Oregon secured a significant addition to its 2024 recruiting class with the commitment of five-star defensive lineman Aydin Breland. Breland chose the Ducks over Georgia and Miami, marking a major win for the program. He received offers from several top college football programs.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 290 pounds, Breland is ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect in the class and is considered the No. 4 defensive lineman in the nation. He is currently playing for Mater Dei, a powerhouse high school program in Santa Ana, California. In his junior season, Breland demonstrated his talent with 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in just 10 games, solidifying his ranking as the top player in the state for the Class of 2024.
With Breland’s commitment, Oregon’s recruiting class rose to No. 9 in the 247Sports Team Rankings, a significant improvement from their previous No. 13 spot. He is the fourth top-100 commitment for the Ducks, but the first to have a five-star prospect rating.
According to Gabe Brooks, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, Breland possesses the physical tools and athletic profile that indicate a high-ceiling future. His in-game playmaking also suggests the potential for a successful college career and a high-round NFL Draft prospect.
Potential for Early Impact
Breland is expected to make an immediate impact for Oregon as they move to the Big Ten for the 2024 season. With challenging opponents like Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin on their schedule, the Ducks will rely on the strength and depth of their lines of scrimmage. Coach Dan Lanning believes that Breland, as the highest-ranked defensive line commitment during his tenure, has the potential to play early in his career. In fact, Brooks states that Breland is ready to contribute to many FBS programs right now due to his refined game.
“Breland exhibits a heavy-handed force and explosiveness in close-quarters situations. He demonstrates the ability to create negative plays by overpowering offensive linemen. Breland possesses knock-back power and excels at shedding blockers. With his size and agility, he can chase down opponents with surprising speed. He also displays secondary rush skills and brings a physical presence to the game.”
Oregon’s Recruiting Class
Under the leadership of Dan Lanning, who previously served as Georgia’s defensive coordinator, Oregon has consistently built successful recruiting classes. In the 2022 cycle, Lanning assembled the nation’s No. 16 class and followed it up with the No. 9 class in the 2023 cycle. As the Ducks compete for a Pac-12 title and strive for College Football Playoff contention, they are well-positioned to finish with another top-10 class. Breland is the 24th commitment of the class, and out of those commitments, four rank in the top-100 nationally.
While Breland is the only five-star prospect in this class, the group boasts 13 four-star prospects, including standout players like linebacker Brayden Platt, offensive lineman JacQawn McRoy, cornerback Dakota Fields, and safety Aaron Flowers. Each of these players is ranked among the top-10 players in their respective positions.