Oregon's Quarterback Recruiting: Panic or Patience?

[NJDuck]

 

So this cycle has not really worked out as Oregon had hoped in quarterback recruiting. I mean it really started with the very late decision by 5-Star Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele to sign and later end up at Cal. Can’t blame him for walking into the quarterback room at Oregon and feeling like it was a much easier path to start at Cal.

 

Oregon moved on and made a massive push for 5-Star QB Jared Curtis who ultimately ended up at Georgia. In my mind with the way Oregon’s current quarterback room sets up, Curtis would have been an ideal and seamless transition for Dan Lanning 

 

Now that comes with variables as does the rest of this article. And keep in mind, Oregon is one of the best at giving themselves options and rolling with the punches. Because of the transfer portal you have to operate this way. And because of the transfer portal I’m also nearly zero concerned with Oregon signing a prep quarterback in this cycle. While it might be preferred, it wouldn’t be an issue if the Ducks miss on every option and hit the portal. The success rate in the portal has been really good at the position.

 

But they continue on expanding options with a lot of uncertainty about how it could play out.

 

Oregon's Quarterback Recruiting: Panic or Patience? - On3

WWW.ON3.COM

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Oregon is in on several top quarterbacks in this recruiting cycle but even if they miss out on all of them it could still work out.

 

[30Duck]

Patience. Recruiting, don't we all miss the good old days? Now with NIL & the portal, the commitments mean less than ever. 2 sides jump out, USC-Riley, throw $$$$ at the recruits, get the No.1 class, or Oregon-Lanning, take your time, talk to the recruits, if they want to be Ducks, sign 'em up, the portal will be there. (Maybe with some of USC's commits). Slightly different, and I can't know, but I don't think Emmanuel Pregnon is thinking he wishes he was still at USC.

 

[Charles Fischer]

If there was EVER a team that could get an elite portal transfer QB...it is Oregon, as has been proven the last three years. Nothing beats experience...

 

 

[David Marsh]

Patience... Crazy enough Oregon probably doesn't need a prep QB this recruiting cycle. 

 

Moore will be around for one or two seasons. If Moore leaves after this year Novosad is probably next up. 

 

Moga and Smith are both promising and we'll have a fuller picture as to whether they stick around or not after the season. But I'd bet that one is guaranteed to stick around as they'll likely be in play for a backup spot. 

 

And then Oregon can always get someone from the portal if needed. 

[DanLduck]

I think the new House settlement might influence future portal picks with NIL deals needing to pass inspection. No more "buying" players. Supposedly. 

 

Either way, Oregon will end up in good shape. Our qb room now is stacked. 

Unproven sure, but hugely talented. I'm willing to wait it out.

 

In Lanning & Co. we trust.

Though for uncle Phil's sake, I hope we get that Natty soon!

[Nevada Dawg]

A cautionary note here: Great portal additions at QB are NOT always readily available. The Ducks were extremely fortunate IMHO to have guys of he caliber of Nix and Dillon G. available when they were needed, and kudos for CDL for scooping them up. But such availability is probably the exception rather than the rule and it is unclear how revenue sharing will impact recruiting of portal options.

 

I do agree that nothing beats experience at the QB position. But a program needs to work hard at developing the youngsters and have some success in so doing to sustain offensive strength over the long run.

[Charles Fischer]

On 6/9/2025 at 10:19 PM, Nevada Dawg said:

But a program needs to work hard at developing the youngsters and have some success in so doing to sustain offensive strength over the long run.

And there are pitfalls, costs and risks to that strategy too.  What if you had a former 5-Star QB who you knew would be super when it was his turn...and it did not turn out that way? And it cost you a 'Natty?

 

Naw...Georgia fans wouldn't know anything about that!  

 

 

[Nevada Dawg]

I didn't disagree with the premise that experience matters. But I will proudly stand by my post.

[Porter]

On 6/8/2025 at 2:59 PM, David Marsh said:

Patience... Crazy enough Oregon probably doesn't need a prep QB this recruiting cycle. 

 

Moore will be around for one or two seasons. If Moore leaves after this year Novosad is probably next up. 

