Identifying potential transfer portal targets for Oregon Ducks

6 days ago 2

Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks may have gone to bed on Thursday night with sweet dreams of a dominant Orange Bowl victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but they woke up on Friday with the chaos of the transfer portal in full swing.

While Oregon prepares for what is set to be the biggest game of their season — a Peach Bowl rematch against the Indiana Hoosiers in Atlanta next week for a spot in the College Football Playoff national championship — the unfiltered version of free agency kicked off at midnight ET on January 2, and well over 1,000 players flooded into the portal, looking for new places to play.

So try as he may to focus on the here and now, Lanning and his staff must think about 2026 and identify potential additions that they can make for their future championship aspirations. Though there are still many NFL draft declarations and decisions to be made, various transfers to be had, and a bunch of shuffling left to happen before we can get a good look at what Oregon's roster might actually look like next season, it's not too hard to forecast what the Ducks might need, or where they might be buyers in the portal.

If you're interested, we ranked the potential needs on the morning that the portal opened.

Read: Ranking the Oregon Ducks' top transfer portal needs in 2026

Now we will look at some names that could pop up as Oregon targets over the next couple of weeks, listed by relative need at the position. Beware: this list will be updated regularly as more players become available, so be sure to bookmark it and check back frequently.

Quarterback

The Oregon Ducks don't officially have a need at the quarterback position, yet. However, there is a major decision looming for Dante Moore on whether or not he will enter the 2026 NFL draft. If he does declare, Oregon will need a portal passer. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt

The top-ranked player in the portal this year, Oregon has been linked to Leavitt — a Portland native — in the portal, again, if Dante Moore decides to leave. With over 4,500 yards and 44 total touchdowns in his two years with Arizona State, Leavitt is going to be among the most coveted players in the portal this year.

Wide Receiver

The Ducks have a lot of young talent at the WR position, but with some big names already in the portal, there's a chance that Oregon opts to add a veteran pass-catcher if the right one becomes available. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

UAB WR Iverson Hooks

Not long after the portal opened officially on Thursday, it came out that UAB wide receiver Iverson Hooks had plans to visit the Oregon Ducks later this month, though nothing had been scheduled yet. The junior caught 72 passes for 927 yards and 7 TDs in 2025.

Auburn WR Cam Coleman

Cam Coleman is another player who will be one of the most coveted in the nation this portal cycle. As a dynamic sophomore with over 1,300 yards and 13 TDs in two years with Auburn, Coleman is currently the No. 1 WR in the portal. There were some rumors earlier in the year that Oregon was connected to him, but that seems to have cooled in recent days. We will see if it picks back up before all is said and done.

Rutgers WR Ian Strong

Ian Strong is a veteran player who would fit what the Ducks need at the WR position. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Strong offers a big target who would be able to complement a room of speed in Eugene. In three years with Rutgers, Strong hauled in 111 passes for 1,668 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Linebacker

Linebacker is undoubtedly the biggest need for Oregon in the portal this year. They have several young and talented players, but with Bryce Boettcher leaving, a need for a veteran green-dot MLB is present. Look for Oregon to be aggressive here. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

Pitt LB Rasheem Biles

There are few linebackers more talented than Rasheem Biles in the portal this year. In three years at Pitt, the junior has racked up 185 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks, while also hauling in three interceptions and forcing three fumbles. That was highlighted by a 2025 season with 101 tackles, 17 TFL, and 4.5 sacks. Landing Biles would be a major victory for Oregon.

California LB Cade Uluave

One of the newest additions to the transfer portal market is Cade Uluave, who is now among the top LBs in the portal. Tosh Lupoi was unable to convince him to stay in Berkeley, it seems, and this could open the door to Dan Lanning swooping in and adding a high-upside tackler. Uluave had 100 tackles, 12 TFLs, and three sacks this past year for the Golden Bears.

Offensive Tackle

With both Isaiah World and Alex Harkey leaving after this year, the Ducks will need a pair of new starters at the position in 2026. They very well could have guys fill those roles by moving up the depth chart, with guys like Gernorris Wilson and Fox Crader stepping up, but it isn't hard to see a world where they get an elite OT in the portal, as well. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

LSU OT Tyree Adams

Tyree Adams is one of the top names at the OT position to hit the portal this cycle, standing at 6-foot-7, 310 pounds. He stated earlier this week that Oregon is among the teams that have reached out to him, and the Ducks are a team that "stands out" to him.

