Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks may have gone to bed on Thursday night with sweet memories 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.
Oregon is preparing for the biggest game of its season to date — a Peach Bowl rematch against the Indiana Hoosiers in Atlanta for a spot in the College Football Playoff national championship game. Meanwhile, the unfiltered version of free agency kicked off at midnight ET on Jan. 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 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 the portal opened.
Now we 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: Should he enter the 2026 NFL draft. If he does, Oregon will need a portal passer. Here are some 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 if Moore leaves. With more than 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 great deal of young talent at the WR position, but with some big names already in the portal, there’s a chance Oregon adds 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, news emerged that UAB wide receiver Iverson Hooks plans to visit the Oregon Ducks this month, though nothing has been scheduled. The junior caught 72 passes for 927 yards and 7 TDs in 2025.
Auburn WR Cam Coleman
Cam Coleman will be another of the most coveted receivers this portal cycle. As a dynamic sophomore with over 1,300 yards and 13 TDs in two years with Auburn, Coleman is the No. 1 WR in the portal. There were some rumors earlier in the year that Oregon was connected to him, but those seem to have cooled in recent days. We will see if the chatter picks back up.
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 complement a room of filled with 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. It has several young and talented players, but with Bryce Boettcher leaving, there is a need for a veteran green-dot MLB. Look for Oregon to be aggressive here. Here are some names to keep an eye on.
Pitt LB Rasheem Biles
Few linebackers are more talented than Rasheem Biles in the portal this year. In three years at Pitt, the junior has 185 tackles, 31 1/2 tackles for loss and 10 sacks while hauling in three interceptions and forcing three fumbles. In his 2025 season, he had 101 tackles, 17 TFL, and 4 1/2 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 among the top LBs in the portal. Tosh Lupoi was unable to persuade 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 3 sacks this past season for the Golden Bears.
Penn State LB Amare Campbell
Amare Campbell is one of the latest names in the portal, and one of the biggest on the defensive side of the ball. After transferring to Happy Valley from North Carolina, Campbell had a career year: 103 tackles, 9 1/2 TFL and 3 sacks. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
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, such as Gernorris Wilson and Fox Crader. 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.
Michigan OT Andrew Sprague
Andrew Sprague would be a big get for the Ducks. The All-Big Ten selection has three years of eligibility remaining. Sprague stands 6 feet, 8 inches and 315 pounds. He started all 12 games for the Wolverines this season.
Safety
There is a major NFL decision looming for Dillon Thieneman. While the Ducks have substantial young talent at the position, they could 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 1/2 TFLs, 1 sack and 6 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 off to the portal, it’s fair to think 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 has generated a little buzz, and he fits the role of depth RB better than Durham. The UC Davis RB has stated on social media that he plans to take official visits to Oregon, LSU, California and Michigan State this month, so it’s clear 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 reat deal of movement at CB. Dakoda Fields, Jahlil Florence, Daylen Austin and Sione Laulea are transferring. This could lead to some additions in the portal, but the Ducks also are extremely positive about their young talent at this position. Brandon Finney, Ify Obidegwu, Na’eem Offord, Dorian Brew and Davon Benjamin will return next season. 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 inteceptions in three seasons at Utah. Snowden also has 17 PBUs in his career, and he 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, Roger Saleapaga and incoming five-star Kendre Harrison. Should a guy become available, though, the Ducks could add depth if they wanted to. Here are some names to keep an eye on.
Penn State TE Andrew Olesh
The Ducks almost certainly don’t need another TE. If they were to go after one, an option came available on Saturday: former Penn State TE Andrew Olesh. The Ducks recruited him heavily out of high school as a highly-rated four-star.
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 needing to hit the portal, but that seems unlikely at this point. Here are some names to keep an eye on.
Florida Edge Jayden Woods
It was reported on Sunday morning that Oregon is one of the handful of schools to show real interest in Jayden Woods early in the portal window. As a former highly ranked four-star recruit, Woods had 28 tackles, five tackles for loss and 3 1/2 sacks as a true freshman with the Gators. He also had one interception and one forced fumble.
Northwestern EDGE Anto Saka
Saka’s transfer portal announcement came as a bit of a surprise in the college football world, with many thinking that he would be off to the NFL as a likely mid-round pick. However, the redshirt junior will be staying in college for his final year of eligibility and should become one of the most targeted players in the portal. Saka has 12 sacks and 14 TFLs in his career.
Interior Defensive Line
We already know that Bear Alexander is returning, and if A’Mauri Washington sticks around for 2026, Oregon doesn’t need a portal IDL. However, it 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 remains to be seen.
To this point, no clear targets have emerged. Continue to check back, though, as this could change.
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