Ohio State expected to land five-star recruit Elbert Hill: Oregon Ducks target

The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes are competing to sign five-star cornerback recruit Elbert Hill. Hill is the No. 15 overall prospect nationally, the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 1 player in Ohio in 2026.

The 1.75 meter tall, 75 kilogram defensive back has already visited Eugene and coach Dan Lanning twice. Hill has also visited the Michigan Wolverines program, but his most visits have been with Ryan Day’s Buckeyes.

According to Archbishop Hoban (Ohio), Hill’s interest in the Buckeyes’ in-state football program is strong and On3 predicted early that Hill would commit to Ohio State.

Nearly 30 programs have offered the elite athletes including: Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, USC and others.

If Lanning Hill can be acquired from Big Ten rival Ohio State, it would be a huge win for Oregon’s 2026 recruiting class, which is currently ranked No. 1 in college football with 10 appearances.

Hill visited when the Ducks hosted the Maryland Terrapins and also over the summer for Oregon’s “Saturday Night Live” show, which features several aspiring high school athletes competing at Autzen Stadium. Hill was a highlight of the show, serving as one of the best pass breakers of the night.

“(Lanning) is a good coach,” Hill said. “He’s building something special in Oregon.”

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Penn State is also considered a serious recruiting contender, along with Oregon and Ohio State. Hill narrowed his list of potential schools to 10 in September: Ohio State, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan, Texas A&M, USC, Alabama, Notre Dame, Penn State and UCLA.

Hill spoke with On3 Sports about his most recent visit with the Ducks in July.

“You made a great first impression on me,” Hill told On3. “During this visit I was able to tour the campus and communicate with the coaches. I would say that the campus and the training were some of the biggest highlights. After this visit, Oregon is at the top of my list.”

“There is no set schedule at the moment,” Hill told on3. “I’m really just trying to explore all my options, take a few official visits, and I’ll most likely be committed next year when I go into high school season.”

The Ducks and Lanning have excelled in their first season in the Big Ten Conference. Before the season, Lanning spoke about the recruiting benefits that come from participating in one of the most prestigious conferences and experiencing new venues and traditions.

“The No. 1 advantage is having a clear vision for our future. “Obviously this is a premier league in college football and an opportunity to be a part of it, to be a part of some of these storied traditions,” Coach Lanning said. “I’m really looking forward to visiting some venues we haven’t experienced yet.”

“It also gives us a chance,” Lanning continued. “We have always been a team that recruited on a national level, but it has definitely increased our presence here in the Midwest. These are states in the region that we had not yet developed to any great extent. This gives us the opportunity to recruit these young talent.”

Oregon and Ohio State are in a recruiting battle and will face off in the College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.