Oregon lines up crucial visits for blue-chip targets in November

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The Oregon Ducks are loading the schedule with important visits for the 2028 class this fall, and the program locked in three more important visits for players high on their wishlist.

Four-star safety Jordan Hicks recently narrowed his list of schools to eight, which includes Oregon, and scheduled seven visits for the fall. Hicks' final visit will be in Eugene on Nov. 14 when the Ducks host Michigan. The last visit means the Ducks should get the last word before recruiting for the 2028 class heats up in the winter and spring, and Oregon already has reason to feel good about its placement in the race.

Hicks is the No. 16 safety in the class and No. 194 player overall, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. In the spring, Hicks told Rivals that Oregon was "setting the bar" in his recruitment. Not much has changed since then.

“I’ve been to Oregon multiple times and it’s one of the schools I have the strongest comfort level at,” Hicks told Rivals' Greg Biggins. “There’s a lot of Cali guys there that I already know and I’m really close with the coaching staff too. They have a winning program and coach Lanning is a great coach and I love what he’s building there.”

As a sophomore, Hicks tallied 62 tackles, five pass breakups, five interceptions and three forced fumbles. His speed and length make him an asset in the secondary around the ball.

Coming from Mission Viejo High School in California, Hicks is also being pursued by USC and UCLA, while SEC contenders Alabama and Oklahoma are also heavily involved. Still, Oregon is seen as the frontrunner, and a late visit for what should be a great atmosphere in Autzen Stadium is a great boost.

Alongside Hicks, the Ducks will also host four-star wideout Hayden Koo for a visit. Koo is a fast-rising prospect with offers from around the country after dominating at various camps over the summer. He is currently the No. 40 wide receiver in the 2028 class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, but his rating is only improving.

Koo has already cut his recruitment down to 12 programs, but the Southern California product is very focused on schools close to home, particularly USC and UCLA. The Trojans and Bruins, as well as the Ducks, are among Koo's nine scheduled visits for the fall.

Although he is closely linked to the Southern California programs, Koo told Rivals that Oregon and Stanford were his favorite programs growing up, and the Ducks are certainly involved in his recruitment. Wide receivers coach Ross Douglas and assistant Ryan Switzer have played a critical role so far.

“Oregon was my other dream school growing up," Koo told Rivals. "Ross Douglas is my lead recruiter and the one who offered. He told me he loves how I play and how well I would fit in there. I love the intensity at Oregon and it’s a great school and the football program is obviously one of the best.”

Plenty of schools are chasing Koo, including Ohio State, which he said was a dream offer, and Michigan, which he will visit and see in Eugene when the Ducks host the Wolverines.

Koo had a breakout season as a sophomore at Tustin High School, hauling in 53 passes for 796 yards and seven touchdowns. He will be a top target in his offense as a junior, and he will only continue to grow as a top target for elite programs around the country.

A couple of weeks after Hicks and Koo come to town, Oregon will host four-star wideout Dennis Tua'one for its Nov. 28 matchup against Washington on senior day. Tua'one is the No. 9 receiver in the class and No. 82 player overall, according to the Rivals Industry Rating. The Ducks are one of Tua'one's six visits scheduled in the fall, but they do have some stiff competition.

Miami and USC are in hot pursuit of the speedy wideout from Provo, Utah, but the Ducks are definitely in the race. Tua'one is also looking at Arizona State, as well as in-state programs BYU and Utah. His recruitment will only heat up during his junior season at Timpview High School, where he guided his team to a season-opening victory with eight catches for 180 yards, as well as two interceptions and a pick-six.

Tua'one told Rivals that Miami was his childhood favorite team, but Oregon isn't far behind. Steering him away from the Trojans could also prove difficult, but his experience with the Ducks so far has been very positive.

“Oregon is one of those schools everyone wants to go to when they’re young," Tua'one told Rivals. "I like the offense and how well I would fit in there. I like how they use the receivers too and had a really good time at their camp. I enjoyed working with coach Douglas and I know I would learn a lot from him. He was very detailed and coached me hard which I like.”

A trip to Eugene for a season-ending rivalry bout should be a great introduction to Autzen Stadium at the peak of its powers. Again, Oregon will have to battle hard for his commitment, but this could be a recruitment that plays out with all of the visits before a decision is made.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon lines up crucial visits for blue-chip targets in November

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