Dan Lanning's Oregon sets to receive visit from nation's No. 1 athlete Brandon Arrington

Five-star athlete Brandon Arrington is the crown jewel of the nation's 2026 class. The standout from Mount Miguel High School in La Mesa, California, has gained nationwide attention, and Oregon has emerged as one of his most aggressive suitors.

Ducks coach Dan Lanning himself is involved in Arrington's recruitment and visited him personally on Jan. 8. Arrington is also reciprocating the attention and has scheduled his first visit to the Ducks on Jan. 25. On Sunday, he confirmed the news on X, writing:

"I’ll be in Eugene on January 25th @oregonfootball."

Arrington’s junior season was remarkable, even though he missed three games. He recorded 10 touchdowns, one interception, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He clocked a blazing 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, and his speed as well as versatility allow him to excel as either a cornerback or wide receiver at the next level.

Brandon Arrington’s ability to outrun defenders and make game-changing plays on both sides of the ball has earned him the title of the No. 1 athlete in the 2026 class, the No. 2 recruit in California and the No. 8 overall prospect nationally, according to On3. Acquiring a mighty player like him would be a big win for Oregon's 2026 class.

Oregon's 2026 class sits atop the national ranking with 10 committed players. The class already has a five-star prospect locked in: tight end Kendre Harrison. The majority of these committed players are four-star prospects, and Arrington can be the next big name in the room.

Brandon Arrington makes his feelings known about Oregon ahead of visit

Oregon offered Brandon Arrington last year and has strongly remained in his recruitment since then. Ahead of his next visit to the Ducks later this month, he shared the school's standing in his recruitment, saying (via On3):

“Oregon could be one of those schools on top of my list I believe.”

Oregon has made significant strides in its pursuit, but the odds are stacked against the program. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the Ducks less than a 1% chance of landing his commitment. Texas A&M is the leader in his recruitment with a 93.4% chance of securing his commitment.

However, Oregon's strong recruiting class in 2026 and a 13-1 record in the 2024 season make the school a compelling option. The Ducks’ mighty offense and track record of developing NFL talent could give Brandon Arrington plenty to think about during his upcoming visit.