Recruiting Rankings Shift: Kendre Harrison of Oregon Ducks Takes Top Spot as Nation's Premier Tight End

EUGENE – On Monday, the world of college football recruitment experienced another change with Rivals updating their 2026 recruiting rankings.

The update introduced several notable alterations, highlighting the considerable promise of the 2026 recruiting cycle. Regarding the Oregon Ducks, the revised rankings presented a blend of new developments. validation And a testament to the cutthroat aspect of recruitment.

One of the key developments for the Ducks was the emergence of the Oregon tight end recruit. Kendre Harrison , who rose a spot and is now the No. 21 overall prospect in the cycle and the No. 1 tight end in the class of 2026.

It's clear that the past few months have been challenging for the Ducks regarding recruitment. Oregon has not succeeded in securing several of its targets. biggest targets , including five-star quarterback Jared Curtis , highly-rated cornerbacks like four-star Elbert Hill, and four-star edge rusher Derek Colman-Brusa, along with additional talented players.

The Ducks, who through the last few years have established themselves as a recruiting powerhouse, are now not even in the top 20 of 247Sports' 2026 recruiting rankings. The Ducks rank No. 21 in the nation per 247Sports and No. 6 in the Big Ten Conference.

Despite Oregon’s recent and uncharacteristic struggles on the recruiting trail, Rivals' revised rankings highlighted a few positive developments.

Based on information from Rivals, last month’s NFL Draft played a significant part in forming the most recent tight end rankings following Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren were both selected in the first round. Their size, athleticism, and ability to create mismatches made them ideal NFL prospects.

Harrison is already drawing comparisons to those NFL rookies despite not even graduating high school.

Harrison is already taller and longer than Loveland and Warren. Also, from a pure measurables standpoint, he already exceeds the size of NFL stars like Travis Kelce and George Kittle. He’s run a 40-yard dash within the elite range for tight ends and possesses the size, making him a true outlier physically.

But as Rivals notes, the next step in his development will be boosting his explosiveness to match the burst and agility of today’s top-tier pros.

Along with Harrison, a few other Oregon commits also appeared in the updated rankings . Four-star offensive lineman Tradarian Ball dropped one spot to No. 53, and defensive tackle Tony Cumberland slid five spots to No. 140 overall. While those small dips don’t take away from their potential, they highlight the importance of continued development and exposure throughout the rest of the cycle.

Meanwhile, several top Oregon targets stay highly ranked. The top overall prospect in the cycle, offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell , keeps his position at the summit.

The lineman is a key focus for Dan Lanning and his team, but to ensure Cantwell commits, the Ducks must once more triumph over Kirby Smart and their opponents. Georgia Bulldogs.

Another top recruit for Oregon, who becomes an even higher priority for the Ducks following the loss of Curtis at quarterback. Ryder Lyons , remains No. 3 overall.

Offensive lineman Immanuel Iheanacho moved up to No. 4. As reported by Rivals, this class of 2026 offensive linemen is already considered top-tier and continues to improve, with several players close to securing high rankings. five-star status.

On Tuesday, Iheanacho shared a video on social media featuring himself with Oregon’s coaching staff. The coaches recently visited the lineman to strengthen their recruitment efforts and secure his commitment.

The Duck team is definitely putting in a strong effort. aggressive push To regain momentum in the 2026 recruiting cycle, Oregon has opportunities left to lock down crucial pledges. Among Rivals' top-20 prospects for the Class of 2026, 12 have yet to commit, with five-star defensive end Richard Wesley being one of them.

The article was initially posted on www.si.com/college/oregon as Updated Recruiting Rankings: Kendre Harrison from the Oregon Ducks Takes Top Spot as No. 1 Tight End .