In college football, recruiting is a high-stakes game; even the most successful programs experience setbacks. The 2025 recruiting cycle has been complex for Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks, as several highly regarded talents have decided to play elsewhere.
Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis is one of these sought-after prospects and a major goal for the Ducks. To illustrate the effects of these choices, let’s examine five of the best prospects that Oregon ultimately missed out on in the 2025 cycle.
Dan Lanning’s Oregon Missed Out on These 5 Recruits—Here’s the List
While Oregon’s 2025 class is strong, these five players represent key targets that landed elsewhere:
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Jared Curtis (QB): A consensus five-star quarterback in the 2026 class, Curtis was a primary target for the Ducks. Despite Oregon’s quarterback development success, his decision to commit to Georgia was a significant recruiting battle lost for Dan Lanning and his staff.
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (WR): A four-star wide receiver in the 2026 cycle, Dixon-Wyatt had Oregon in his sights but ultimately chose to commit to the Ohio State Buckeyes. His talent at the receiver position would have been a valuable addition to the Ducks’ offense.
Kodi Greene (OT): A five-star offensive tackle, Greene had a previous connection to Oregon but ultimately flipped his commitment to the Washington Huskies. Losing a player of his caliber, especially to a Pac-12 rival (now Big Ten foe), was a tough blow for the Ducks’ offensive line recruiting.
Tomuhini Topui (DL): A highly regarded defensive lineman, Topui was a prospect the Ducks were actively pursuing to bolster their defensive front. However, he chose to commit to another program, leaving a gap in Oregon’s defensive line haul.
Bott Mulitalo II (OL): An offensive lineman with significant potential, Mulitalo was a target for the Ducks to add depth and talent to their offensive line. He ultimately decided to commit elsewhere, impacting Oregon’s long-term plans at the position.
Navigating a Highly Competitive Landscape
These recruitment failures highlight the fierce rivalry for top high school talent. Even though Oregon is a national force, it faces competition from other elite programs that provide special benefits, such as closeness to home, existing connections, or program fits. The choices made by these five athletes demonstrate the several aspects that affect a recruit’s decision, some of which are similar to those made by other universities.
Looking Ahead for the Ducks
Oregon’s recruitment efforts are still going strong despite recent losses. Dan Lanning and his team have established a reputation for drawing elite players, and their class of 2025 continues to include several highly regarded recruits.
KEEP READING: Oregon Football Top 10 Returning Players in 2025 Include Matayo Uiagalelei, Evan Stewart
Even though it hurts to lose out on guys like Curtis, Dixon-Wyatt, Greene, Topui, and Mulitalo, it’s a necessary step in the hiring process. The Ducks will keep looking for and pursuing further talented players to assemble a team that can contend at the highest level.
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