Oregon warned to not 'pop the champagne bottles yet' as 5-star recruit prepares announcement Thursday

His recent visit to Oregon, where he connected with head coach Dan Lanning and experienced the Ducks’ vibrant recruiting atmosphere, has fueled momentum for the program.

Reports indicate Oregon’s strong push, with the Ducks’ No. 9-ranked 2026 recruiting class poised to add another elite talent. However, an insider note from On3’s Steve Wiltfong, who logged a prediction favoring Texas A&M in October 2024, cautioned that the Aggies, led by coach Mike Elko, remain a formidable contender. 

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine still gives Texas A&M a slight edge, suggesting the race is far from over.

“It is the people at A&M,” Arrington previously told On3’s Chad Simmons. “They all want me and they recruit me hard. From the start, it never changed with A&M. They recruited me the same, they built relationships and how consistent they have been stands out.”

Justin Hopkins of Scoop Duck isn't confident enough to call the chase for Arrington quite yet, either.

After reading the update from Blair Angulo many are talking about I figured I’d offer what I’ve heard. It sounds like his commitment is nearly certain to happen sooner than later. And most think that is this week. We’ve seen these types of developments before so proceed with caution.

I’m not ready to call this one for Oregon personally. I think Texas A&M is a very real threat and I just wonder if Bama is trying to keep the heat off of them. I will say internally Oregon is not as confident at this moment on their chances as Angulo is.

Arrington, a track standout with a 10.21-second 100-meter dash, brings exceptional athleticism and versatility to the cornerback position. 

Arrington’s recruitment has been a whirlwind, with Alabama, Penn State, USC, and Washington previously in contention before he eliminated them from his list. 

His decision will be pivotal for either Oregon, looking to bolster its secondary, or Texas A&M, aiming to build a powerhouse 2026 class. Fans and analysts await Thursday’s announcement, with both programs making their final pitches to secure the game-changing defensive back.