Oregon’s got some exciting news on the quarterback front! Dante Moore is set to step up as the Ducks’ starting quarterback next season, taking over from Dillon Gabriel. It’s a big moment for Moore, who’s been waiting for his chance to shine.
But Oregon’s not stopping there. They’ve got Austin Novosad ready in reserve and recently welcomed four-star legacy QB Akili Smith Jr. for the 2025 class. However, losing five-star Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to the transfer portal was a bit of a blow. Now, they’re on the hunt for a top quarterback for 2026. Earlier this month, Jared Curtis, the No. 1 QB, named Oregon among his top six schools. It looks like they have a real shot at landing him.
And that’s not all. Ryder Lyons, a five-star quarterback from Folsom, California, is also on Oregon’s radar. Just this week, Coach Dan Lanning and his crew made a trip to see him in action.
Lyons is quite the prospect. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, he’s the No. 10 overall prospect and the No. 3 QB for 2026. Plus, he’s the No. 2 junior in California.
A member of the LDS church, Lyons might take a mission trip before he joins a college team, possibly delaying his start until 2027 or 2028. But that hasn’t stopped schools from showing interest.
Oregon is just one of many teams chasing him. USC, North Carolina, Arizona, Michigan, and others are in the mix too. Last year, Lyons was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder led his team to a 12-2 record, throwing for over 2,900 yards with 44 touchdowns, plus 556 rushing yards and 12 TDs.
Lyons is one of only a few top QBs left uncommitted
At one point, it seemed like Lyons was leaning towards USC, but recent coaching changes have shaken things up. "To be honest everything’s kind of confusing," Lyons shared with ScoopDuck. "I pretty much had a top five coming out and then stuff changes fast."
BYU has jumped into the race for Lyons, pulling out all the stops. “There’s a lot of ties,” Lyons said. "Obviously I’m LDS. It aligns with my faith. Both my parents went there. My sisters went there. I just have a lot of family.” He added that BYU got heavily involved in his recruitment a couple of months ago, which he’s found pretty amazing.
Other strong contenders include Ole Miss, Oregon, and USC. Lyons wants to commit early to help build a recruiting class around him. "I want to build a team around me. I think I’m a pretty good recruiter," he mentioned. "I think people want to play with me, so I want to build a team around me. So I have to have a little bit of time to do that. Definitely before my senior season starts, which could be in the next month, or could be in five months."
As of now, the Ducks hold the top spot for the 2026 recruiting class, led by five-star tight end Kendre Harrison and top-25 offensive tackle prospect Kodi Greene.
