Dan Lanning couldn’t be any happier this season, barring a few hiccups. The Ducks’ head coach has got Nike founder Phil Knight backing his team. And what about the winning momentum? Well, let’s just say they are creating problems even in the off-season for several teams. Still, the quarterback spot without Dillon Gabriel is a question mark. Dante Moore, a capable deputy, is still untested in the rigors of the Big 10. Now, on the recruitment front, the head coach might be getting another blow as a Big 10 rival is making big moves for a five-star prospect Lanning was pursuing.
The recruiting class at Oregon ranks 4th nationally, which alone tells you the amount of hard work Lanning and his assistants are doing. It doesn’t hurt when you also have all the money in the world to do the same, right? Well, they have 5-star players like Trey McNutt and blue-chip talents like Dorian Brew and Ziyare Addison. All in all, the 2025 class was dusted up, barring a few incoming transfers, and Lanning started his work for the 2026 class.
Talk about the 2026 class; it’s building towards another star-studded affair for Lanning and is ranked 8th nationally. The head coach even landed a 5-star tight-end prodigy in Kendre Harrison. Sure, things looked smooth for Dan Lanning until he started chasing a 5-star cornerback in Brandon Arrington, who is proving more slippery than an eel, as Lanning’s Phil Knight fishnet seems to be failing in landing him.
Talking to On3, the 5-star CB particularly praised Penn State and termed it a shocking revelation. “Penn State was better than I expected it to be,” Arrington told On3. “It was my first time there, so I didn’t know what to expect. It was just better than I thought it would be. After the visit, I can see myself there. When they get top players, they get them coached up and developed. That is what I am looking for.”
Well, Penn State might not have won too many trophies under James Franklin, but they sure know how to develop players. Just last season, we saw Abdul Carter at his finest and Tyler Warren’s incredible success as he was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. So, yes, Arrington might get an elite environment where he can flourish. So, the statement by the CB looks like a signal of commitment to James Franklin’s Penn State. However, it’s more complex than this.
The player is an elite talent, ranked 9th nationally overall. A native of Spring Valley, California, the 6’2″ and 180 lb. CB is a well-sought player in the market, and that’s why the statement might not be the conclusion of his commitment. As for his talent, well, it’s immense. The CB is one of the fastest runners in the country right now and has a personal best of 10.43 for the 100-meter dash. Moreover, he plays both as a corner and a receiver, which also bolsters his case and stock in the recruitment market.
Arrington drops big announcement on final commitment
As of now, Arrington has narrowed down his schools to 5, those being Oregon, Alabama, Texas A&M, USC, and Penn State. Moreover, before committing to any one of them, the player will visit all of these schools. Starting from College Station on June 6th, then Tuscaloosa on June 13th, Los Angeles on June 17th, and Eugene on June 20th. As for Penn State, the player visited the school on May 2 and has seen what he had to see there. But now comes the big revelation.
The player has announced that he will announce his final commitment on 6th July 2025 and challenged all five programs. “It is going to be a footrace to the end,” Arrington said. “All five are up there now. Who recruits me the hardest, who gets me on the field early, and who I believe can develop me the best will get me.”
So, for now, we can just wait and watch where the player will commit, as the upcoming visits in June can have a bigger bearing on his commitment. Although Penn State looks to be the possibility, if On3 probability rankings are to be believed, the Aggies have a whopping 83% chance to land the guy.
The post More Woes for Dan Lanning as No. 1 CB Brandon Arrington Nearly Confirms College Football Destination in Big Announcement appeared first on EssentiallySports.
