Oregon Ducks keep elite west coast offensive tackle recruit away from Washington as he becomes the face of 2026 class

When a kid grows up going to college football games with their family, it can create an indelible bond between to that school. The memories, the pageantry, the emotions tied up with the familiar ties – it matters.

For one recruit, nothing will change that, but it hasn't stopped the Oregon Ducks from gaining a commitment despite his lifelong connection to the heated rival University of Washington Huskies. I spoke with elite 2026 offensive line recruit Kodi Greene immediately following his commitment announcement on Monday.

Kodi Greene grew up a Washington fan

For Greene, Oregon wasn't always his dream destination.

Growing up in Sammamish, WA, a town just east of Seattle nestled between Lake Sammamish and the Snoqualmie valley, Greene spent plenty of time going to University of Washington sporting events.

"My mom and grandparents went [to University of Washington], and everyone in my family are big time fans," Greene told me. "My older brother and I grew up going to football and basketball games. Growing up a Husky, my family and I weren’t too sure what to think when we visited."

Not only that, but his older brother, Kayden Greene, is adding to the rivalry as a freshman walk-on for Washington.

Greene is all-in on the Oregon Ducks

Good for Greene for taking visits to Oregon despite his childhood connection to their Pacific Northwest rival and leaving himself open to the idea of it, because apparently, he fell in love with the program on his visits.

"My experience was amazing. Definitely something special," Greene said about his two visits to Eugene. "The vibe there is different. The coaches have great energy and you can tell they love being there. I’ve developed a great relationship with [offensive line ] coach [A'Lique] Terry and [Graduate Assistant Ryan] Walk, so when I get to see them it’s always a great time."

Greene has been on campus twice, the first time during Junior Day, and the second for the much-discussed Saturday Night Live event, which is turning into one of the biggest events on the Oregon recruiting trail. For the latter, Greene was on campus for two days, along with some of the top recruits in the next two classes.

Greene one of a handful of recruits that have since announced their commitment following the SNL event, including fellow 2026 recruit running back Tradarian Ball , continuing a strong recruiting trail in recent months.

Greene will play the next two seasons at high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, CA

Looking to continue to improve and play against top tier competition, Greene transferred down to Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, which continues to be a pipeline not just to the next level, but for Oregon recruiting in particular.

In the 2024 class, Oregon signed 3-star wide receiver Jack Ressler and 4-star defensive lineman Aydin Breeland out of Mater Dei. They also hold commitments from 2025 4-star linebacker Nasir Wyatt and 4-star running back Jordon Davison. Now adding Greene to headline their early 2026 class, Mater Dei is proving to be a great recruiting pipeline for Lanning and the Ducks, and Greene is excited for the added competition.

"It was a great move. Every day going up against 4 and 5 stars is definitely gonna get me ready for college. The first thing I noticed was how much faster it is here at MD, but I adapted quickly. My OL coaches are amazing," Greene said.

The 6'6" offensive tackle with a verified 81" wingspan is ready to continue his development.

Next week will be his first test lining up for the Mater Dei Monarchs as he continues his ascension to being one of the best offensive line recruits in the country. Ducks fans should be thrilled.

Related: Oregon Ducks get 5-star recruiting win over Ohio State that shows they’re ready to compete in Big Ten right away

Follow along all year for more Oregon Ducks coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on X @JonHelmkamp , as well as follow our main page @AtoZSportsNFL for all the latest news.