Oregon is one of college football’s top programs and it already has one of the country’s top classes for 2023. But there could be more fireworks in store when the Early Signing Period opens next week.

247Sports’ director of recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, has dropped several primer pieces to get fans ready for the ESP — opening Dec. 21 — and the Ducks seem to be in the conversation for a number of major uncommitted prospects.

According to Wiltfong, Oregon is also making a late push in the recruitments of several 5-star committed prospects, including defensive lineman (and Texas A&M commit) David Hicks and offensive lineman (and Iowa commit) Kadyn Proctor.

Perhaps no recruitment is bigger, though, than that of 5-star Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco athlete Matayo Uiagalelei, who will decide between Ohio State, USC, and Oregon. Wiltfong reported earlier this week that Ohio State is viewed as the favorite, but Oregon is right there.

From Wiltfong:

Oregon is a major player and has had Uiagalelei on campus this fall and many times before. Dan Lanning’s time at Georgia in helping build that defense into one of the best in college football is enticing. I view them as the biggest challenger to OSU with USC the third team in the mix that will try and make a run. He was at the Trojans’ victory over Notre Dame. Potential NIL earnings are a factor in this recruitment.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound defender has excellent physical traits to play on the edge at the highest levels of college football. He’s athletic with long arms and bend. Uiagalelei ranks as the fifth-best edge in the class, per the 247 Composite.

To land Uiagalelei would be the capper on an impressive haul of front seven recruits in the 2023 class for the Ducks. Oregon already has verbal pledges from 4-star defensive linemen A’Mauri Washington, Johnny Bowens, and Terrance Green, and also from 4-star edge rushers Blake Purchase and Teitum Tuioti. The Ducks are also trending toward picking up another.