Elite WR Messiah Hampton is committing tomorrow, will he pick Oregon?

It’s been a while since Oregon has landed a big-time recruiting win on the trail. The Ducks picked up a commitment from 2026 EDGE Richard Wesley earlier this year, but he later backed off his pledge. However, it sounds like the dry spell could be coming to an end tomorrow, with one of Oregon’s top targets in the 2026 class set to come off the board.

Elite 2026 wide receiver Messiah Hampton is announcing his college decision tomorrow around 12 p.m. EST (9 a.m. PST). He’s narrowed his list to Penn State, Syracuse, Miami, and Oregon. But according to the latest intel I've gotten, this recruitment looks like it’s coming down to Syracuse and Oregon. As of this morning, things continue to trend in the Ducks' favor, and Oregon continues to look like the team to beat.

Oregon was a little late to the offer party for Hampton, but since hiring Ross Douglas, things have picked up in a big way. Hampton has visited Oregon twice so far and still has an official visit to Eugene on the table, though the date for that visit has remained uncertain. It's possible he knows he will be committing to Oregon so he's saving it for a later date, but that's just me spit balling. Despite that, the most recent word points toward Oregon being in a good spot heading into tomorrow’s decision.

Hampton is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound receiver from New York and one of the fastest-rising players in the 2026 class. His highest ranking comes from On3, where he’s listed as the No. 48 overall player nationally. He’s also ranked No. 65 by Rivals, No. 193 by ESPN, and No. 197 by 247Sports. His stock has been on a steady climb this spring and summer as more programs have jumped into the mix.

After receiving his offer from Oregon, Hampton spoke highly of the Ducks and Coach Douglas. He said, “Being Coach Douglas’ first offer definitely means a lot. It shows I’m definitely a priority to him, he wants to coach me. He sees that I could be an NFL player. For him to leave Syracuse and go to Oregon, and I be the first person he offers, shows a lot about how much belief he has in me to prosper as a player.” That bond could prove to be the difference-maker when Hampton goes public with his decision tomorrow.