Oregon Ducks Eye New Quarterback Recruits After Jared Curtis Commits to Georgia Bulldogs

Oregon Ducks football is shifting its 2026 recruiting focus after losing top quarterback target Jared Curtis to the Georgia Bulldogs. With the Ducks now eyeing elite prospects like Ryder Lyons and Matt Ponatoski, the race to secure their next signal-caller is heating up.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning oversees his team 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

EUGENE – The last few weeks have been rough on the recruiting trail for the Oregon Ducks. Oregon has lost several of its top targets from the class of 2026 to other programs. Notably, the Ducks lost quarterback Jared Curtis to the Georgia Bulldogs, meaning the Ducks will have to work even harder to ensure their dominance in recruiting quarterbacks carries over to the 2026 cycle. 

Nashville Christian's five-star quarterback Jared Curtis announces his decision to sign with Georgia with his sister, Kaitlyn Allsbrooks, nephew, Hudson, 2 months, and mom, Barbara Curtis at Nashville Christian School in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, May 5, 2025. | Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With that, the Ducks now have their sights set on multiple highly touted quarterbacks to hopefully fill that quarterback spot in Oregon's 2026 class. 

Shortly following Curtis’s decision to go to Georgia, the Ducks emerged as favorites to land five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons, who Oregon has already been actively pursuing. 

On3’s Steve Wilfong logged an official prediction for Oregon to land a commitment from Lyons, the No. 1 player in the state of California. 

The USC Trojans have been viewed by various outlets as the top destination for Lyons in recent weeks. However, now the Ducks are the ones trending the most to secure Lyons. 

St. Bonaventure's Dylan Dunst tackles Folsom quarterback Ryder Lyons during the fourth quarter of the CIF-State Division 1-A state championship bowl at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. St. Bonaventure lost 20-14. | JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK

While securing a commitment from Lyons will certainly help Oregon get back on track in the 2026 cycle, it wouldn’t necessarily fix their quarterback problem. 

If Lyons were to commit to Oregon, he wouldn’t be able to join the Ducks until 2027. Lyons is expected to take an LDS mission after high school, which would delay his enrollment into college. Therefore, the Ducks will likely need to secure a commitment from another quarterback from the 2026 recruiting class and have already taken the steps to do so. 

On Wednesday, Oregon offered a scholarship to four-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski. Ponatoski is the No. 291 overall prospect and the 21st-ranked quarterback in his class. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound signal-caller is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and holds offers from various Power Four programs such as Kentucky, Texas A&M, Michigan, and more. 

New Oregon offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Stein, center, works with quarterbacks Marcus Sanders, left, and Austin Novosad at the first practice of spring for Oregon football as they prepare for the 2023 season on Thursday March 16, 2023. Eug 031623 Uo Spring Fb 05 | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

With the loss of Curtis, the Ducks are anticipated to make a more aggressive push for both Ponatoski and Lyons. Oregon's coaching staff could also very well extend offers to other play-callers in the class of 2026 as they look to fill a crucial gap in its 2026 recruiting class. 

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The Ducks currently rank No. 21 in the nation in terms of 2026 recruits, per 247 Sports. Being this low in the rankings is uncharacteristic for the Ducks, who have brought in top ten recruiting classes in each of the last three years. 

The Ducks have secured just seven commitments out of the 2026 cycle. To put this number into perspective, the USC Trojans, who have the No. 1 2026 class in the nation, have secured 27 commitments. 

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

As the Ducks look to rebound on the trail, this summer will be pivotal. With official visits opening up, Oregon’s coaching staff has the chance to make a strong impression on uncommitted quarterbacks and other top targets. 

The program’s track record of development and competing on the national stage remains a major selling point. Under Dan Lanning, Oregon has continued to trend upward, and a strong finish to the 2026 cycle could keep that momentum alive.  

If the Ducks can close the gap with programs like USC, Notre Dame and Ohio State over the next several months, they’ll be right back in the mix as one of college football’s premier recruiting powers.