Oregon’s 2028 quarterback board may be thin, but the Ducks still have a live shot with one of the biggest names left: four-star Josiah Boyd.
Boyd, the Vista del Lago High standout from Moreno Valley, California, announced that he will make his decision on Nov. 23.
He’s down to a final three, and Oregon made the cut. That alone gives the Ducks some much-needed optimism as they try to snap a quiet stretch on the recruiting trail.
“With Nov. 23 coming up, these next few weeks are going to be big for me,” Boyd told 247Sports' Blair Angulo about his decision date. “I'm taking everything in, building relationships, and making sure I make the right decision for me and my future. The visits have helped me a lot because I get to meet the coaches, see how the programs operate, and experience the atmosphere for myself.”
Oregon has been in on Boyd for a long time. The Ducks were one of his earliest offers and started pushing hard for him when he was still a sophomore, so this isn’t a late scramble. They’ve stayed relevant enough to survive the trimming of his list, which is no small thing at this point in the process.
That matters for Oregon because a couple of other quarterback targets have already slipped away. Three-star 2028 quarterback Trey Wright picked USC, while five-star target Christopher Vargas landed with Ohio State.
Boyd brings more than just ranking value. He comes from the same region that produced Washington Commanders quarterback and LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, and Boyd told Angulo that Daniels has long been one of his idols. Daniels also grew up in the Inland Empire, not far from Boyd’s hometown of San Bernardino.
Kentucky looks like the biggest threat to Oregon here. Boyd visited Lexington for the Oct.
10 LSU game, and there’s a clear connection brewing on that side. Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan coached Daniels during his Heisman-winning 2023 season at LSU, and Angulo reported that Sloan’s bond with Boyd is strong.
The Wildcats also have another edge in the form of head coach Will Stein, who used to be Oregon coach Dan Lanning’s offensive coordinator. Stein, Sloan and Kentucky appear to have made a real impression on Boyd during the trip, especially after the Wildcats’ dramatic 34-33 win over No. 10 LSU.
Oregon isn’t just battling Kentucky, though. UCLA is in the mix as well, and the Bruins are set to host Boyd for the Oct. 17 Wisconsin game, according to 247Sports.
If Boyd goes elsewhere, Oregon’s options at the top of the 2028 quarterback class could get even narrower. Four-star Carter Zingelmann of Coppell, Texas remains one of the few uncommitted names on the board, though there’s no indication yet whether he’ll make it to Eugene.
Another four-star, Titus Huard of Valor Chrisian High in Colorado, also has a Ducks offer, but he hasn’t released a final list. His father, Brock, played against Oregon out west while at Washington.
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