Dan Lanning's Oregon earns commitment from four-star RB Tradarian Ball to the class of 2026

Four-star running back Tradarian Ball, hailing from Texarkana, Texas, committed to Oregon's 2026 class. He announced his commitment during his visit to the Ducks for the renowned Saturday Night Live event, a tradition that has historically drawn commitments for the program.

Ball's journey to Dan Lanning's Oregon began with an early offer from the program in February 2023, followed by a reaffirmation by position coach Ra’Shaad Samples in May. He chose the program over USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Florida State, Ole Miss, Penn State, TCU and Texas A&M.

At 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, Ball has proved his caliber on the field since his freshman year at Texas High. But it was during his sophomore season that he truly made waves at the East Texas powerhouse. Ball amassed 1,225 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, while also adding another 400 receiving yards with six touchdowns.

Tradarian Ball's athleticism has caught the attention of several scouts, with 247Sports analyst Gabe Brooks describing him as a "consistent big-play option." He is also an accomplished track and field athlete, highlighting his speed with 10.51 and 10.82 seconds in the 100 meters during his sophomore year.

Ball now becomes the first player on the Ducks' offensive side to commit for the 2026 class, contributing to the program's current No. 21 ranking in the nation for the recruiting cycle. He is also the second member in the class, joining four-star defensive lineman Tony Cumberland.

Tradarian Ball shares the reason behind his commitment to Oregon

Tradarian Ball was heavily predicted to choose Oregon and so his pledge wasn’t a big surprise to football fans, unlike some commitments this week.

“Just the excitement about the school,” Ball told On3. “Coach Lanning is a great head coach. He’s a great coach all-around.”

Coach Samples was the main recruiter and Ball lauded the "brotherhood" bond between him and the coach, which grew his fondness for the Ducks. He is inspired by the legacy of former Oregon running back LaMichael James, another Texas product.

“I talked to my family about it they agreed with it. I talked to my coaches and LaMichael James was a huge impact in this too. So I put a lot of trust in the coaches there and I’m ready to be a Duck."

As a junior, Ball is already thinking ahead to his future contributions at Oregon.

“I’m ready to bring that National Championship to Eugene."

Tradarian Ball is the No. 2 running back, the No. 5 prospect in Texas and the No. 47 overall player in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. On3 lists him as the No. 7 running back, the No. 8 prospect in Texas and the No. 75 overall player in the class.