Josh Conerly Has 3 Words For Five-Star Oregon Target After Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning is up for a massive weekend with a handful of blue-chip prospects on campus for an official visit in Eugene.
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While NIL undoubtedly has changed the recruiting landscape, the basics still matter. Programs need to win. They need to develop talent and get players sent to the NFL. Relationships matter.
Does money make those factors matter less? Sure, but those head coaches still have to follow the basics.
Lanning’s 2026 recruiting class, despite having a leg up in NIL, hasn’t been up to par with his classes in years past. Right now, according the 247Sports, the Ducks’ recruiting class ranks No. 29 in the nation.
There is plenty of time for Oregon to turn things around, especially if they can land the blue-chip recruits on campus, with one of those being five-star-plus offensive lineman Immanuel Iheanacho.
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Former Ducks star offensive lineman and recent NFL draftee Josh Conerly Jr. has quite a strong three-word message for Iheanacho.
“Come home brudda,” Conerly shared on his Instagram story, sharing a photo of Iheanacho and his top four programs from a recent announcement.
Lanning and the Ducks are competing with LSU, Penn State and Auburn to land the 6-foot-6, 350-pound lineman.
Conerly landed with the Washington Commanders in the recent NFL Draft, which bodes well for Lanning and Oregon to land Iheanacho.
Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr. (76) against the Liberty Flames during the 2024 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
As mentioned, having a track record of sending a specific position group to the NFL — and nurturing a relationship with said players — gives a program a leg up in recruiting.
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While the Ducks will have to beat out Big Ten rival Penn State and two SEC programs to land the five-star-plus talent, it’d be a major commitment for Oregon’s 2026 class.
Many five-star prospects are in Eugene alongside Iheanacho, which could help Oregon land multiple commitments from highly-touted players.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
