A few days after an exhilarating early signing day, Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks still have momentum on the recruiting trail. The Ducks 2025 class is ranked 4th overall by 247Sports, and on Saturday, Oregon secured a commitment from elite class of 2026 linebacker Tristan Phillips, according to Max Torres of On3Sports.
Phillips is the Ducks’ 10th commit in the class of 2026, which is already ranked as the No. 1 overall class in college football. From Ventura, California, Phillips ranks as a 4-star recruit and is 247Sports’ No. 13 LB in 2026.
At 6 foot 3 inches and 215 pounds, Phillips has a leaner frame than the average college linebacker, but he’s still a junior in high school, so he has time to add more weight if he wishes. Despite the lean frame, Phillips has a lot of strength, which combined with his speed, makes him an elite open-field tackler.
Before announcing his commitment, Phillips looked at plenty of schools across the West Coast, including Arizona State, Utah, and Washington.
Phillips’ commitment came just hours before Oregon’s matchup against Penn State in the Big Ten Championship. Linebackers Jeffrey Bassa, Bryce Boettcher, and Jestin Jacobs will all be key factors for the Ducks in the game, but all three will be out of eligibility after this season. Oregon grabbed a few linebackers in the class of 2025, but adding Phillips in the 2026 class is key to building long-term solidity on defense.