Oregon remaining confident in push for Five-Star Plus+ CB DJ Pickett

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and his staff continue to prove that they can dip into any state in the country and bring top talent back with them to Eugene.

Of the nine commits in the Ducks’ 2025 class, six states are represented. Two of the top pledges hail from Florida in Tampa Bay Tech five-star Dallas Wilson and Tampa Sumner four-star offensive tackle Ziyare Addison.

That potential Sunshine State to Oregon pipeline could prove beneficial for the Ducks later on this fall, as the program is in the thick of things for Zephyrhills (Fla.) Five-Star Plus+ cornerback DJ Pickett, the No. 6 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking.

Oregon will get Pickett on campus for an official visit later this month on June 21. It will be his final OV of the summer, with the Ducks following LSU, Georgia and Miami. Florida and Florida State also remain in the running for Pickett and are likely to receive official visits during the season.

At the On3 Elite Series last month, Pickett made sure not to discount the Ducks’ chances at landing his commitment. The buzz has been around LSU and Miami for the elite defensive back, but there’s been no lack of confidence in Eugene, according to Oregon recruiting insider Justin Hopkins.

“They really just kinda quietly felt confident, not cocky, but confident that ‘hey, we’re in this recruitment a little more than most think,'” Hopkins said on ‘The Inside Scoop’. “Of course, you and I both know, getting these kids — the five-stars that Florida, Georgia, LSU, everybody wants in that footprint, getting them to come 3,000 miles and stay committed 3,000 miles away is really difficult.

…I think there’s certainly a confidence there, but even Dan Lanning and his staff at Oregon know that’s gonna be a tough one. They’re going to have to grind, but you have to absolutely love the fact that Oregon’s getting that final official visit in the month of June.”

Will latest commitment help Oregon land Pickett?

Earlier this week, Addison became the latest prospect to commit to Oregon. The top-200 recruit helped the Ducks jump into the top 10 of the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings this cycle. He also became the second Tampa product to join the class, flanking Wilson, the No. 26 overall recruit in the nation.

Zephyrhills is around 30 miles north of Tampa, but owning a pair of commitments from not far down the road could be important, should Pickett choose to play his college football on the complete opposite side of the country.

“The people around the building are just good people. The resources that they have for me to like be successful on and off the field. My family loves it,” Pickett said of Oregon last month.

“Right now, you have to at least look at Oregon as a serious threat there, and I think the Ziyare Addison commitment and addition really strengthens where Oregon’s at with Dallas Wilson. Now you put those two guys on DJ Pickett, hopefully that pipeline from Tampa-ish to Oregon remains strong,” Hopkins said.

Pickett is planning to announce his commitment on Oct. 6. Plenty can change with that date still over three months out, but the Ducks are hoping to strengthen their chances with the 6-foot-3, 170-pounder when he makes his way back to campus later this month.