The Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning, after a devastating start to the 2026 college football season, have finally received some positive news this week regarding the future of the program.

During this past offseason, Lanning and his coaching staff did a remarkable job in the 2027 recruiting cycle, landing a consensus top-three class. Unfortunately for the struggling program, fans have yet to see their head coach’s recent success translate to the 2028 class, as Oregon has yet to tap into the upcoming cycle.

Luckily for the Ducks, help could soon be on the way.

According to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett on Monday evening, 2028 four-star offensive tackle Lincoln Fa’alafi is down to his final seven schools, with Oregon being featured in the mix.

Fa’alafi has quickly become one of the top offensive linemen in the 2028 recruiting class. As of this month, the talented prospect is the No. 5-ranked 2028 recruit in California and a top-10 offensive tackle in his class, per 247Sports’ Composite.

After spending his childhood in New Zealand, Fa’alafi switched from basketball to football upon arriving in the United States before starting high school. The change of sports proved to be a terrific decision, as he continues to be a dominant lineman at JSerra Catholic. At 6-foot-7.5, 350 lbs., Fa’alafi has the size to be an enforcer in both the run and pass game, despite lacking a deep background in football.

However, in order to truly secure Fa’alafi, Lanning and his coaching staff must compete against the likes of multiple top programs, including the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

This year has been busy for the California native when it comes to his college search. After receiving a multitude of offers earlier this year, Fa’alafi took unofficial visits to UCLA, Ohio State, and Oregon this season. Unfortunately for the Ducks, the four-star offensive lineman took his unofficial visit to the program during the team’s brutal 17-15 loss to UCLA on Oct 10.

Looking at Oregon’s 2028 class, it’s clear that Lanning must begin to ramp up his efforts on the recruiting trail. The program has yet to land a commit in the class, which means landing Fa’alafi could be a massive staple to the class if he decided to commit. Outside of Fa’alafi, the Ducks remain in the running for two 2028 four-star offensive tackles in Antijuan Wilkes and Joseph Frierdich.