EUGENE – The college football recruiting landscape saw yet another shift on Monday as Rivals released its latest update to the 2026 recruiting rankings.
The update came with some significant changes, proving just how much potential the 2026 recruiting cycle has. In terms of the Oregon Ducks, the updated rankings brought a mix of validation and a reminder of the competitive nature of recruiting.
One of the biggest takeaways for the Ducks was the rise of Oregon tight end commit Kendre Harrison, who rose a spot and is now the No. 21 overall prospect in the cycle and the No. 1 tight end in the class of 2026.
An Oregon cheerleader waves a flag as the Fighting Ducks face off against Mighty Oregon in the Oregon Ducks spring game on April 26, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s no secret that the last couple of months have been rough for the Ducks in terms of recruiting. Oregon failed to land several of its biggest targets, including five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, four-star cornerback Elbert Hill, and four-star EDGE Derek Colman-Brusa, and more.
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The Ducks, who through the last few years have established themselves as a recruiting powerhouse, are now not even in the top 20 of 247Sports’ 2026 recruiting rankings. The Ducks rank No. 21 in the nation per 247Sports and No. 6 in the Big Ten Conference.
Despite Oregon’s recent and uncharacteristic struggles on the recruiting trail, Rivals’ updated rankings did reveal a couple of bright spots.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning greets Fighting Ducks running back Jayden Limar before the game as the Fighting Ducks face off against Mighty Oregon in the Oregon Ducks spring game on April 26, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
According to Rivals, last month’s NFL Draft played a major role in shaping the latest tight end rankings after Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren were both selected in the first round. Their size, athleticism, and ability to create mismatches made them ideal NFL prospects.
Harrison is already drawing comparisons to those NFL rookies despite not even graduating high school.
Harrison is already taller and longer than Loveland and Warren. Also, from a pure measurables standpoint, he already exceeds the size of NFL stars like Travis Kelce and George Kittle. He’s run a 40-yard dash within the elite range for tight ends and possesses the size, making him a true outlier physically.
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Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
But as Rivals notes, the next step in his development will be boosting his explosiveness to match the burst and agility of today’s top-tier pros.
Along with Harrison, a few other Oregon commits also appeared in the updated rankings. Four-star offensive lineman Tradarian Ball dropped one spot to No. 53, and defensive tackle Tony Cumberland slid five spots to No. 140 overall. While those small dips don’t take away from their potential, they highlight the importance of continued development and exposure throughout the rest of the cycle.
Meanwhile, several top Oregon targets remain prominently ranked. The No. 1 overall prospect in the cycle, offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, continues to hold his spot at the top.
Nixa High School freshman Jackson Cantwell is a 6-foot-8 multi-sport athlete and has already scored a 33 on the ACT.
Tnixa Football00009 / Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK
The lineman is a top priority for Dan Lanning and his staff, but in order to secure Cantwell’s commitment, the Ducks are tasked yet again with beating out Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.
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Another Oregon target who is an even bigger priority for the Ducks after losing Curtis, quarterback Ryder Lyons, remains No. 3 overall.
Offensive lineman Immanuel Iheanacho climbed to No. 4. According to Rivals, this 2026 offensive line group is already elite and still trending upward, with multiple players on the verge of earning five-star status.
St. Bonaventure’s Dylan Dunst tackles Folsom quarterback Ryder Lyons during the fourth quarter of the CIF-State Division 1-A state championship bowl at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. St. Bonaventure lost 20-14. / JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK
On Tuesday, Iheanacho posted a video to social media of him and Oregon’s coaching staff, who recently took a visit to the lineman to further push for his commitment.
The Ducks are certainly making an aggressive push to get back on track in the 2026 cycle. Luckily for Oregon, there’s still time to secure key commitments. Out of Rivals’ top-20 ranked prospects in the 2026 class, 12 remain uncommitted, including five-star EDGE Richard Wesley.
The University of Oregon’s Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to approve a $1.55 billion operating budget for the next fiscal year.
But they asked university leadership to return with an amended proposal by Dec. 15, when more details about future budget cuts will be known.
FILE — The Board of Trustees recently approved next year’s budget for the University of Oregon. The vote comes several weeks after the school’s president announced that he wants the university to reduce its annual budget as revenues and out-of-state enrollment decline.
Brian Bull / KLCC
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The vote comes several weeks after University of Oregon President Karl Scholz announced that he wants the school to reduce its annual budget by around $65 million.
