What Standout Linebacker Recruit Arden Alexander Said About Oregon Ducks Offer

Bradenton, Florida — When four-star linebacker Arden Alexander picked up his phone on Jan. 22 and saw an Oregon Ducks logo pop up on the screen, the moment crystallized years of backyard tackles and Saturday-morning highlight reels. The 2028 IMG Academy standout, already sitting on nearly 20 scholarship offers, says the message from Eugene carried extra weight.

“It means a lot to me, especially because I always used to look at Oregon play on TV when I was a little kid,” Alexander told Oregon Ducks on SI. “It is just showing me that the hard work I have been putting in my whole life is starting to pay off.”

Ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 83 overall prospect, No. 20 in Florida and No. 7 among linebackers, Alexander transferred to IMG after his freshman season and responded with 38 tackles—32 solo—during his first campaign with the Ascenders. That production caught the attention of wide-receivers coach Ross Douglas, who extended the offer and delivered a concise scouting report.

“The way I work is unmatched,” Alexander recalled Douglas telling him. “The way my coaches talk about how I am individually as well was the cherry on top for him.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound prospect says the conversation ended with a simple directive: “Keep working and eventually get up there on a visit to Oregon.”

While no trip is on the calendar yet—coordinating travel around IMG’s demanding academic and athletic schedule remains tricky—Alexander admits the early offer will shape how he evaluates schools moving forward.

“Oregon offering me this early is definitely an eye-catcher for me and will definitely play a part in the near future for my recruitment and consideration for where my college career will begin,” he said.

For a player who grew up mesmerized by the Ducks’ ever-changing uniform combinations, the pitch from Eugene already resonates.

“When I think of the Oregon Ducks, I think of this prestigious Power Five school that has a million different uniforms,” Alexander said, “which, once, a little kid like me was dreaming of receiving an offer from this school.”

Alexander’s offer sheet, which began with Duke in 2023, now sits at roughly 20 programs. Yet the conversation with Oregon, he insists, feels different—proof that the Friday-night lights in Bradenton are being noticed clear across the country.