Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks receive commitment of No. 1 TE to the Class of 2026

Five-star tight end Kendre Harrison committed to play for the Oregon Ducks during a press conference at Reidsville High School in North Carolina on Saturday afternoon. He chose Dan Lanning's program over a stacked list of finalists that included Florida State, Penn State, Miami, North Carolina and Tennessee.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound prospect plans to play both football and basketball at Oregon, having received an offer from the Ducks' men’s basketball program in July. This makes him the first member of coach Dana Altman’s 2026 recruiting class.

Harrison transferred to Providence Day School in Charlotte over the summer, but he later returned to Reidsville in September. He is the No. 1 tight end in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Harrison is also the No. 15 prospect in the nation and the No. 2 recruit in North Carolina. This fall, he has caught 33 passes for 555 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games. His commitment gives another boost to Oregon's 2026, which ranks No. 1 in the nation with eight committed players.

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Kendre Harrison shares the reasons behind his commitment to the Oregon Ducks

Kendre Harrison was initially leaning toward North Carolina and Tennessee for his commitment, but his recruitment shifted after his visit to Eugene during the Oregon Ducks' thrilling 32-31 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Oct. 12.

Harrison provided the reason behind his commitment, saying (via On3):

“Oregon is the total package. I chose Oregon because of their player development, the coaching I will get there, the culture and the place. I like Eugene a lot.”

Offensive coordinator Will Stein and tight ends coach Drew Mehringer played crucial roles in Harrison's recruitment, with Mehringer making him a top priority. Supporting them were chief of staff Marshall Malchow, director of recruiting strategy Pat Biondo and graduate assistant Jack Smith. For Harrison, playing under Dan Lanning was also a big factor.

"It's not a want, it's a need," Harrison told 247 Sports. "He's a great coach and I know I'm going to get developed."

Kendre Harrison's commitment makes him the highest-rated prospect in Oregon’s 2026 class. He will join a promising group that includes four-star running back Tradarian Ball and four-star quarterback Jonas Williams.