Oregon flips top-100 IOL Douglas Utu away from Tennessee

Las Vegas Bishop Gorman four-star interior offensive lineman Douglas Utu has flipped his commitment from Tennessee to Oregon.

Utu previously committed to the Volunteers on June 24 — not long after taking official visits to Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, Alabama and Tennessee. The Ducks never gave up on him despite his pledge to the Vols, and it ultimately paid off.

“From day one, Coach Lanning, Coach Terry, and the entire staff made me feel like a priority,” he told On3. “They were upfront, genuine, and showed real belief in my abilities. Their energy, transparency, and vision for how I fit into the program were clear, and they made me feel like I would truly be part of the Oregon family.”

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Utu is the nation’s No. 57 overall prospect, No. 4 interior offensive lineman and No. 2 recruit from Nevada in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He joins an Oregon class that already has a commitment from Bishop Gorman teammate and fellow offensive lineman, Alai Kalaniuvalu. Kalaniuvalu pledged to the Ducks on July 10 and is the No. 234 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking.

The duo plays for one of the country’s winningest high school programs, and Utu likes that he will be joining a program with similar success and aspirations at Oregon.

“Coach Lanning is building an elite program at Oregon,” he said. “He’s creating a culture of toughness, discipline, and accountability, and you can feel that everyone is bought in. It’s exciting to be joining a program on the rise, and l know I’m stepping into a winning environment where excellence is expected every day.”