Dan Lanning’s been on a recruiting tear at Oregon, snatching up talent like it’s going out of style. The Ducks are soaring at #1 for the 2025 class in the Big 10. Now, Lanning’s got his sights set on 2026, and things are already heating up with 8 commitments locked in. But hold on, not everything’s smooth sailing. A prized player, a massive 310-pound offensive tackle who’s one of Oregon’s top prospects, seems to be getting a wandering eye. Could Lincoln Riley and USC be the reason? Looks like Lanning’s got a bit of a storm brewing, but if anyone can weather it, it’s probably him.
It seems USC is already on the verge of flipping Tomuhini Topui after his decommitment from Oregon, and now their focus has shifted to Mater Dei’s impressive 6’6″, 310-pound lineman, Kodi Greene, who’s been committed to the Ducks since last August. Here’s where it gets interesting: there’s a strong possibility that Lincoln Riley managed to lure Greene back to USC for an unofficial visit on March 29th, and the buzz is that it went really well. That’s definitely got to be making the folks in Eugene a little nervous.
That visit could have definitely boosted the Trojans’ chances, especially with Greene scheduled to return for his official visit on June 20th. That’s a worrying sign for Oregon, no doubt. However, 247sports’ Tom Loy thinks it’s not a done deal yet. According to him, Kodi Greene seems pretty solid in his commitment, stating, “Oregon is much more nervous than they probably expected to be at this point. But he picked Oregon for a reason. He loves everything about the ducks much more than just a mascot.”
Tom Loy further elaborated, “Great connection with the staff. He’s been an active recruiter for Oregon, and I think depending on how things fall in the class. I think that with other people that have been kind of privately recruiting him to stick Oregon has reasons for confidence. But then you talk to people at USC; they kind of call it a 50-50 race.” Still, you can’t ignore the fact that USC is very much in the hunt to flip his commitment.
Now, USC is currently sitting pretty at the top of the 2026 recruiting rankings, and they’re clearly not planning on slowing down. They recently snagged a commitment from three-star offensive tackle Chase Deniz, ranked No. 117 by 247Sports out of San Diego. USC’s O-line recruiting class already boasts Esun Tafa, John Fifita, and Deniz, so landing Kodi Greene would be a major statement on the national stage.
Even though Greene’s still looking like he’ll stick with Dan Lanning’s program at Oregon, the Ducks can’t get too comfortable. As Cooper Petagna pointed out, “If you’re USC some of the best players on the west coast Oregon’s been able to flip the script since Dan Lanning has been there up in Eugene… USC has a pick of the litter that has not been the case over the last couple of years so. With Chad Bowden hire you’re starting to see a little bit of identity switch.” Under the guidance of USC’s GM, Chad Bowden, the team is going all-out for top-tier talent, and Bowden is aiming to shake things up big time. But can they keep this momentum rolling?
Petagna suggests they have to turn their fate. “You can’t just let Oregon and Dan Lanning especially when it comes to big bodies like Kodi Greene just do whatever they want.” Let’s not forget that just a few weeks ago, four-star QB Jonas Williams flipped his commitment from Oregon to USC, really heating up this West Coast recruiting rivalry. It sounds like there’s a push for Lincoln Riley to really step up his game in these big recruitments, especially when going head-to-head with Lanning’s Ducks. Can he?
Kodi Greene’s commitment: A looming question mark
It’s no wonder programs are lining up for a player like Kodi Greene. He’s ranked as the No. 24 overall prospect and No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2026 cycle by the On3 Industry Ranking, making him one of the most coveted recruits out there. In the On3 ranking, he’s also No. 5 in California, placing him at No. 9 overall and No. 3 at his position. So, it’s not surprising that USC and Texas are both heavily pursuing him, with Oregon fighting hard to keep him in their corner.
And here’s a key piece of the puzzle: Greene stays in close contact with USC, especially with head coach Lincoln Riley, with whom he’s built a strong connection. “Me and (Lincoln) Riley pretty much speak on a daily basis,” Greene said. “He just checks in, checks in with me. Sees how I’m doing, sees how my family’s doing, which I really appreciate.” Greene is also well aware of USC’s recruiting success, noting, “They’re super hot right now … me and my teammates talk about how good their recruiting class is,” he said. “Being part of that would be legendary.”
At the same time, Texas is stepping up their efforts. “Coach (Kyle) Flood and Coach (Derron) Gatewood have done a great job with O-linemen, having four going to (the) draft,” Greene said. “So I feel like being at Texas (would give me) a really good chance at going to the next level.”
He has upcoming visits to both USC and Texas, with a potential trip back to Oregon in early April. Greene has also scheduled official visits to Oregon, Texas, and USC for June. The battle to secure Greene’s commitment is definitely heating up, with these top programs pulling out all the stops. It’s going to be interesting to see if Dan Lanning can hold onto this highly-rated prospect, especially since the Trojans are already killing it at #1 for the 2026 class in the Big 10, totally changing the game!
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