The Oregon Ducks are still working the quarterback board hard, and one of the names moving up fast is Tristin Gaines.
Oregon already has a verbal commitment from Will Mencl in the class of 2027, but the Ducks are clearly thinking ahead to 2028. They missed on five-star Christopher Vargas, who pledged to Ohio State, yet they’ve kept pressing for another high-end arm out of Texas.
Gaines, a four-star quarterback from Waller High, told Sam Spiegelman of Rivals on Aug. 13 that Oregon is “garnering traction” in his recruitment.
“Oregon is a standout for sure,” Gaines told Rivals. “Coach (Dan) Lanning, Coach Koa (Ka’ai), Coach (Michael) Johnson, and Coach (Drew) Mehringer have all been reaching out almost every day.”
He also made it clear where the Ducks stand in his process.
Out of all of his offers, Gaines says that “Oregon is the team recruiting me hardest.”
That puts Oregon in the mix with a strong group of schools that also includes Michigan, Florida and Texas Tech. The 6-1, 185-pound dual threat is drawing plenty of attention, but the Ducks have made a real impression.
Part of that comes from Oregon’s track record in Texas. The Ducks have consistently landed talent from the state, and Gaines fits the profile of a quarterback they’d love to keep developing.
He looks the part, too. Gaines throws with a clean arc on deep balls, doesn’t tend to leave his targets short, and can hurt defenses on the move. He’s dangerous on rollouts and has the kind of downfield touch that shows up quickly on film.
He also brings some creation ability when plays break down. Gaines keeps his balance on scrambles, understands where the sticks are, and knows when to get out of trouble. That kind of improvisation can remind people of past Oregon quarterbacks, including 2026 Heisman Trophy hopeful Dante Moore.
At Waller High, Gaines helped lead the Bulldogs to a 7-4 record and a playoff berth in Texas 6A Region II District 16. Now that he’s officially moving into his upperclassman season this fall, Oregon will be watching to see what kind of jump he makes.
The Ducks are not treating the 2028 quarterback race like a one-man search, though. They’re also waiting on five-star Detroit passer Donald Tabron II, who plans to shut his recruitment down on Aug.
- Oregon is in that fight, but Texas A&M and LSU are also in the picture for the 6-4 Michigan standout.
Another name tied to Oregon is Josiah Boyd, the four-star dual-threat from Moreno Valley, California. Boyd has been trending toward the Ducks as of Aug. 11, and at 6-4 he brings his own blend of size, arm strength and mobility.
Still, Gaines gives Oregon another strong option if Tabron or Boyd goes elsewhere. For now, the Ducks are doing what they’ve done well in this cycle: staying active, staying involved and keeping multiple paths open.
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