The Molden Family Saga: Why Washington and Oregon Are Battling For This Four-Star Cornerback
This is the kind of recruiting story that writes itself. Josiah Molden, a four-star cornerback prospect and the top-ranked recruit in Oregon, is caught in a battle between two of college football's fiercest rivals. Washington and Oregon are leading the chase for the West Linn High School star, and honestly, both programs have legitimate reasons to think they can land him.
The Family Legacy That Makes This Personal
Here's what makes this recruitment wild: Molden isn't just any kid. His father, Alex Molden, was an absolute beast at Oregon from 1991 to 1995. The guy made two All-Pac-10 first teams, played in the 1995 Rose Bowl, and got drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 11th pick in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played professional football through 2003 and was inducted into the Oregon Hall of Fame in 2008. That's pedigree.
But here's the twist: Josiah's older brother Elijah competed for the Huskies until 2020, then went straight to the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. So you've got one brother who went full Ducks and one who went full Huskies. If Josiah is anything like his old man and his brother, the Molden family is about to produce another all-conference player and future NFL prospect.
Oregon's Head Start and Cal's Complication
The Ducks were the first Power Four program to offer Molden back in May 2023. Washington followed up with their offer in June 2023. Since then, he's fielded offers from programs across the Big Ten, ACC, and SEC. But here's where it gets interesting: Cal's in the mix too, and they've got Tosh Lupoi, Oregon's former defensive coordinator from 2023, now working the West Coast recruiting trail. Lupoi was the coordinator who originally offered Molden, and he's competing with his old team for mutual recruits.
Molden proved why everyone's after him during his junior season in 2025. Despite missing a pair of games, he recorded 35 tackles, 12 pass break-ups and seven touchdowns. That's a prospect who impacts games on both sides of the ball.
Oregon has an April visit scheduled with Molden. The Ducks are banking on that family history to bring him home. But Washington isn't backing down either. This one's going to come down to the wire.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.