Dan Lanning targets Virginia’s top prospect as the Ducks battle Ohio State and USC for elite two-way star Malachi Lee to anchor their 2028 recruiting class.
The Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning have been nothing short of impressive throughout their recent journey on the high school recruitment trail.
Currently, the highly-regarded program is a consensus top-three school in the 2027 recruiting cycle, thanks to the likes of five-stars Dakota Guerrant and Rashad Streets. However, with the 2027 recruiting class slowly dying down, it's clear that Lanning and his coaching staff must shift their attention towards the 2028 class.
According to Rivals' Hayes Fawcett on Tuesday, 2028 four-star wide receiver Malachi Lee is down to 12 schools, with the Ducks in the mix.
Could Oregon Secure Lee?
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning attends Oregon Pro Day on March 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)Lee, a rising star in the 2028 recruiting class, has seen his stock substantially grow throughout his time at the high school level. The 6-foot-2, 185 lbs. offensive weapon is currently the No. 1 prospect in the state of Virginia, as well as the No. 8 wide receiver in the country, according to 247Sports' Composite.
During his sophomore season at Chantilly Westfield High School, Lee was a dominant two-way player. He finished his 2025-26 campaign with 978 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, while also totaling 1,413 all-purpose yards. In addition to his strong efforts on offense and special teams, Lee proved to be a ball-hawking cornerback, recording 68 tackles and seven interceptions. Now, the highly-touted athlete has begun his junior season at Loudoun Sports Academy after deciding to transfer to the school.
While Oregon made Lee's top 12 schools, Lanning and his coaching staff have yet to offer the talented weapon. To make matters more interesting, multiple top programs in his top 12 have already offered him this offseason, including the Ohio State Buckeyes, the USC Trojans, and the Miami Hurricanes. If the Ducks want to make a serious run at a consensus top-10 wideout in the 2028 class, Lanning must begin to make a push for Lee this year.
Looking ahead at Oregon's 2028 class, the program has yet to land a commit in the future recruiting class. However, the Ducks have already made significant progress on both 2028 five-star wide receivers Braylon Clark and Deandre Bidden this offseason. Both pass catchers are consensus top 10 prospects at their position, and with Lanning's recent success on the high school recruitment trail, fans should keep a close eye on the duo heading into next year's recruiting cycle.