 

Moga and Smith are both promising and we'll have a fuller picture as to whether they stick around or not after the season. But I'd bet that one is guaranteed to stick around as they'll likely be in play for a backup spot. 

 

And then Oregon can always get someone from the portal if needed. 

You are spot on. A look at the QB room for Oregon shows a tough climb to get to the field. Oregon is in a new atmosphere we fans are not used to. The type of recruits we want to bring in, and will bring in, are looking at at least a year or or two before they will be on magazine covers. There are plenty of other place where they can display their talent much more quickly and as solid talent they will.

 

Of course they may not become part of a national championship group any time soon though many are more interested in exposure to get that NFL invite and I don't blame them. That said, don't give up on seeing a commitment from somebody who has the talent to fit into the room, now or in another year after a Mormon mission maybe more than one recruit and even they may never see the turf as a starter.

 

[GeotechDuck]

On 6/9/2025 at 10:28 PM, Charles Fischer said:

And there are pitfalls, costs and risks to that strategy too.  What if you had a former 5-Star QB who you knew would be super when it was his turn...and it did not turn out that way? And it cost you a 'Natty?

 

Naw...Georgia fans wouldn't know anything about that!  

 

 

Oregon has had several recent 4* and 5* recruits that didn’t pan out. Most of them didn’t do much better after transferring. Thompson, Burmeister, Butterfield, Jonson, Rodrigues, Mahalak all come to mind. 

 

[David Marsh]

On 6/11/2025 at 4:16 AM, Porter said:

That said, don't give up on seeing a commitment from somebody who has the talent to fit into the room, now or in another year after a Mormon mission maybe more than one recruit and even they may never see the turf as a starter.

Lyons is the QB you're probably thinking of there and if Oregon lands him he'll really be more a part of next year's class than this year's. This isn't to say that Oregon should pursue and land him. However, unless Oregon goes after two QBs this cycle, they probably will effectively be without a new QB for the 2025 cycle. 

[NJDuck]

On 6/11/2025 at 11:34 AM, David Marsh said:

Lyons is the QB you're probably thinking of there and if Oregon lands him he'll really be more apart of next year's class than this year's. This isn't to say that Oregon should pursue and land him. However, unless Oregon goes after two QBs this cycle they probably will effectively be without a new QB for the 2025 cycle.

It seems that Lyons has cancelled his trip to USC.  Oregon and BYU is in the mix.  Hopefully will go Oregon’s way.   You are right, he will be more for the 2027 cycle once he returns from his LDS mission trip.

 

From what all is reporting USC seems to be out of the picture.  Lyons cancelled his trip to USC.  My concern is BYU.

 

"While USC had the inside track to Lyons signature early in his recruitment, the Trojans have since fizzled out. Lyons canceled his official visit to USC that was set to take place last weekend. Four-star quarterback Jonas Williams committed to USC back in February, it’s possible Williams’ commitment played a role in Lyons's cancellation."

 

Five-Star Quarterback Ryder Lyons Visiting Oregon: Ducks Trending For Commitment?

WWW.SI.COM

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The Oregon Ducks are set to host five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons on an official visit to Eugene this weekend, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Lyons is curre

 

5-Star Quarterback Ryder Lyons Cancels USC Trojans Visit: Oregon Ducks Visit Looms

5-star quarterback recruit Ryder Lyons cancelled his official visit to the USC Trojans and likely will not reschedule one this spring, or possibly at all. This leaves the 5-star Lyons with a visit Oregon on June 13 and BYU on June 20.

 

5-Star Quarterback Ryder Lyons Cancels USC Trojans Visit: Oregon Ducks Visit Looms

WWW.SI.COM

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Recruits in the class of 2026 and beyond are making hard choices and narrowing down their picks with their official visit lineups. Today, a five-star quarterbac

 

[Porter]

I'm pretty sure Lanning didn't bring Thompson in and I'm not sure yet how good of a judge he is in recruiting QB's. We know he can pull what he needs from the portal but that is probably not the best plan in the long run. Of course, Ty is now a receiver for his new team. I never saw him belonging as a starter behind the center after his sophomore year.
 

