Keeping in-state talent close to the program has been a goal in the 2027 recruiting cycle for the Oregon Ducks. Dan Lanning has already landed commitments from Josiah Molden and George VanSandt, two of the top players in the state, and the Ducks have a chance to add even more this week.
Another in-state commitment that flew under the radar was three-star wide receiver Malachi Garlington, who flipped from Washington State to Oregon shortly after his official visit with the Ducks. The 6-foot-3 wideout from Happy Valley was only committed to the Cougars for four days before flipping to his childhood favorite team.
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Before the visit, Garlington had just one Power 4 offer from Oklahoma State. The Nelson High School product made a trip down to Eugene for a camp to prove he was worthy of an offer from his favorite team. Oregon wide receivers coach Ross Douglas was there to watch and issued a challenge to Garlington before the camp began.
“Going into camp, my mentality was really just go out there, show what I can do, and then coach Ross, the receivers coach, had texted me before the camp and was like, ‘The ball is in your court today,’” Garlington told The Athletic. “So I kind of knew all eyes were on me and I just had to go out there and do my thing.”
A day after the camp, Garlington committed to Washington State. Shortly after, he picked up the offer he had been waiting for from the Ducks and scheduled an official visit for that weekend.
Oregon has been Garlington’s dream school since he was a kid. Having grown up just outside of Portland, watching the Ducks with his family every Saturday, it was a no-brainer to change his commitment. By impressing Douglas enough to extend an offer, Garlington might be a diamond in the rough in Oregon’s recruiting class.
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“I would say I come underranked. Especially being an in-state kid, Oregon typically doesn’t offer a ton of in-state kids, so that means a little bit more,” Garlington said.
Although he is not a blue-chip recruit, Garlington racked up 910 yards and 20 touchdowns in his junior season. He’s the No. 4 player in Oregon, per the Rivals Industry Ranking, and dominates with his speed and ability to run after the catch. His physical build and combination of size and speed have drawn comparisons to former Oregon wideout Troy Franklin, who established himself as one of the best receivers in program history.
That might be a lofty bar for Garlington to reach, and he will have to earn his spot in a receivers room that only continues to stack talent.
“People see my film and take for granted that,” Garlington said. “‘Oh, the Oregon competition isn’t that good or whatever it is.’ But I believe I can play at any level against any competition, so I think that they were able to see that and actually just trust me.”
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: How Oregon landed in-state WR Malachi Garlington
