A New Edge Rusher Target Has Emerged For Oregon

Oregon already holds a commitment from 3-star edge rusher Dutch Horisk, who was in Eugene over the weekend, but the Ducks are far from finished with their EDGE class in 2026. Early on, Oregon was in great shape to land 5-star pass rusher Zion Elee, who made multiple visits to Eugene and seemed like a strong lean. However, Elee surprised the recruiting world by committing to Maryland and has since shut his recruitment down. Now, the Ducks have shifted their focus to other targets, and one of the top-ranked edge rushers in the country is now expected to visit Eugene.

Elite 4-star EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes is expected to take an official visit to Oregon on June 13–15, according to Rivals’ Adam Friedman. Griffin-Haynes had originally planned to visit Florida that weekend, but Oregon is now expected to take that spot. He is listed at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, and is from Rolesville High School, in Rolesville, North Carolina. He has never visited Oregon before, so unless he makes an unofficial visit during the spring, this will be his first chance to see Eugene in person.

The Ducks have already found success in North Carolina this cycle, landing 5-star tight end Kendre Harrison. They’re also in contact with twin defensive lineman Aiden and Andrew Harris, though Oregon isn’t seen as a serious contender for the duo just yet. Still, the program's recruiting efforts in North Carolina continues to expand, and Griffin-Haynes is the latest big-name prospect from the state to emerge on their board.

While Griffin-Haynes is showing interest in Oregon, the Ducks are currently playing catch-up. He’s also planning official visits to NC State, Notre Dame, Georgia, and Florida State—programs that have built stronger relationships early on. If Oregon can get him on campus this spring, they could quickly climb his list. Outside of Griffin-Haynes, the Ducks are actively recruiting several other EDGE prospects, including Talanoa Ili, Derek Colman-Brusa, Anthony “Tank” Jones, Calvin Thomas, and Richard Wesley.

Griffin-Haynes is ranked as the No. 97 overall player nationally by Rivals and is considered one of the top EDGE rushers in the 2026 class by them. ESPN ranks him at No. 200 overall, while 247Sports lists him as a 4-star. On3, however, has him rated as a high 3-star. If Oregon can gain ground and eventually land Griffin-Haynes, it would be a big pickup from a state that’s already been kind to the Ducks this cycle.