Dan Lanning, Oregon beat out SEC powerhouses for two top recruits on same day

Walden is a dynamic two-way athlete at the high school level who is ranked as the No. 4 athlete recruit in the country, according to 247Sports.

He can play wide receiver or defensive back, but coming off an official visit to Oregon in mid-June, it became clear that the Ducks like him at cornerback.

“The visit to Eugene was everything I expected and more,” Walden told Rivals. “I had a great time out there! What stands out to me about playing for Coach Lanning is definitely the way he runs his program and I can definitely see myself being a part of that defense for sure!”

Walden's father, Erik Walden, was a sixth-round draft pick in 2008 out of Middle Tennessee State and played 10 seasons in the NFL.

Elite 2027 CB Hayden Stepp commits to Oregon Ducks

The second big commitment of the afternoon for the Ducks came from cornerback Hayden Stepp, who committed to Oregon over the Alabama Crimson Tide and Cal Golden Bears.

“I’m very excited to be a Duck,” Stepp told Rivals. “I’m really comfortable at Oregon and I love the direction the program is going in."

From Las Vegas, Nevada, Stepp is ranked as the No. 6 cornerback in the country, according to 247Sports. A MaxPreps Junior All-American for Bishop Gorman High School in 2025, he was credited with 24 tackles and four passes broken up while checking in at nearly 6-foot-4, 185 pounds.

“My goal is to come in and make an early impact in college,” Stepp said. “The coaches told me I’ll have a chance to play a lot and push for a spot in the rotation and that’s definitely going to be my goal coming in.”

Lanning and the Ducks now have 23 2027 commitments for a class that is ranked No. 3 in the country. Only the Texas A&M Aggies and Notre Dame Fighting Irish are recruiting better right now, and Lanning is hot on their tail.