There is something in the air in Eugene, and five-star tackle Immanuel Iheanacho just put even more fuel on the fire. With his busy cycle of official visits underway, the towering 6’7″, 295-pound giant has already let out one big hint as to where his heart could be.
While powerhouse schools are waiting in line for his John Hancock, Oregon has a secret that’s difficult to top. As Iheanacho tells it, it’s not flash—it’s something more profound.
Five-Star OT Immanuel Iheanacho Reveals What Separates Oregon From Other Schools
Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, and attending Georgetown Prep in New Jersey, Immanuel Iheanacho is not just the big name — he is the genuine article. Ranked the No. 11 overall player in the 2025 class by On3 and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation.
On3’s @ChadSimmons_ has the latest on Five-Star Plus+ OT Immanuel Iheanacho as he heads into his official visits👀
Read: https://t.co/JTbw5ku13j pic.twitter.com/tjzBM9kNqh
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 29, 2025
He’s the type of recruit who can alter a program’s direction, and the top dogs know that. That’s why his recruitment is almost a who’s who of college football, including Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon, and beyond.
But in all the “hubbub,” one school has already taken a special place in his head: the Oregon Ducks. Not for their uniforms. Not because the Nike headquarters are down the way. For Iheanacho, though, it’s much more personal.
That’s what the five-star OT said to On3 when asked what’s most distinctive about Oregon. He speaks about Ducks offensive line coach A’Lique Terry, and to Iheanacho, their connection is already stronger than football.
“Coach Terry’s just like a brother. He’s young, he’s relatable, and he’s been with me through the entire recruiting process,” Iheanacho said. “He’s honest. He doesn’t sugarcoat stuff. That’s big for me.”
That sort of authentic relationship is becoming less common in contemporary recruiting. NIL contracts, gleaming facilities, and national recognition matter, of course, but credibility remains the most crucial. Terry, the 30-year-old up-and-comer on Oregon’s coaching staff, has apparently discovered a means of gaining Iheanacho’s.
Even more impressive? Terry has accomplished it while taking on recruiting bluebloods. Georgia has tradition, Alabama has championships, and Michigan has the NFL pedigree. But Oregon, through Terry’s genuineness and the culture he’s assisting Dan Lanning in creating, is squarely in the hunt.
Iheanacho began his official visits this weekend, beginning with Oregon — no surprise the Ducks received the first look. The visit had it all, from facility tours to breaking bread with coaches and players, but above all, it was about mood. And preliminary indications are that Oregon aced the vibe test.
From Eugene, Iheanacho will travel to Alabama on May 31, then Michigan (June 7), Georgia (June 14), and Tennessee (June 21). That’s a gauntlet of recruiting powers, and every visit will have its own sales pitch.
But whereas others will show off their rings or NFL pipeline, it’s difficult to match what Oregon already possesses: Coach Terry, trust, and a groundswell of authenticity.
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What makes this more intriguing is that Iheanacho is not being rushed. He informed On3 that he intends to take all five visits before deciding. That makes the Ducks a long way from committing to him, but they’ve gotten that first impression in. And that initial impression may be precisely what sets them apart.
For Oregon, securing Iheanacho would be a program-shaping victory. He’s a five-star-plus recruit — a designation reserved for just the best of the best players who are consensus blue-chip talents among all major recruiting boards. He’s athletic, long, and technically sound in ways most high school linemen aren’t.
Putting him with Oregon’s up-tempo offense would be a nightmare for Big Ten defenses.
Even outside of the sport, Iheanacho would be a pillar upon which the Ducks’ national recruiting argument is built. It would demonstrate top-shelf East Coast talent that Oregon is not a West Coast hype machine but a legitimate, competing option for future NFL linemen.
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