Oregon’s quarterback board in the 2028 class is starting to take shape, and the Ducks are in the mix with three different names who could help define the future of the position.
At the center of it all is quarterbacks coach Koa Ka’ai, who is heading into his first full season with that title on Dan Lanning’s staff. Ka’ai never played quarterback for Oregon, but his path through the program gives him a different lens. The former defensive end-turned-tight end, who was with the Ducks from 2012 through 2015, now uses that background on both sides of the ball to judge the next wave of signal-callers and build relationships with prospects.
One of those prospects, three-star Trey Wright, is nearing a decision. Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett posted on X that Wright plans to announce his commitment Saturday, Aug.
- Oregon is in the running, along with Arizona, USC, Kentucky and SMU.
USC looks like the team to beat. Coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are considered the heavy favorites for the 5-9, 175-pound Frisco, Texas, standout, and it’s easy to see why.
As a sophomore at Frisco Lone Star, Wright put up 5,862 passing yards and 59 total touchdowns, leading all of high school football in both categories. He helped his team go 15-1 and finish as the Texas 5A Division I state runner-up.
Rivals lists Wright as the nation’s No. 429 overall recruit in the Class of 2028, the No. 29 quarterback, and the No. 53 player in Texas.
Oregon is also staying active with another top quarterback target out West in Josiah Boyd. The four-star from Vista Del Lago in Moreno, California, is drawing attention from the Ducks, USC and UCLA, while Kentucky and first-year head coach Will Stein are also involved.
Boyd, who is 6-4 and 175 pounds, checks in at No. 65 overall and No. 5 among quarterbacks in the 2028 class, according to Rivals. He told Rivals’ Adam Gorney in late May, "The culture Coach Lanning has built, the way they develop players, and the resources they invest into the program. I also like the offense and how they put their quarterbacks in position to succeed."
Another name on Oregon’s list is Tristin Gaines, a four-star dual-threat quarterback from Waller, Texas. The 6-1, 180-pound prospect has been linked to a possible official visit to Autzen Stadium in Eugene in the coming months, though nothing is set yet. He’s also hearing from Michigan, Texas Tech and Houston.
Gaines told Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman on Aug. 13 that Oregon has surged in his recruitment. "Oregon is a standout for sure,” Gaines stated to Spiegelman.
“Coach (Dan) Lanning, Coach Koa (Ka’ai), Coach (Michael) Johnson, and Coach (Drew) Mehringer have all been reaching out almost every day... Oregon is the team recruiting me hardest."
Mehringer, Oregon’s first-year offensive playcaller, already helped land a big quarterback piece for the future. He was part of the staff that secured a verbal commitment from five-star Will Mencl in the 2027 class back in April of 2026, and that decision is clearly still echoing with the 2028 quarterbacks Oregon is chasing now.
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There is also at least some uncertainty around Davison, which has made Prices role look even more important than it did a few weeks ago. Samples has not sounded alarmed, noting that Davison has been practicing well and pushing through his recovery, but the Ducks may still have to lean on Price sooner than expected if they want to keep the backfield stable early in 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Next Quarterback Battle Is Starting To Come Into Focus
With Will Mencl already in the fold for the 2027 class, Oregons quarterback pipeline is starting to take shape again, and the Ducks are wasting little time looking ahead to the next cycle. Theyre still making the rounds on 2028 passers, a group that matters even more after Oregon missed out on five-star Christopher Vargas, who chose Ohio State instead. The staff has responded by widening the board and staying active with a handful of young quarterbacks as it continues to map out the future of the room.
Tristin Gaines has emerged as one of the more interesting names in that search, with the Texas standout saying Oregon is recruiting him the hardest. The Ducks are also in the mix for Donald Tabron II and Josiah Boyd as part of that same 2028 push, a reminder that this is less about one splash commitment than building a sustained plan at the sports most important position. For Oregon, the next quarterback battle is already being fought on the recruiting trail, and the early reads suggest the staff has real momentum even if the full picture is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Dierre Hill Jr. Could Give Oregon A New Kind Of Weapon
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What makes Hill interesting is not just the added work behind the scenes, but the way Oregon plans to use him. Coaches see him as more than a backfield piece now, and they expect to move him around in multiple spots as his understanding of the offense continues to deepen. If that progression holds, Hill could become one of the more dynamic and flexible weapons on the roster. [Read more 🡒]