Dan Lanning addresses people attributing Oregon's recruiting success to Phil Knight, NIL

Oregon’s Phil Knight is the most well-known booster in college sports and by a substantial margin. He spent much of his life building Nike, and in the process, became one of the wealthiest people on the planet, accumulating several billions of dollars. Luckily for Oregon, Phil Knight has decided to kick the NIL funds into high gear. And it’s provided a major boost to Dan Lanning and the Ducks’ football coaching staff.

The Ducks’ currently have the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class for the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Team Rankings. But many people are quick to assume Oregon is stockpiling talent simply because of their endless supply of cash from Knight. That doesn’t bother Ducks head coach Dan Lanning, even if he and his staff might not be getting as much credit as they might deserve.

“I really don’t care what people think,” Lanning explained to On3’s Andy Staples. “I just want to win. I know the reality of what our situation is here. There’s not any Top 10 program in the nation that’s not funded, in a good position to compete. Or they wouldn’t be a Top 10 program. That being said, there’s a lot of other factors that add up to that success.”

“Again, I’m not really concerned about other people’s opinions because I know the truth,” Lanning explained.

Dan Lanning continues to stockpile elite talent in Eugene

While there’s certainly no doubting Lanning and his staff’s recruiting prowess, in the NIL era, having a billionaire booster certainly doesn’t hurt. Let’s take a look at a few of the elite prospects they’ve already reeled in for this cycle.

The Ducks have already done some serious damage in the 2025 recruiting cycle, hauling in the likes of Duncanville’s (Duncanville, Texas) Dakorien Moore, tabbed as the No. 4 overall prospect in the nation and the No. 1 wide receiver in America for his class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He also earned a lofty five-star+ ranking from the On3 recruiting team. Moore played a critical role in guiding Duncanville to the 6A Division I state championship game in 2022, no easy feat in the state of Texas.

Lanning and company have also reeled in another electrifying wide receiver in the 2025 cycle, Dallas Wilson, a five-star talent out of Tampa Bay Tech (Tampa Bay, Florida). Wilson jumps off the tape and is a threat to take the rock the distance nearly every time he gets his hands on the football. In 2023, he hauled in 49 catches for 872 yards and nine touchdowns. The 6-2, 193 pounder is currently rated as the No. 27 overall prospect in the country and the No. 5 wide receiver in America, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Lanning and the staff are also firmly in the mix for other Top 20 prospects in the 2025 cycle, including two five-star safeties in Jonah Williams (Galveston, Texas) and Trey McNutt (Shaker Heights, Ohio).

There’s no question about it, with the Ducks’ combination of coaching, NIL funds, and elite talent, they should continue to be a force for years to come on the gridiron. Oregon figures to be a top contender for the national crown this season and many people like ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, have touted the Ducks as a top pick to win the national championship this year.