Elite prospects loving Oregon following Saturday Night Live experience

Oregon’s Saturday Night Live event saw the Ducks bring in a few of their commitments in the 2025 cycle and a couple more On3 Industry five-stars in safety Trey McNutt and athlete Michael Terry III .

McNutt and Terry are key recruitments as head coach Dan Lanning and company aim to build on a class On3 ranks No. 5 nationally.

But Saturday Night Live is always more about the next crop of talent. And Oregon made a huge impression on elite 2026 and 2027 prospects from coast to coast.

On3 has the latest.

Oregon hosts the On3 Industry’s No. 1 ranked prospect

Powerhouse Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei had several of its players in Eugene including the No. 1 2026 prospect in the land in five-star receiver Chris Henry Jr.

The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Henry is an Ohio product and verbal to the Buckeyes, the new West Coast resident is keeping programs like Ducks warm.

He leaves Oregon even more excited about the Big Ten program.

“The environment was great!” Henry stated.

“And for me it’s the coaches and the people here that excites me. It’s different here for sure. They got something special here.”

Ducks land a commitment from a touted running back

As On3 reported on Saturday, Texarkana (Texas) Texas High On300 running back Tradarian Ball committed to Oregon. He becomes commit No. 2 in the class.

The On3 Industry ranks him as the nation’s No. 5 running back and No. 55 prospect overall.

“Just the excitement about the school,” Ball said. “Coach Lanning is a great head coach. He’s a great coach all-around.”

Future position coach Ra’Shaad Samples was the lead recruiter for the Ducks.

“Coach Samples has been recruiting me hard and it’s just a brotherhood between me and him,” Ball said.

The four-star Ball chose the Ducks over an offer list that also included Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, USC, Florida State, Ole Miss, Miami, Penn State, Baylor, TCU and Texas A&M. He loves where Oregon’s program is at among the country’s elites.

“I’m ready to bring that National Championship to Eugene,” he said.

As a sophomore Ball ran for 1,225 yards and 12 touchdowns with another 400 yards receiving and six more scores. He had nearly 1,000 yards of total offense as a freshman with 13 touchdowns rushing and receiving combined.

2026 elites chime in

No program in the country hosted more ballyhooed rising juniors over the weekend than Oregon.

Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High cornerback RJ Sermons has Oregon in his lead group. The On3 Industry tabs him as the No. 3 player in the country at his position while On3 slots him No. 2 and No. 15 regardless of position.

“The environment in Eugene was great,” Sermons said. “The Saturday Night Live event was super competitive and fun. What excites me about my opportunity with the Ducks is the elite coaching staff and program that can develop me into an elite player.”

On3’s No. 1 ranked cornerback Elbert Hill out of Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban made the trip.

“The environment in Eugene was great,” Hill said. “The people in Eugene and the coaches they make me feel welcome.”

Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances ’s Zion Elee is the On3 Industry’s No. 2 edge rusher while he’s On3’s No. 1 edge and No. 8 player overall.

“It was amazing,” Elee stated. “My best visit yet.

“The environment was insane. What excites me is how small the room is for my position and how easily I’d fit in.”

Elee said Oregon is recruiting him hard.

“I talked to a lot of other top prospects and they all agreed this was the best visit they’ve been on.”

On3 gets that sense as they talked to more of Elee’s peers.

More 2026 buzz

Jenks (Okla.) High four-star running back Kaydin Jones said the facilites are top notch.

“The environment here is wild for sure!” Jones added. “Right when I got off the plane the love was instant. The offense and the coaching experience excites me for the future.”

Oregon is one of the early favorites for American Fork (Utah) Lone Peak On300 defensive lineman Bott Mulitalo .

“The environment in Oregon is definitely different from all the other schools I’ve been to and they really just speak for themselves,” Mulitalo said. “They are gonna be the best of best for a while. That’s what keeps me going back and just already knowing the coaches and some of the players make me feel like home a lot of times.”

Oregon offered Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco edge Dutch Horisk in May.

“The environment was amazing,” Horisk said. “It was different. The way I can develop as a man and player here is unbelievable. Coach Lanning, Coach Tosh and Coach Kam, I believe they can develop me into a first round draft pick.”

Peoria (Ariz.) Liberty linebacker Hudson Dunn was also offered in May.

“This was my first time in Eugene,” he said. “They had great football and academic facilities and I loved the culture as well. What continues to excite me about my opportunity with the Ducks is how they use the linebackers in their defense, the coaching style, and the opportunities beyond football.”

Loganville (Ga.) Grayson On3 Industry four-star Anthony Davis made it out.

“Environment was amazing,” Davis said. “What excites me is how that program is continuing to move forward and get better.”

Good quarterback group

Two touted 2026 quarterbacks made it out in the nation’s No. 9 passer Jonas Williams and the No. 14 signal-caller Helaman Casuga . Williams is also high on LSU, Alabama and the Buckeyes. He told On3 late Saturday night he’d be in touch Sunday morning.

Casuga has recently seen is process take off but has mentioned Oregon and USC as a couple of his early favorites.

Bastrop (Texas) High 2027 quarterback Weston Nielsen saw his first offer come from Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein back in September. The early opportunity, relationship with Stein and what the Oregon program has blossomed into under Lanning, Stein and company will have them in the mix for Nielsen all the way till the end.

“It was an incredible day,” Nielsen said. “The atmosphere, the vibe, the energy, the staff and the facilities are all next level. It’s an honor to be back and have the chance to experience this plus be able to throw for Coach Stein.

“The way the staff cares for each player and works to ensure every player at every level becomes the best version of themselves is what excites me most about Oregon! I absolutely cannot wait to be back!”

More 2027s have a great time

Oregon is getting ahead for some of the nation’s top sophomores.

“The environment was great,” West Linn (Ore.) High cornerback Josiah Molden said. “The love that they showed whether it was the coaches or staff was incredible, I’m excited for the new buildings they’re putting in and recruits they are signing.”

“The environment was so live today,” Aliquippa (Pa.) High cornerback Larry Moon III said. “The coaches coach hard. Real high tense workout we had. Just the way me and all the staff are building a good relationship and being taught by really good coaches and them teaching me more about the game.”

Stay tuned to On3 as more reaction comes in.

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