Flock Talk: The Boys are back in Town

 

Before the season began, plenty of people wondered if Indiana’s 2024 run was more fluke than foundation — the product of a soft schedule and veteran leadership rather than a true breakthrough. Some even predicted a crash back to earth in 2025. And maybe that still happens.

The Hoosiers opened the season with Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State — not exactly a gauntlet that silenced the skeptics. But then came a statement blowout win over Illinois followed by a gritty, hard-fought road victory at Iowa. Suddenly, the narrative shifted. Indiana started to generate the same kind of national buzz that carried them through last season.

Those back-to-back wins vaulted the Hoosiers into the top 10, and some pundits even began picking them to upset Oregon on Saturday. Much of that optimism centers around quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who appears to be thriving in this system. He’s making smarter decisions and limiting mistakes — boasting a 16-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio after throwing 16 touchdowns and six picks last year at Cal.

Oregon, meanwhile, has quietly built one of the nation’s most disciplined and effective pass defenses, performing at an elite level through the first five games. Still, with College GameDay in town, the atmosphere around this matchup has taken on a different energy — equal parts excitement, intrigue, and opportunity.

That’s especially true on the recruiting front. Among the 2026 visitors expected in Eugene, two remain uncommitted — and that’s significant. They’ll be surrounded by a strong group of Oregon pledges who’ll undoubtedly be working to add another couple of pieces to what’s already shaping up to be an elite class.

Milan Parris: I know that there is still talk of Chris Henry, Jr. and Kaden Dixon-Wyatt being targets for the Ducks to flip, but there is also the reality that both of the Mater Dei receivers have said publicly that they have shut down their recruitment. A flip for either still seems like a longshot. Enter former Iowa State commit Parris.

Parris is an imposing outside receiver with all the physical tools to become a touchdown machine on Saturdays — and potentially Sundays — this prospect brings a rare blend of size, speed, and power to the perimeter. Standing over 6-foot-5 and weighing close to 200 pounds, he’s clocked a verified 4.54-second 40-yard dash, giving him one of the best size-speed profiles in the entire class.

He establishes leverage quickly with both acceleration and physicality, capable of going through or around defenders when working vertically or across the field. His massive catch radius stems not only from his length but also from his ability to elevate and adjust midair, routinely turning contested throws into easy rebounds. Just as impressive, he takes pride in blocking — treating it as a responsibility, not a chore — and often drives defenders into the turf to spring teammates in the run game.

While he caught just 28 passes as a junior, he made the most of them, averaging 21.3 yards per reception and scoring nine touchdowns for a 13-1 Walsh Jesuit squad. Early in his senior season, he’s already shown significant growth against future Power Four defensive backs, flashing the ability to take over games.

Still developing as a technician, he’ll need to refine his route tree and polish his timing, but the foundation is elite. With a short developmental window, he projects as a prototypical X receiver who can command targets and reshape an offense.

This is the kind of receiver that the Ducks don’t really have a lot of and would be a great addition to the class.

Braylon Hodge is the other 2026 player visiting that is not an Oregon commit. The 6-3, 212 pound linebacker ahs been committed to Michigan State since June 1, but Hodge has seen his recruiting stock soar since that time with offers from Michigan, Texas, Missouri, Colorado, and Oregon coming over the last few months.

It’s not much of a secret that the Ducks took aim at some elite linebackers in this class and did not land those targets – and they still want to add at least one more linebacker to this class which led to the offer last month and the visit this weekend. Though Texas will make a push, I think that the Ducks are in a really good spot right now. I know he will be taking an official to Missouri and Texas in November, but for now the Ducks have put themselves in a great spot. Michigan is also lurking, he took an official visit there last weekend, but I think Oregon is pushing all the right buttons for Hodge.

OREGON COMMITS VISITING

Jett Washington

Davon Benjamin

Tony Cumberland

Devin Jackson

Prince Tavizon

Dutch Horisk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

2027 VISITORS:

Josiah Molden is a must get for the Ducks. Not only does he fit the mold of defensive backs for this staff, he is a legacy and I know that Dan Lanning and the staff have made him a priority for a long time.

Donte Wright is another elite corner that the Ducks would love to add. He has been committed to Georgia since late June and does love their defensive back pedigree, but the Ducks are working to get him to flip and this visit is big for Oregon.

Wright – whose father played for Georgia DB Coach Donte Williams at LA City College – has never been to Autzen for a GameDay experience, so this will be a pretty big visit for him. Though he is committed to Georgia, I think Oregon has a good shot to eventually land Wright.

Oregon has recruited the state of Arizona very well. 2027 RB Noah Roberts – from Basha High School – could be the next big get for Oregon.

He’s the kind of back who checks every box — speed, power, and balance through contact. He’s got that quick first step and enough top-end speed to pull away once he finds daylight. What really stands out is how decisive he is — he hits the hole with urgency and purpose, yet has the short-area wiggle to make a defender miss, whether it’s in tight space or out in the open field.

He runs behind his pads, embraces contact, and almost always finishes his runs leaning forward. He’s also a real weapon in the passing game, with natural hands and the ability to turn short catches into big gains. The track numbers back it up too — he posted a 10.81 in his first 100-meter race this year, and that burst absolutely shows up on tape.

Right now, he looks like the top prospect in Arizona for the 2027 class — and maybe the best back the state’s produced since Bijan Robinson.

I am not sure how hard Oregon is really pushing for Gecova Doyal the interior offensive lineman from Puyallup (WA), but I think that no matter what he ends up staying in the Northwest with either Washington or Oregon being the top most likely. There is a long way to singing day for 2027, so let’s see how this one plays out. I get the feeling that if the ucks continue to put out elite offensive line units, that there will be some other big time offensive linemen considering the Ducks in 2027.

The Ducks seem to have a theme for the wide receivers visiting this weekend as 2027 three-star Charles Davis from Westlake (CA) High School is another 6-5, 200 pound receiver that will be in town this weekend. Despite being listed as a wide receiver, the Ducks are looking at him as a tight end and I think see him growing into a flex position similar to Keyon Sadiq.