Oregon's Akili Smith Jr. Preparing For Next Chapter in Eugene

Oregon Ducks quarterback Akili Smith Jr. is gearing up for his second season in Eugene. The class of 2025 recruit redshirted with the Ducks in 2025.

Akili Smith Jr. Getting Ready For Year No. 2 in Eugene

Oregon Ducks Akili Smith Jr. Quarterback Dante Moore Spring Practice Dante Moore Transfer Portal NFL Draft Dylan Raiola — Combat Ducks quarterback Akili Smith Jr. carries the ball as the Fighting Ducks face off against Mighty Oregon in the Oregon Ducks spring game on April 26, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Akili Smith Jr. signed with Oregon out of high school as a member of their 2025 recruiting class. Smith was rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 15 quarterback in the class of 2025 per 247Sports. Smith is the son of former Oregon quarterback Akili Smith. His dad played for Oregon from 1997-98 before being selected No. 3 overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Smith Jr. did not see the field in 2025 as the Ducks quarterback room consisted of Dante Moore, Brock Thomas, Luke Moga, and Austin Novosad.

Even after sitting out a season, there is still a very likely probability that Smith doesn’t see much of the field in 2026. If the time does come, then he will be ready. He posted a picture of him going through drills at Oregon spring practice.

“Back to work,” Smith captioned the photo.

Back to work.#goducks pic.twitter.com/WNCH02QUe9
— Akili Smith Jr (@Akilismithjr) March 31, 2026

It’s not an unusual occurrence for a hugely rated recruit to transfer after not getting to play in their first season. That’s not the case for Smith.

Ducks’ Quarterback Room

For the second season in a row, Oregon’s quarterback room will be led by Dante Moore. Moore transferred from the UCLA Bruins after his freshman season in 2023. In 2024 with the Ducks, Moore sat behind veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel. After Gabriel left for the NFL, Moore stepped in to be the starter in 2025. He did not disappoint.

Moore threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns, helping lead Oregon to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

After the season, there was speculation that Moore would declare for the 2026 NFL Draft as he was projected to be an early first round selection. In the end, Moore decided to come back to Oregon for another season before making the leap to the next level. He is the projected starter in 2026.

Oregon’s quarterback room got a big addition in the transfer portal as well. Former Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola transferred to Oregon. Raiola was a five-star recruit in the class of 2024 and played the last two years for the Cornhuskers.

Raiola’s 2025 season came to an abrupt end when he suffered a broken fibula. If Moore is starting in 2026, Raiola will have time to fully heal from this injury and get comfortable learning the Ducks offense while sitting behind Moore. In the time being, Smith could also be the backup to Moore as Raiola fully heals.

In the scenario, it could result in Raiola being in line to be the starter in 2027 after Moore goes to the NFL. That would bring up an interesting decision for Smith. Would he stay with the Ducks for a third season even if he wasn’t the starting quarterback or make a career change by transferring somewhere he could get playing time?

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