Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks receive commitment of four-star LB to the Class of 2026

Four-star linebacker Tristan Phillips committed to the Oregon Ducks' 2026 class on Saturday night. The standout from Ventura High School in California chose Dan Lanning's program over his other top six schools which included Arizona State, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

Phillips' pledge came just a few hours before No. 1 Oregon's Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium, defeating Penn State 45-37.

“Growing up, Oregon was a big school for me that I looked up to and watched a lot,” Phillips told On3. “I was rooting for Oregon as a kid, then as time went on and I got into high school football, the dream became reality.”

However, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker's commitment wasn’t based on fandom alone. He evaluated Oregon's program carefully, impressed by the school's recruiting process and the opportunities it presented.

Phillips' visits to Eugene for Oregon's 32-31 win over Ohio State on Oct. 12 and 49-21 win over Washington on Nov. 30 gave the Ducks an edge in his recruitment, especially with how the school's defense played in both those games.

“It is a brotherhood at Oregon,” Phillips said. “The vibe is different. The team is playing for each other. That helped pull me in. They work, they grind, they play hard and that is why I am going there. Oregon is different from other places.”

Meanwhile, Lanning's success in leading Oregon to an undefeated season and the Big Ten Championship deserves a loud cheer. The coach is even drawing interest from some NFL franchises, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Phillips didn’t forget to mention Lanning's part in making Oregon his top priority.

"Coach Lanning is a great coach and person. I love his energy and he plays a role in the atmosphere around the program. His personality gets great players and coaches together in one place."

Tristan Phillips is the No. 24 linebacker in the nation, the No. 33 recruit in California and the No. 306 overall player in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Oregon Ducks 2026 class update following Tristan Phillips' commitment

Those credited with recruiting Tristan Phillips to Oregon are head coach Dan Lanning, linebacker coach Tosh Lupoi, inside linebacker coach Brian Michalowski, as well as recruiting and personnel coach Zac Diles.

With Phillips' commitment, the Oregon Ducks are up to 10 members in the 2026 class, ranking No. 1 in the nation. This cycle is headlined by five-star tight end Kendre Harrison and four-star offensive tackle Kodi Greene who are both locked in. Phillips is the sixth defensive commit in the class.