Oregon Ducks hosting elite 5 star recruit this weekend in attempt to steal him from Ohio State, LSU

There is absolutely no shortage of storylines previewing this Saturday's clash between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Oregon in Eugene. Off the field, though, this will be one of the most important recruiting moments left for the Ducks before December's early signing period.

Recently reclassified elite 5-star defensive lineman recruit Jahkeem Stewart , who has Oregon and Ohio State both listed as two of his finalists, will be in attendance. There's plenty more at stake in this game than just the final score.

"Well, [Stewart's] going to enroll early and announce his commitment in December, probably during the early signing period that begins on December 4, and he's locked in for official visits beginning this weekend with a return trip to Oregon for the Ohio State game. Ohio State and Oregon are two of his finalists," Steve Wiltfong of On3 said.

"These games are going to be pivotal. He wants to see how these teams play in some of the biggest games on their schedule, how they respond in those environments, and how they're prepared."

This game matters in a massive way. It may be the last chance that Oregon has to get Stewart on campus before the early signing period.

It can't be overstated what a difference-maker Stewart profiles to be. As a sophomore in high school, he was already 6'6" 270 lbs, and recorded 90 tackles, over 30 tackles for loss, and 20 sacks.

He was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class, but has reclassified to 2025. He's a monster. From talking to others around the A to Z team, he profiles as a future early first-round NFL draft pick when his time comes.

Stewart is also slated to take a visit to Ohio State for their grudge match against University of Michigan, as well as LSU's game against Alabama. Stewart is going to be in attendance for some massive games, and it'll play a large role in his decision. If Oregon can pull off a home victory on Saturday night, it could go a long way in pulling Stewart out of Louisiana and turning their 2025 recruiting class into one of the most dominant classes in the country.

Related: Oregon Ducks can prove dramatic improvement in critical area is no fluke against No. 2 Ohio State

Follow along all year for more Oregon Ducks coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on X @JonHelmkamp , as well as follow our main page @AtoZSportsNFL for all the latest news.