Oregon lands WR Malachi Garlington, flipping him from Washington State’s 2027 class

Oregon added another name to its 2027 recruiting class Monday, with reports that 3-star wide receiver Malachi Garlington has flipped his commitment from Washington State to the Ducks. The news comes just days after Washington State publicized Garlington as part of its own 2027 group, making the switch a notable recruiting reset for two programs that have been competing for similar prospects in the Pacific Northwest. (Garlington is a product of Adrienne C. Nelson High School in the Portland area.)

According to Washington State reporting, Garlington announced a commitment to the Cougars on June 4, 2026. That announcement included the kind of recruiting résumé that tends to draw immediate attention in the region: he is listed at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, and Washington State described him as both sized and speedy. The same report also tied his football profile to track and field, noting a 11.71-second 100-meter time and a long jump mark of 21 feet, 10 inches during the spring.

The flip to Oregon adds another layer because it appears to have unfolded quickly. Yahoo Sports reported on June 8, 2026 that Garlington has committed to Oregon instead, citing recruiting reporting that he was no longer staying with Washington State. Sports Illustrated’s Oregon site similarly framed it as an Oregon win on the recruiting trail, including a detail that Garlington posted an Oregon scholarship offer from head coach Dan Lanning on June 3, shortly before he visited Eugene.

This kind of commitment churn is common in recruiting, but it still carries practical consequences for roster planning at the college level. Washington State’s six-member announcement window, as described in its own coverage, was already building its 2027 receiving group; losing Garlington removes a high-ceiling target the Cougars had just added. For Oregon, landing a wide receiver in-state (and reportedly Oregon’s first wideout commit in the 2027 class) also strengthens the Ducks’ ability to shape the depth chart ahead of future seasons, even if Garlington is still a ways from campus.

Conference context matters for the matchup. Oregon has been competing in the Big Ten since the realignment period that began in the mid-2020s, while Washington State has played in the Pac-12 in the 2026 season. Recruiting flips like this are, in effect, recruiting battles that continue regardless of league affiliation, because prospects do not recruit only by conference. They recruit by coaching fit, proximity, and the path to early reps.

What to watch next is confirmation and timeline details. With Washington State already having a public commitment story in place and with Oregon still not showing an official commitment announcement in the same way in the coverage gathered here, the key follow-up is whether Oregon publishes a formal acknowledgment tied to Garlington’s 2027 decision and whether Washington State clarifies how the decommit affects its remaining wide receiver priorities. For Garlington, the next meaningful step will be turning this recruiting news into verified development at the high school level while the NCAA signing process approaches for the 2027 class.