The Hotline is delighted to provide West Coast fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Phoenix-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on Nov 20 …
The Ducks’ big moment
There hasn’t been a game in Autzen Stadium this season that can match the anticipation of USC’s visit Saturday, and recruits are flocking to Eugene from all across the land.
Blue-chip prospects from the 2026 recruiting class who have committed to Oregon will be there: five-star tackle Immanuel Iheanacho; four-star tight end Kendre Harrison; four-star receiver Jalen Lott; four-star quarterback Brandon Beaver; four-star defensive back Davon Benjamin; and four-star linebacker Tristan Phillips; plus local pledge Tony Cumberland, a four-star defensive lineman.
Plenty of coveted recruits from the 2027 class will be there, as well. Josiah Molden, the Oregon legacy who is the No. 1 ranked prospect in the state, Toa Satele, the No. 1 recruit in Hawaii, and Bode Sparrow, the No. 1 prospect in Utah, are just a few of the regional headliners scheduled to attend. And don’t forget about Sam Ngata, the son of Duck legend Haloti Ngata.
But Oregon recruits nationally, so it’s no surprise that one-time pledge Kesean Bowman, from Tennessee, will be back in Eugene along with Ismael Camara and Rashad Streets from Texas.
The Ducks thrive in these moments, but USC has been a foil on the recruiting trail to a greater degree than in recent years. The Trojans would love to ruin Oregon’s final home game and impress those recruits.
Flip season is rolling
There have been two notable changes of heart.
Before the week really got cranking, Oregon flipped Utah commit Hudson Lewis, a three-star receiver who originally committed to Washington State, then switched to the Utes in September.
But Oregon was his childhood favorite. So the same state that produced both current Ducks star Kenyon Sadiq and incoming Mormon Church missionary Gatlin Barr will deliver the Ducks’ next pass catcher.
While it wasn’t necessarily a flip, UNLV did end up with three-star running back Jayden Fox, who had been committed to UConn. (He picked the Rebels over Boise State.)
The top back in Colorado, Fox had interest from Power Four schools, but an official visit to UNLV sealed the deal for him.
Arizona making moves
The state of Arizona has continued to experience an increase in talent. But over the next two or three years, it could rise to an unprecedented level.
In particular, the class of 2028 is loaded. It includes the No. 2 prospect in the country, four-star edge rusher Jalanie George, and the frontrunner for the state player of the year, four-star receiver Roye Oliver III.
Oliver is an Arizona State legacy: His father starred in the secondary for the Sun Devils while his mom ran track. But ASU’s in-state rival will get Oliver on campus this weekend as Arizona hosts Baylor in its home finale.
He’s bringing several teammates along, each of whom is coveted by other schools: defensive backs Keaton Fields and Kacey Allen, plus Oliver’s younger brother, Roman.
While ASU may have the family ties, the Wildcats will give it their best shot this weekend.
Extended exodus
The week changes, but the soundtrack stays the same: The West Coast continues to lose players to schools in other regions.
This week, it was junior Mikyal Davis, a top-10 prospect in Arizona who committed to Oklahoma. He’s the third recruit from the West in the 2027 class to pick the Sooners, and there could be more on the way.
Krew Jones, a four-star edge from Utah, and Taven Epps, a four-star linebacker from Southern California, are projected to end up in Norman.
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