The Oregon Ducks got some good news regarding a 5-star recruiting prospect from Texas.Five-star running back Landen Williams-Callis is one of the top remaining recruits yet to commit in the 2027 class. Of course there will be plenty of movement before signing day with flips and visits but Williams-Callis is clearing the air, publicly, about his recruitment.Oregon coach Dan Lanning directs football practice April 5, 2022.
Eug 040522 Lanning 02 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectWilliams-Callis named the Ducks as a finalist program but recent reports from On3 indicated that he was trending towards committing to the Texas Longhorns and staying in state..... But Williams-Callis took to social media to combat that narrative. Five-Star Recruit Landen Williams-Callis Denies Texas NewsWilliams-Callis shut down predictions of a Texas Longhorns commitment, quote-tweeting the video on X with the message, “this is a complete lie.” It's unclear if the recruit knew that the quote “Texas Longhorns would be my pick today” came from On3/Rivals vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong. Wiltfong also added that the Texas running back has been a “little bit of a wildcard recruitment” and that Oregon was likely out of the mix. However, this is still notable as things often change fast in the recruiting world. I never talked to you or anybody from rivals, this is a complete lie 💯 https://t.co/5FVRsfReBh— Landen Williams-Callis (@CallisLanden) July 8, 2026So, it looks like the Ducks could still be in the race for the elite running back, who is a consensus top-10 recruit in Texas and is ranked as high as No. 38 overall and No. 3 at his position by 247Sports.Williams-Callis' post slows down the Texas storyline that he wants to stay near home and play for coach Steve Sarkisian. He may very well still commit to the Longhorns, but it's clear that he wants to keep his cards close to his chest. The timing matters, as multiple reports have stated he is expected to commit before the start of his senior season. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian walks off the field after a timeout against Michigan during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, September 7, 2024. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectWhere Oregon Stands in Landen Williams-Callis RecruitmentWilliams-Callis did stir up some excitement in the Texas social media sphere when he posted a "thinking/pondering" emoji on a repost from the Longhorns' newest five-star commit Ismael Camara. Camara is doing his part to recruit the Williams-Callis to join the Longhorns class by making a public push. 🤔 https://t.co/0refURk6Xn— Landen Williams-Callis (@CallisLanden) July 7, 2026As a junior for Randle High School (Richmond, TX), Williams-Callis rushed for a whopping 3,502 yards and 59 touchdowns on 324 carries. He finished with an average of 10.8 yards per carry and also added 24 receptions for 266 yards and one touchdown. His speed jumps off the page, with a 10.4 second 100 meter dash and a 21.8 second 200 meter dash per 247Sports. The 5-7, 190 pound athlete posted photos from his official visit to Eugene, wearing an Oregon Ducks jersey in Autzen Stadium in May. There are three schools that are indicated to have "warmer" interest from Williams-Callis, per 247Sports: Texas, Oregon and the Texas A&M Aggies. His full list of finalists, which he released to to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett back in May, are: Oregon Ducks SMU MustangsLSU TigersTexas LonghornsFlorida GatorsFlorida State SeminolesHouston CougarsTexas A&M AggiesIndiana HoosiersMissouri Tigers Oregon head coach Dan Lanning takes the field as the No. 9 Oregon Ducks host Washington State Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectThe Ducks have one running back from Texas committed already in the 2027 class. Coach Dan Lanning and running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples landed an early commitment from four-star CaDarius McMiller on Feb. 14, but that’s the extent of running back commitments at the position so far.McMiller is a consensus top-15 running back in the class from Tyler, TX. Per 247Sports, McMiller rushed for 25 touchdowns in his last two seasons at Tyler High, while also receiving four touchdowns on 14 receptions in that span.Oregon's 2027 recruiting class has surged in July with a flurry of bluechip commits. The Ducks class currently ranks No. 2 in the country and No. 1 in the Big Ten, per 247Sports. Lanning's national reach has never been stronger, the 24 commits are from 17 different states.July 27, 2024; Eugene, OR, USA; Tradarian Ball part of the top-ranked recruits flocked to Eugene for the 2024 Oregon Ducks Saturday Night Live ; Mandatory credit: Zachary Neel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectAs for the future of Oregon's running backs, Lanning adds incoming recruits Tradarian Ball and Brandon Smith from the 2026 class. The true freshmen Ball and Smith will join an elite group in Eugene, led by sophomore running backs Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison. Also look for sophomore Da'Jaun Riggs to be a sneaky contributor. The Ducks added a veteran in senior Simeon Price from the transfer portal from the Colorado Buffaloes. It's worth keeping an eye on Williams-Callis, as he's indicated the recruiting race is far from over. Could he become the next great Ducks running back?Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news. Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
