NFL Draft: #Oregon C Iapani Laloulu is my early #1 ranked Center for the 2026 NFL draft.
— Andy (@AndyyNFL) July 2, 2025
Plays with tons of effort, smart heads-up blocker, wins by his technical skill, superb timing element in his game, and overall a very athletic blocker.
🦆🦆🦆 pic.twitter.com/zo34VV0xu8
Ignore the social media noise. Whether transfers or former Oregon high school recruits, they're all Ducks, and they still count.