REPORT: Oregon is battling Georgia for one of the top west coast prospects

Georgia and Oregon have had more than their fair share of recruiting battles since Dan Lanning took over for Oregon. Some of the more notable ones include when Oregon flipped Jordan James from the Dawgs and when Oregon landed Aydin Breland over them too. Georgia has won a few as well, most notably when Justin Williams chose Georgia after being considered an Oregon lean for a long time. And in 2026, it's no different. Oregon is battling the Bulldogs for 5-star QB Jared Curris, 5-star TE Mark Bowman, and more. But now, a new prospect has emerged that Oregon is battling Georgia for.

4-star 2026 linebacker Kenneth Goodwin is one of the best West Coast players, and according to Rivals' Adam Gorney, "This very much feels like a two-team race between Georgia and Oregon." Goodwin visited Oregon for the Ohio State game in November and then made it back out for Junior Day in January. He's very familiar with Oregon, and the Ducks have been quietly pushing pretty hard for him.

Goodwin is a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder from Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California. He has over 23 offers, and although Georgia and Oregon seem to be his top two, SMU, Notre Dame, and Michigan are other schools he's still considering. While Gorney predicted that Goodwin will eventually sign with Georgia, he didn’t sound very confident in his choice. There are still more visits to be taken, and we'll see if Oregon can pull this off.

Goodwin is ranked as a top-10 recruit in California according to ESPN, where he checks in at No. 65 nationally. He also ranks No. 134 nationally by Rivals and is a high 3-star recruit on On3 and 247Sports. His rating might not be too high on On3 and 247, but if Oregon and Georgia are recruiting him, he's definitely a really good player.

According to his 247Sports scouting report, "First saw at the National Preps Camp last year (2/4/23) where he earned LB MVP honors. Measured in at 6-1, 205 pounds with a 75” wingspan and his 4.68-40 was among the best of all the linebackers. Size-wise, he’s sort of a hybrid safety/linebacker but has a ton of positional versatility and makes plays all over the field. He’s an inside/outside guy, physical in run support, can deliver a blow and is quick around the edge as a pass rusher. He’s comfortable in space, natural cover guy and can run down plays from behind. Smart player as well, understands the game, reads and reacts quickly and is always around the football. Easy national recruit with the talent to play at the high Power 4 level."