Oregon Football 2026 Signing Day: Ducks land 4-Star RB Brandon Smith

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The Oregon Ducks did a bulk of their high school recruiting work in December, signing the No. 2 class in the nation with a record five 5-star players in the class of 2026. However, with the late signing day taking place on Wednesday, Oregon added a couple more players to the mix.

On Wednesday morning, 4-star defensive lineman Anthony Jones committed to the Ducks, and a few hours later, 4-star running back Brandon Smith officially signed with the Ducks, joining the 2026 class. Smith originally committed to Oregon back on January 19 of this year, giving Oregon some valuable, young depth in the running back room.

Smith was previously committed to the Arizona Wildcats, but after receiving an offer from Oregon on January 17, he decommitted, and chose the Ducks instead. Smith signed with the Wildcats back in December, but was granted a release from that signing before committing to the Ducks.

The 6-foot-0, 185-pound back will be a good addition to the roster, and provide some needed depth after the likes of Jay Harris, Jayden Limar, and Makhi Hughes departed in the portal this year.

Brandon Smith Recruiting Rankings

247Sports Rating: 4-star (90)

National Ranking: N/A

Position Ranking: No. 17

247Sports Composite Rating: 5-star (0.9109)

National Ranking: No. 262

Position Ranking: 19

Brandon Smith Position Outlook

With the two young phenoms of Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr., it's hard to imagine a true freshman like Brandon Smith coming in and taking a major share of the carries. However, we expect fellow true-freshman Tradarian Ball to have an impact this year, and Oregon has shown a propencity for playing young RBs in the recent past, so never say never.

Oregon Running Back Depth Chart

The Ducks are very strong and very young at this position, but the depth is certainly unproven. Behind Davison and Hill Jr., you have Da'Jaun Riggs returning, and then incoming freshman Tradarian Ball, who is expected to make an impact right away. The offseason saw departures from Jayden Limar, Makhi Hughes, and Jay Harris, so filling in the depth with Smith was smart.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Football Signing Day: Ducks land 4-Star RB Brandon Smith

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