EUGENE – The Oregon Ducks’ running back depth became depleted at the end of the 2025 season due to injuries and transfers. Oregon coach Dan Lanning went on to receive a major commitment from the 2026 recruiting class on Jan. 17, amidst depth concerns. The Ducks may have got a recruiting steal, as Smith ended up in the top-10 of the final Rivals300 running back rankings. He joins Oregon running back commit Tradarian Ball as the only backfield player in the 2026 class. Lanning and Oregon running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples received significant production from true freshmen Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison in 2025.