Overview
- Tae Walden Jr. and Hayden Stepp announced commitments to Oregon within roughly 20 minutes during Rivals’ Summer Signing Day on Wednesday, July 1.
- Tae Walden Jr. is a four‑star, nationally ranked multi‑position athlete who chose Oregon over Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss and is listed among the top athletes in the 2027 class by 247Sports and USA TODAY.
- Hayden Stepp is a blue‑chip defensive back from Bishop Gorman who picked Oregon over Alabama and Cal, holds top‑100 evaluations from major services and has been rated a five‑star by ESPN.
- The two additions vaulted Oregon’s 2027 class in the Rivals industry team rankings into the top five, raising the Ducks’ national standing with a class now at 23 commits and a large share of blue‑chip prospects.
- Oregon credited strong official visits and staff/player relationships for the decisions, and the program now carries clear momentum as it chases further high‑end targets during the summer recruiting window.