Michigan OT Andrew Sprague

Andrew Sprague would be a big get for the Ducks, as an All-Big Ten selection with three years of eligibility remaining. Sprague stands at 6-foot-8, 315 pounds, and started all 12 games for the Wolverines this season.

Safety

There is a major NFL decision looming for Dillon Thieneman, and while the Ducks have a ton of young talent at the position, they could also potentially be in the market for a high-end safety, should Thieneman head to the league. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

Minnesota S Koi Perich

Last year, the Ducks went into the transfer portal and landed Dillon Theineman, undoubtedly the top available safety in the portal. Now, should Theineman leave, they could go out and get Koi Perich, undoubtedly the best safety in the portal this time around. The sophomore has 128 total tackles, 5.5 TFLs, one sack, and six interceptions in his two years at Minnesota.

Boise State S Ty Benefield

The Boise State transfer is another who is among the top safeties in the portal, and the northwest ties could help Oregon here. Benefield had a whopping 107 tackles for the Broncos in 2025, with 8.5 TFLs and two interceptions as a junior. Benefield has one year of eligibility remaining, and he could be a great addition for Oregon if they need a veteran safety addition.

Running Back

With Noah Whittington off to the NFL, and both Jay Harris and Makhi Hughes into the portal, it's fair to think that the Ducks need at least one RB in the portal to join the core of Jordon Davison, Dierre Hill, Da'Jaun Riggs, Jayden Limar, and Tradarian Ball. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

LSU RB Caden Durham

Caden Durham has been linked to the Oregon Ducks in the past, so seeing him jump in the portal caught my eye this week. However, with Oregon returning both Davison and Hill, it may be too crowded of a backfield for Durham, who has 1,609 total yards and 11 touchdowns over the past two years.

UC Davis RB Carter Vargas

Vargas is a name that has generated a little bit of buzz, and he fits the role of depth RB more than Durham does. The UC Davis RB has stated on social media that he will be taking official visits to Oregon, LSU, California, and Michigan State this month, so it's clear that the Ducks are at least somewhat interested. In 2025, Vargas rushed for 445 yards and five touchdowns with the Aggies.

Cornerback

The Ducks have seen a lot of movement at the CB spot this offseason, with the portal taking guys like Dakoda Fields, Jahlil Florence, Daylen Austin, and Sione Laulea all transferring. This could lead to some additions in the portal, but the Ducks also feel outstanding about their young talent at this position, with guys like Brandon Finney, Ify Obidegwu, Na'eem Offord, Dorian Brew, and Davon Benjamin on the roster next year. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

Utah CB Smith Snowden

According to a report from 247Sports' Blair Anguilo, the Ducks are one of the teams who have shown significant interest in Snowden, who had 92 tackles and 4 INTs in three seasons at Utah. Snowden also has 17 PBUs in his career, and would fit perfectly as a veteran defender in Oregon's secondary, potentially replacing Jadon Canady at the nickel.

Tight End

While Kenyon Sadiq is expected to head to the NFL, Oregon is in great shape at this position, with Jamari Johnson and Roger Saleapaga, plus incoming 5-star Kendre Harrison. Should a guy become available, though, the Ducks could add a bit of depth here if they want to. Here are some names to keep an eye on.

Penn State TE Andrew Olesh

The Ducks almost certainly don't need another TE, but were they to go after one, an option came available on Saturday. Former Penn State TE Andrew Olesh entered the portal, a freshman who the Ducks recruited heavily out of high school as a highly-rated 4-star.

Interior Defensive Line

We already know that Bear Alexander is returning, and if A'Mauri Washington sticks around for 2026, then Oregon absolutely doesn't need a portal IDL. However, they could potentially be a player at this position if Washington leaves.

Up to this point, no clear targets have emerged on the interior defensive line for Oregon. Continue to check back, though, as this could change.

Interior Offensive Line

With Iapani Laloulu returning for 2026, the Ducks are in great shape on the inside of the line, but they will have to replace Emmanuel Pregnon. Whether they do that by relying on the young guys on the depth chart or in the portal is yet to be seen.

Up to this point, no clear targets have emerged on the interior offensive line for Oregon. Continue to check back, though, as this could change.

EDGE Rusher

There is a chance that both Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti return to Eugene for 2026, which would give the Ducks one of the best groups of edge rushers in the nation. However, one or both could also go to the league. The latter case would leave Oregon in a place where they need to hit the portal, but that seems unlikely at this point.

Up to this point, no clear targets have emerged on the defensive line for Oregon. Continue to check back, though, as this could change.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Identifying potential Oregon Ducks transfer portal targets in 2026

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