I hope he does well at his new position. I'm not sure we will ever see Smith on the turf but if the coaches develop him, I could be wrong. No matter what the Ducks will likely have a strong room for years to come.

[30Duck]

On 6/11/2025 at 9:44 AM, Porter said:

I'm not sure yet how good of a judge he is in recruiting QB's

 First, welcome, Porter. He did recruit Moore, who flipped to UCLA and is now back at Oregon. Since Lanning has been at Oregon, despite the starting QB's coming through the portal, Oregon has not had trouble getting QB recruits. Moore was a recruit, Novosad is, one of them will be the starter in 2025. 

[Porter]

Absolutely. He did recruit Moore who semi-flopped at UCLA due to a lot reasons other than not being up to the job. He's back in the fold in Eugene where he has been developed in Duckville, mentored by a very good college QB. We'll see how well that works out and what kind of job has been done with Novasad, who has been brought along by two of them, one an NFL starter. as well.

 

I make no judgement on Dan or the staff, yet. We just haven't seen the high level evidence of an Oregon recruited and elevated signal caller so far. I, of course, haven't seen Moore do enough yet to have an opinion on who should start. I'm pretty sure Novo would succeed but I don't know if he is better than Moore or not. The noise being made by players is positive for Moore and you have to give them some credence.

 

Naturally you need at least two guys in the room you wouldn't quake over if their number came up. I can recall a season Oregon was down to #4 and didn't do any worse than they had earlier. Of course, now, if Numbers two and three are not top shelf it will be more likely to spoil the season. Remember the serious dip when Ty Thompson had to step in for Nix who played better injured. The talent level on hand and that needed are at least a step up from then.

 

A lot of guys are and will be hitting the portal that we slobbered over when they arrived. Some of those quality guys have already had to depart and at least one got drafted into the NFL. (Shough) There will be others at other positions who couldn't crack the two deep in Eugene who will be happy, welcome and successful elsewhere. 

 

I think in this recruiting cycle the Ducks have lost recruits who would have come if they weren't pretty well certain they'd not see the top spot until year three, at best. As fans we need to get use to that new standard at most positions as the team grows. I doubt Ohio State fans have shed any real tears over players we lured away from them.

[Jon Joseph]

 

We have seen Bo Nix elevated from a suspect FBS QB to a 1st round draft choice. 

[30Duck]

On 6/11/2025 at 5:16 PM, Porter said:

 I'm pretty sure Novo would succeed but I don't know if he is better than Moore or not.

My thinking is this is not a situation where if you have two QB's, you don't have any. That can't work. All the hype is for Moore, potential Heisman, "Moore to Moore". But Novosad has stayed, considering the portal, at Oregon for a long time. One of them will start, but to them and the coaches, this is 1A & 1B.

 

The starter won't have a short leash; he's not getting pulled for an INT in the red zone, (Gabriel). But I think the coaches and the two QB's have stoked a competitive fire that will have the team in good shape whichever QB is playing. 

[Nevada Dawg]

On 6/11/2025 at 5:24 PM, Jon Joseph said:

 

We have seen Bo Nix elevated from a suspect FBS QB to a 1st round draft choice. 

I beg to quibble. There was nothing suspect about Bo Nix except the quality of the teams he played for. The guy was always dangerous for Auburn's opponents, even though Georgia always found a way to "handle" him. Despite the badmouthing he got from Dawg fans, I am pretty sure Kirby Smart would have taken Bo had he wanted to transfer, although if memory serves me, intraleague transfers in the SEC would have required Bo sit out a year at that time.

 

Bo made the right decision and I am sure the presence of a familiar face (Dillingham) was a major factor here.

[AnotherOD]

On 6/11/2025 at 5:16 PM, Porter said:

Naturally you need at least two guys in the room you wouldn't quake over if their number came up. I can recall a season Oregon was down to #4 and didn't do any worse than they had earlier. Of course, now, if Numbers two and three are not top shelf it will be more likely to spoil the season. Remember the serious dip when Ty Thompson had to step in for Nix who played better injured. The talent level on hand and that needed are at least a step up from then.

