2025 class prospect & 4-star ATH Brandon Finney commits to Dan Lanning's Oregon: Reports

Four-star prospect Brandon Finney, from Owings Mills, Maryland, announced his commitment to the Oregon Ducks. He now becomes the program's first defensive back recruit as well as the eighth four-star prospect to commit.

Finney has been listed as an athlete by recruiting databases, as he proved his athleticism not only as a defensive back but also as a wide receiver. He considered offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and South Carolina before choosing the Ducks.

Finney's commitment to Oregon follows a series of visits, including an official trip to Eugene, where he immersed himself in the campus atmosphere and experienced the energy of Autzen Stadium during the Ducks’ spring game.

This visit, along with a personalized recruitment pitch from head coach Dan Lanning, defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, and the whole coaching staff, bolstered his decision to join Oregon.

“Development, I know that Coach (Chris) Hampton and Coach (Cody) Wadood want me to develop and truly believe in me. Then playing in a system with Coach Lupoi, who’s going to get me ready for the next level by focusing on the small details,” Finney told On3.

Despite the geographical distance between Maryland and Oregon, Brandon Finney wants to embark on this cross-country journey. He is the No. 10 committed prospect in the 2025 class, which features four-star quarterback Akili Smith Jr., four-star wide receivers Dallas Wilson, Cooper Perry, and Isaiah Mozee, and four-star running back Dierre Hill.

The class is also headlined by four-star linebacker Nasir Wyatt, four-star interior offensive lineman Ziyare Addison, four-star edge rusher Matthew Johnson, and three-star offensive tackle Demetri Manning.

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Can Penn State flip Brandon Finney from Oregon?

Heading into Tuesday, Penn State was riding high on optimism about securing a commitment from Brandon Finney. Despite the Nittany Lions' confidence, it was Oregon that ultimately sealed the deal with the blue-chip prospect.

Penn State first extended an offer to Finney in December, and he followed up with a visit to one of the school's Junior Day events the next month. He even enjoyed an official visit to the program and was leaning towards potentially committing to it.

In an interview with On3 following his pledge to the Ducks, Finney openly acknowledged that Penn State was his top choice before Oregon's coaching staff made a big case.

However, decommitments are not uncommon in the world of college football recruiting. In fact, it is not unusual to see multiple prospects change their commitments in a short period of time, as evidenced by three Ole Miss prospects decommitting on the same day. This fluidity in commitments leaves room for Penn State to potentially flip Finney back into their fold.

Even On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine still favors Penn State with a 29.5% chance to earn Brandon Finney’s pledge, compared to Oregon’s 17.8%. Penn State can adopt some strategic approaches to turn the possibility into reality.