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Oregon continued its dominant run on the recruiting trail Wednesday by securing commitments from five-star cornerback Hayden Stepp and four-star athlete Tae Walden Jr., adding two of the nation’s top defensive prospects to the Ducks’ already loaded 2027 class.
Stepp, the No. 16 overall prospect and No. 3 cornerback in ESPN’s SC Next 300 rankings, committed shortly after Walden, the No. 62 overall prospect and No. 2 athlete in the class, announced his decision to join Dan Lanning’s program. Their pledges give Oregon 10 ESPN SC Next 300 commitments and reinforce the Ducks’ No. 1-ranked 2027 recruiting class.
Hayden Stepp chose Oregon Over Several National Powers
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Stepp, who stars at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, selected Oregon after also taking official visits to Alabama and Cal. Georgia remained heavily involved during the spring before he narrowed his list of finalists.
Stepp has emerged as one of the nation’s premier defensive backs after helping Bishop Gorman capture a fifth consecutive state championship. He recorded 24 tackles and four pass breakups during his junior season and is projected to become a four-year starter for the powerhouse program.
A key factor in Stepp’s decision was Oregon’s coaching stability. After defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi departed to become Cal’s head coach, Lanning promoted secondary coach Chris Hampton to defensive coordinator, a move that resonated with the elite cornerback.
“I was kind of sad when I heard Coach Lupoi was leaving,” Stepp recently told ESPN. “But when they said Coach Hampton was the new defensive coordinator, it was like, ‘OK, I know Coach Hampton.’ Having a guy that played DB calling the defense is a good thing for me.”
Walden Adds Versatility to Ducks’ Defensive Haul
Walden committed to Oregon over Auburn, LSU, Georgia and Ole Miss following his official visit to Eugene in June.
The standout from Collierville High School in Tennessee is a two-way playmaker who could develop at either wide receiver or cornerback, though his athleticism makes him one of the most versatile recruits in the 2027 class. During his junior season, he excelled on both sides of the ball, showcasing the speed and length that attracted offers from many of the nation’s top programs.
Walden also brings NFL pedigree to Eugene. His father, Erik Walden, played 10 NFL seasons after earning All-Sun Belt honors at Middle Tennessee State.
The commitments further strengthen a defensive class that already features top-100 prospects Rashad Streets, Toa Satele and Semaj Stanford. Oregon also landed four-star cornerback Josiah Molden earlier this week, continuing Lanning’s emphasis on building one of the nation’s deepest defensive recruiting classes.
