Oregon Insider Delivers Major Boost on Dan Lanning’s WR Target as Ryan Williams Move Puts Big Powerhouses on Alert

High school conquered? Time to play with the big boys! That’s the Ryan Williams playbook, and it’s paying off. This Alabama star receiver’s reclassification from 2025 to 2024 wasn’t just a bold move; it was a statement. And now, his success is inspiring others, like a star wideout from Star DeSoto High School in Texas. This rising talent is suddenly on everyone’s radar, putting college powerhouses like Oregon in a full-court press. Can Dan Lanning close the deal with this one?

Josh Newberg reiterated the reclassification of 5-star WR Ethan ‘Boobie’ Feaster on his new episode on On3 Recruits on February 17. “I saw Ryan Williams do it,” the No. 3 WR said, after reclassifying from the class of 2027 to 2026. “He’s only 15 right now,” Newberg stated. “Next year at this time, he will have signed and likely be an early enrollee somewhere so we got about 10 months for this recruitment.” And with that move, CFB powerhouses are coming in strong, including Dan Lanning’s Oregon.

“Last month, Feaster talked with On3 about the programs highest in his recruiting and he said, ‘I can say Oregon for sure, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, and Tennessee.’ Those are the ones that are big now.” And now comes in a Ducks insider weighing in his thoughts on this recruitment. 

Scoop Ducks Justin Hopkins joined the episode to deliver more intel on Ethan Feaster’s inclination for the Ducks. And he kept it raw and honest. “I don’t know if I would be so bold to say front runner,” he admitted. “I would certainly say top two, no worse than top three, and that’s just being a worst case scenario. I do think Oregon has a really strong in here.” But he mentions Oregon’s assistant HC and RB coach Ra’Shaad Samples as the “real link in this chain.” 

A Texas native himself, Samples played high school football at Skyline HS in Texas and also coached the Longhorns as assistant WR coach in 2018. After coaching WRs and serving as a pass game coordinator for Arizona State in 2023, he packed his bag and arrived at Eugene in 2024. “He’ll very much better a part in the passing attack with Oregon as well even though he’s the running backs coach at Oregon,” Hopkins viewed. But while Feaster’s interest for Oregon is there, Dan Lanning is going to face stiff competition with one particular SEC giant. 

Can Dan Lanning pull Ethan Feaster from Texas?

Steve Sarkisian’s team is everywhere in recruitment. Considering their successful first run in the SEC and clinching a spot in the CFP semifinals, Texas has become an enticing program to land at. Ethan Feaster sees the benefits of becoming a Longhorns player.

Citing a strong “offense” as his interest point, he said, “They love to pass the b—. And I love the coaching at Texas. Sark made that program have a big jump for sure. He’s a great coach and makes a team just like that. He’s a great recruiter and a great coach.” But the Longhorns are far from the only competition that Oregon faces. 

Right now, there’s no official visit set for Oregon, but Ethan Feaster already has four OVs on the horizon. He’ll be visiting USC on June 6 before making a trip to LSU on June 20. Still unconfirmed, the Longhorns and Aggies are also expected to have official visits. Besides these schools, multiple programs are still taking their chances as offers from powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Tennessee, and more can’t be overlooked. As a sophomore, he racked up 824 yards and 13 scores on 57 catches in 14 games, displaying his talent. 

With Oregon facing stiff competition, can Dan Lanning and the Ducks emerge as the front-runners for Ethan Feaster? The next few months will be pivotal in this recruitment race, and anything can happen!