Oregon’s push to open the 2028 recruiting class still hasn’t produced the first commitment, and the Ducks may be watching one of their biggest quarterback targets drift elsewhere.
For a while, Josiah Boyd looked like a real Oregon lean. The Ducks had built a strong case, and Boyd even referred to Oregon as his “dream school” during his visits to Eugene. But with his decision now set for November 23, the momentum appears to be shifting away from Dan Lanning’s program and toward Kentucky.
Boyd announced that he’ll choose between Oregon, UCLA, and Kentucky, and the latest signal was a notable one: Rivals’ Greg Biggins moved his prediction off Oregon and onto Kentucky on Thursday. That change came after Boyd’s recent trip to Lexington, where he watched Kentucky’s overtime win over LSU. He also spent time there with elite 5-star defensive tackle Kellen Hall, who is also trending toward the Wildcats.
The top uncommitted quarterback in the class is now down to his finalists, and the Ducks are no longer the clear favorite they seemed to be earlier in the summer. Quarterbacks usually move quickly in the cycle, and Boyd’s recruitment has followed that pattern as schools continue to make their final push.
Boyd is ranked by Rivals as the No. 72 player in the country, the No. 4 quarterback in the class, and the No. 5 prospect in California. He’s also listed as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2028 Rivals300.
Oregon still has a path to pull this back. The Ducks can get Boyd back to campus one more time before he decides, with home games remaining against Northwestern and Michigan before his commitment date. Another visit to Eugene would be the best chance for Oregon to make a late impression.
If Boyd does end up elsewhere, Oregon does have other quarterback work underway. Tristin Gaines is the other name to watch, and he’s also been predicted to land in Eugene. Gaines is ranked as the No. 11 quarterback in the class, but he has interest from multiple programs, so the Ducks may need to land one of the two or be forced further down the board.
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