Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks received huge news from a 5-star playmaker whose skill set they haven’t had in a very long time
When you think of Oregon wide receivers, you think about speed, speed, and more speed. Names like Tez Johnson and De'Anthony Thomas quickly come to mind, fast, and explosive in short areas. You can even throw Evan Stewart into the conversation, the Ducks' top pass catcher heading into the 2025 college football season. Impact size, […]
When you think of Oregon wide receivers, you think about speed, speed, and more speed. Names like Tez Johnson and De'Anthony Thomas quickly come to mind, fast, and explosive in short areas. You can even throw Evan Stewart into the conversation, the Ducks' top pass catcher heading into the 2025 college football season.
Impact size, however, isn't a standard that the Oregon program has had often out wide. In the 2026 recruiting class, head coach Dan Lanning and the staff are trying to find a different body type. That includes five-star Miami (Fla.) Northwestern wide receiver Calvin Russell, a top target on the board for the Ducks.
Oregon did receive some great news on Monday when it was announced that Russell will be taking an official visit to Eugene this weekend. The Ducks are battling against an elite group of suitors, and they aren't backing down. They have a chance to move the needle during that upcoming trip.
Russell is considered a borderline five-star player by a couple of the major recruiting platforms. He is considered one on the 247Sports Composite ranking, where he currently sits as the No. 21 overall player, No. 3 wide receiver, and No. 2 player in the state of Florida for the 2026 recruiting class. Russell is considered a bit lower on the On3 Industry ranking, pegged as the No. 33 overall player and No. 4 wide receiver in the class.
The 6-5, 195-pound pass catcher has unsurprisingly been pursued by a long list of impressive suitors. Some of his top offers include Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ole Miss, USC, Texas A&M, Florida, Miami, Penn State, Nebraska, Florida State, Colorado, Auburn, Indiana, SMU, Kentucky, Louisville, UNC, Mississippi State, Maryland, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Illinois, Arkansas, Arizona, Pitt, Syracuse, and Purdue among many others.
Early in Russell's high school career, he mostly played quarterback. He made the transition to wide receiver as a junior, ending that season with 39 receptions for 704 yards and 13 touchdowns. Russell has also is a big time basketball player that could play on a higher college level. He managed 21 points per game, seven rebounds, and 3.2 steals last season on the hardwood.
Oregon Ducks plan at QB becoming quite clear as Dan Lanning sets final official visit for the position this summer
The Oregon Ducks have done a great job filling in the quarterback position with transfers like Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. Both were huge success stories that helped take Oregon to new heights. Dante Moore could be that next success story at quarterback, but Dan Lanning clearly knows it's time to get the future taken […]