 

Hard to not disagree. It is sort of the nature of the balancing act in college football at QB?

 

If the point is, getting down to the #4 QB is so unlikely it never matters, then I would tend to disagree. If the point is, if we get down to the #4 QB and we are probably screwed anyway, I would tend to agree.

 

One only needs to back to 2007 and again in 2008 (and a nod could be given to 2015), to find the point.

 

In 2007, Dixon famously went down at Arizona and turned to Leaf, who also got banged up.

 

Heading into UCLA, Leaf tried to go but left early in the game due to injury. On to #3 Cody Kempt. Kempt proceeded to perhaps have the third worse line at QB (in a meaningful game) in modern Duck history: 6-23 for 52 yards with 0 TDs and 2 picks. The Ducks turned in the second half to #4 QB Justin Roper who went to have probably the second worst QB line (in a meaningful game) in modern Duck history: 1-5 for 8 yards with 1 pick and sacked twice. Oregon, averaging 41 ppg and 506 yards of offense, was the first team UCLA (5-5) shut out in 22 years 0-16, holding Oregon to 148 total yards on 78 plays (yes less than 2 ypp).

 

This wasn't exactly a footnote kind of outcome as Oregon entered the UCLA game still #9 in the nation.

 

In 2008, Oregon started the year 3-0 but Justin Roper hurt his knee late at at Purdue. Oregon turned to Masoli, who actually looked largely in control and Oregon jumped out and looked very solid handling what turned out to be a 12-1 Boise State team. Mosoli gets knocked out with a penalized hit that is absolutely (and still is) avaliable on YouTube and was really just plain poor stuff.

 

Oregon turns to Chris Harper, a very highly touted young QB recruit from Kansas at the time, who goes on to have perhaps the worse QB line in a meaningful game for a modern Oregon QB with 0-3 for 0 yards and 2 picks and a sack. Oregon then turns to #4 QB Darron Thomas (who plays pretty well but can't quite lead a comeback with a pick at 3:47 left really helping seal the deal - it could be argued however having a #4 with a pulse that day actually almost brought a comeback against a very good team).

 

I give 2015 an honerable mention as Oregon entered the season with 2 QBs and a rFR (Mahalak) and a tFR (Jonsen). Adams starts but gets hurt at Michigan State. Lockie manages the next game against a not so hot FCS team in Georgia State team (6-7) and Adams returns.

 

Adams gets knocked out at half in the bowl game with a HUGE 0-31 lead and Lockie proves absolutely ineffective in moving the ball (at all - even alittle) and TCU roars back from down and completes in OT what I believe was the biggest comeback in bowl history at the time.

 

His second half (and OT) line is 7-15 for 36 yards and 0 TDs and O ints. Lockie manages one 17 yard completion on the day so the rest of his line is 6-14 for 19 yards or about 3 yards per completion.

 

Oregon had at that time a #3 and decided not to use him when Lockie was absolutely struggling. It had two freshman, one with a year in the system, and wouldn't give either a chance despite the game collapsing, on that day, having a #3, let alone a #4, was absolutely was a thing.

 

 

 

[Porter]

So yeah, we would love to have 4 viable QB's which is never going to happen at the level the Ducks are playing now. Uncle Phil will make sure we always have two, as I am guessing is the biggest reason Novo is still in the room, as long as there is NIL and a hint at a post-football-career could be in the mix as well. There may be a third RS or Soph with high hopes and just barely possibly a fourth but the latter two won't have seen the field very much. In that sense we are indeed in deep doo doo for the rest of whatever season that happens. It could turn out to be opportunity to test whomever is left and see who fits in best.

 

My guess is that the same scenario exists for any other top 10ish team. Our room will probably always have four signal callers, just not four we would want to trot out into most B1G games before we put on a blind fold and maybe took a couple of puffs on a cigarette.

 

Thanks for improving my fuzzy 77 year old memory on the fiasco those 4QB games were. My thoughts must have been improved by the low expectations we had back then and the blow-ups were closer to expectation than they would be today.