The Oregon Ducks are a hot pursuit for some of the top players in the 2027 recruiting class. They're already putting together an impressive group, landing 20 commitments, ranking second in the Big Ten and ninth in the nation.
However, Dan Lanning and his staff are far from over, and are battling some high-powered programs for athlete Tae Walden Jr. The Collierville, Tennessee native is announcing his commitment on Wednesday, with the Ducks, Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels as the finalists.
As a junior at Collierville High School, he accumulated 42 receptions for 912 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also lined up at cornerback, contributing 28 tackles, five interceptions and 17 pass deflections for the Dragons.
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With a handful of options to choose from and less than a week to make the decision, a clear favorite has emerged. On Thursday, Rivals' Steve Wiltfong logged an expert prediction for Walden to head out West and commit to the Ducks.
He would be a major addition for Lanning. At 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, he is a four-star recruit, the No. 3 athlete and the No. 69 player in the nation, according to Rivals Industry Rankings.
Oregon has been working on a commitment for quite some time as well. The two-way star first announced his offer from the Ducks on Jan. 29. He then took an official visit to Eugene on June 19, which is something he conducted with all five finalists.
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With Walden set to announce his commitment on Wednesday, Oregon appears to have a significant amount of momentum. Landing the Tennessee standout would give Lanning and his staff yet another talented piece in the 2027 cycle.
