Ranking Oregon Ducks' 2026 transfer class based on expected production
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It’s been fascinating to watch Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks utilize the transfer portal over the past several years since he took over in Eugene, using it to build the roster and plug holes in ways he sees fit. Early on, Lanning relied heavily on the portal, bringing in guys like Bo Nix, Bucky Irving, Christian Gonzalez, and Tez Johnson to fill major holes on offense. But over the years, as Lanning’s multiple top-five recruiting classes have taken root, we’ve seen the Ducks rely less on the portal.
In 2023, Lanning’s first full year of the portal, the Ducks signed 15 players (non-specialists). Since then, Oregon has brought in 13 players (2024), 10 players (2025), and 10 players here in 2026.
For the most part, Oregon has used portal players less for depth — as they had early in Lanning’s tenure — and more as cherries on top of the roster. However, we’ve seen some real depth adds so far this year, along with a few players who could play major roles. So, how are these players going to be viewed going into this new season, and who should we expect to have major impacts in the new season?
Here’s our projection of which members of the incoming portal class will become household names next year.
No. 11 — QB Dylan Raiola (Nebraska Cornhuskers)
I believe that Dylan Raiola will become a household name in Eugene, but I don’t think it’s going to happen this year. With Dante Moore back for another season, Raiola is expected to come in and redshirt, rehabbing from his broken leg suffered in 2025, and bide his time until 2027, when he should take over as the starter. This is a great situation for Oregon, as the former 5-star has shown some real talent on the field, but needs to be polished a bit more.
Raiola is good, but I don’t think we will be hearing from him much this year in Eugene.
No. 10 — EDGE Bleu Dantzler (Oregon State Beavers)
The Ducks are pretty loaded at the EDGE position, with guys like Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti returning as starters, and others like Nasir Wyatt, Elijah Rushing, and Tank Jones either searching for bigger roles or coming into the program as highly-rated freshmen. Still, the Ducks went out and got Bleu Dantzler from Oregon State, who I assume will be a depth piece who can develop in Eugene. I would be relatively surprised to see him crack the rotation in his first year with Oregon, but he could have a nice career with the Ducks.
No. 9 — OT Michael Bennett (Yale Bulldogs)
It will be interesting to see what Oregon does at the OT position in 2026. With both Isaiah World and Alex Harkey gone, the Ducks went hard after Colorado Buffaloes transfer Jordan Seaton, but he ended up signing with the LSU Tigers. Now it appears that the Ducks will keep things in-house at the position, with guys like Fox Crader, Gernorris Wilson, Ziyarre Addison, and a handful of other young guys who could be ready to step into the starting role. Oregon went out and got Michael Bennett from Yale, an experienced OT who might be able to step into that spot, or he could be a depth piece, capable of moving to the inside and filling spots as needed. We won’t know until spring football comes around.
No. 8 — TE Markus Dixon (Clemson Tigers)
With Kenyon Sadiq off to the NFL, the Ducks need a blocking tight end to come in and step up to the challenge, much like Patrick Herbert did during his time in Eugene. Dixon feels like the guy for that, and while I don’t think he will be a player who gets 25-plus snaps per game, it feels like OC Drew Mehringer will be able to insert him into a handful of 13 or 14-personnel packages to utilize his size.
No. 7 — DL Jerome Simmons (Louisiana Monroe Warhawks)
With guys like A’Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander returning, Oregon saw some depth players on the IDL transfer out, understandably so. Because of this, the Ducks went out and got a couple of DL to replace them, Jerome Simmons being one of them. I think Simmons could end up being a rotational player, much like Jericho Johnson was, but I don’t think, at least early on, that he will have a major role on the DL.
No. 6 — TE Andrew Olesh (Penn State Nittany Lions)
The Ducks won’t be lacking talent at the TE position this year, by any means. With Jamari Johnson back, Oregon will also bring in 5-star freshman Kendre Harrison and former 5-star redshirt freshman Andrew Olesh. There is a high ceiling for Olesh, who did not record any stats in his first year with Penn State, but it will be fun to see how Oregon uses him in this offense alongside the other three players. I think we could very well see him become a version of what Johnson was last year, getting a lot of snaps in 12 personnel looks.
No. 5 — CB Aaron Scott Jr. (Ohio State Buckeyes)
The Ducks are young and deep in the secondary, but that didn’t stop them from taking a chance on a high-upside player who was looking for a new year. Former 5-star cornerback Aaron Scott now comes into a CB room that has a ton of talent, but not a ton of production. I could see a world where he establishes himself as one of the top guys alongside Brandon Finney and Ify Obidegwu this spring.
No. 4 — DL D’Antre Robinson (North Carolina Tar Heels)
Much like with Jerome Simmons, the Ducks brought in D’Antre Robinson from North Carolina to fill some depth holes on the defensive line. I think that Robinson has a bit higher upside than Simmons, though, and I could see him being a really productive defender, much like Tionne Gray or Terrance Green in 2025.
No. 3 — S Carl Williams IV (Baylor Bears)
The addition of Carl Williams IV flew under the radar in Eugene, but I think he could be a massive addition to this defense, filling the Jadon Canady role at the Nickel position. Williams was a productive player at Baylor before suffering an injury in 2025, but he’s got some real upside with the Ducks.
No. 2 — WR Iverson Hooks (UAB Blazers)
Iverson Hooks is one of the transfers that I am the most excited to see in Oregon’s offense this year, filling in as a slot receiver that can help this offense in ways that they were lacking a season ago. Hooks was a great player with UAB, and he can come in and be a dynamic slot receiver, picking up hard yards over the middle with a shiftiness that Oregon has been missing since Tez Johnson graduated. I think that Hooks will be one of the offensive stars of the 2026 season.
No. 1 — S Koi Perich (Minnesota Golden Gophers)
As a replacement for Dillon Thieneman, it’s hard to get much better than Koi Perich. He comes over from Minnesota, where he was not only a great coverage safety, one of the best in the nation, but also a dynamic special teams player, returning both kicks and punts. With Perich, the Ducks project to have one of the best safeties in the nation once again.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks’ 2026 transfer portal class ranked by expected production
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