At a trustees meeting Monday, Scholz said the estimated budget shortfall for next year is just around $23 million. But he said out-of-state enrollment is below historical norms for the second year in a row, and it’s unlikely to bounce back.
“One year can be an aberration. Two years is a pattern,” said Scholz. “And I believe we have to treat it as a new reality.”
Scholz said in May that discussions about the budget would happen over a six-month period. He said no final decisions about cuts would be made over this summer.
On Monday, UO Senate President Dyana Mason told trustees that the Senate had approved a new process to allow for community feedback in the cost-cutting process.
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Mason said the provost will work with the deans on budget proposals, finding “clear rationale” for why programs are considered for elimination.
The provost would then bring those proposals to the Senate Committee for Academic Modifications—which includes staff, faculty and students—for feedback.
Once the plans are nearly finalized, the Senate could then hold a period for public comment.
Mason told trustees that a six-month timeline is better than the three months that frustrated some staff last year, but she recommended taking however much time is necessary.
“The worst situation would be rushing forward to make decisions without appropriate evidence, data, feedback from the people that are most in the know about the impact on our students,” said Mason.
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UO’s Board of Trustees Chair Steve Holwerda said that every week that university delays the decisions could cost them millions of dollars.
Nathan Wilk is a reporter with the KLCC newsroom.This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
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Oregon’s juvenile justice system has been reshaped in recent years by a sweeping reform law that changed how the state handles minors accused of serious crimes.
Senate Bill 1008, which took effect in 2020, ended automatic transfers of juveniles into adult court and eliminated life without parole sentences for juveniles. The law also created “second-look” hearings and established parole eligibility after 15 years for certain offenders who committed crimes before turning 18.
To help explain the law and its impact, KVAL’s Frannie Pedersen put together a timeline video tracing the history of Senate Bill 1008, from the passage of Measure 11 in 1994 to the reforms that later reshaped Oregon’s juvenile justice system.
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The video breaks down how the law changed, why lawmakers pushed for reform, and how SB 1008 continues to influence Oregon’s justice system today. Viewers can watch the full video for a detailed timeline and explanation of the changes.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A New Jersey man was sentenced to federal prison last Friday for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
Mark T. Eager, 34, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
“This defendant showed a blatant disregard for human life by trafficking fentanyl across the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “My office will continue to pursue those who profit from poisoning our communities, and we will use every available resource and partnership to combat fentanyl trafficking and keep Oregonians safe.”
“This investigation brought together law enforcement agencies from across the nation,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Homeland Security Investigations special agents from Portland, Newark, and Houston contributed to the case, along with the Portland Police Bureau and HIDTA HIT officers, who were instrumental in identifying Eager. His 11-year sentence sends a clear message: no matter where you are in the country or the world, if you attempt to sell narcotics online to Americans, we will find you.”
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“Fentanyl trafficking poses a grave threat to communities across the United States, and Homeland Security Investigations is committed to working with our partners to disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks responsible,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas. “This case demonstrates the power of interagency collaboration under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, leveraging resources from across the country to hold traffickers accountable and protect the American people. We will continue to pursue those who endanger lives through the distribution of dangerous synthetic opioids, and we remain steadfast in our mission to safeguard our communities from the violence and instability caused by transnational criminal organizations.”
“By following this offender’s digital trail, Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners nationwide executed federal search warrants, dismantled an active dark web fentanyl packaging operation and recovered deadly amounts of fentanyl, thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency, and a trove of electronic devices and packaging materials,” said HSI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas. “This case is a powerful example of how coordinated, data-driven investigations can disrupt dangerous networks and help protect our communities from lethal synthetic opioids.”
According to court documents, from November 2023 through June 2024, Eager and his co-conspirator sold fentanyl on the Dark Net and Telegram. Eager operated as the vendor WRSEH10 and marketed the fentanyl as “China White Synthetic Heroin.”
In June 2024, HSI agents executed search warrants on two residences associated with Eager in Kearny, New Jersey, and seized over 360 grams of powdered fentanyl, counterfeit M30 pills, drug ledgers, cellular phones, two computers, and drug packaging consistent with three deliveries that were sent to Oregon.
On September 4, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Eager with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl.
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On February 4, 2026, Eager pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
HSI Portland and HSI Houston investigated this case with assistance from HSI Newark, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Task Force (HIT). Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey assisted the U.S. Attorney’s in Oregon in obtaining the search warrants that were executed in Kearny.
