Dan Lanning has rewritten the Oregon Ducks’ record books once again — not with wins on the field, but on the recruiting trail. On Friday, Oregon landed its third 5-star commitment of the 2025 cycle as top-ranked cornerback Darnell “DJ” Wilcox announced his pledge to the Ducks over Alabama, Georgia and USC, giving Lanning the most 5-star recruits ever secured by an Oregon head coach in a single recruiting class.
The historic commitment comes after months of speculation surrounding Wilcox, who is the consensus No. 6 overall player in the country according to 247Sports. His announcement continues Oregon’s aggressive push to become a national recruiting powerhouse under Lanning, who has already landed five top-50 talents in 2025 — more than any other program in the Pac-12/Big Ten West hybrid landscape the Ducks will join next season.
“This feels like home,” Wilcox said during his televised commitment. “Coach Lanning’s energy is different. He’s building something special and I want to be part of history.”
For Lanning, this latest addition may be his most significant yet. Previously, the Ducks had never secured more than two 5-star prospects in one class. Now, with Wilcox joining defensive end Rashad Jenkins and offensive tackle Marcus Powell, Oregon’s 2025 group is drawing comparisons to the elite Georgia and Alabama hauls of recent years.
“We feel we can recruit with anyone in the country,” Lanning said. “If you look at our staff, our facilities, the direction of this program — kids want to be part of what we’re building at Oregon.”
Industry insiders agree. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports described Wilcox’s commitment as “a watershed moment,” noting that stealing a defensive back of his calibre out of SEC territory — Wilcox hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana — shows the Ducks’ growing national reach.
Oregon now sits at No. 2 in the national recruiting rankings behind Ohio State, but momentum appears to favour Lanning’s Ducks. Wide receiver phenom Tremaine Carter Jr., another 5-star talent from Florida, is expected to announce his decision next month, with Oregon believed to be a strong contender.
“This is just the beginning,” Wilcox said. “We’re trying to bring a national championship to Eugene.”
If Lanning continues pulling off historic recruiting wins like
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