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.
In Other News...
USC Practice Just Raised Two Big Questions About This Team
USCs 12th practice of camp brought the kind of energy coaches usually love to see in August, with the Trojans working at a high intensity while continuing to build the kind of habits that matter once the season starts. Lincoln Riley said the running game and the defensive front seven drew his attention, and the defense has stood out enough in practice to make that unit one of the more interesting parts of camp. Even with Kilian OConnor sidelined by a season-ending injury, he remains around the program in a leadership and mentoring role, which has helped keep the group connected.
The other notable wrinkle has been a new effort to make practice feel less like practice, with USC testing a surround-sound crowd-noise setup on the fields to force better communication and cut down on mistakes. Special teams has its own unresolved issue as well, with Ryon Sayeri and Caden Chittenden still competing for the kicking job. The Trojans do at least have one part of that picture settled for now, even if the rest of the decision remains open. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Still Has Time To Make A Push For Trey Wright
A key quarterback target in the 2028 cycle is nearing the end of his recruitment, and USC is firmly in the mix. Three-star quarterback Trey Wright has drawn offers from Lincoln Riley and the Trojans, along with Oregon, Arizona, Kentucky and SMU, a group that underscores how widely he is being tracked as his college decision comes into focus.
Wright plans to reveal his commitment on Saturday, giving each program one last chance to make its case before the picture clears. For USC, the timing matters because Riley has taken a selective approach at the position, and Wright could end up being the Trojans quarterback addition for that class if the recruitment breaks their way. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Faces A Risky USC Kicker Decision Before Week 1
USCs special teams picture is still taking shape as fall camp winds down, with Lincoln Riley keeping the competition between Caden Chittenden and Ryon Sayeri very much alive. Both kickers have been tested hard throughout camp, and while Sayeri is set to handle kickoffs this season, the more pressure-packed field goal and PAT work remains unsettled as the Trojans head toward Week 1.
Chittenden stayed at USC and kept competing after losing the job to an injury last season, which has made this battle a little more layered than a simple open tryout. Riley has made it clear the staff wants answers before the games start counting, and for a team trying to avoid early-season special teams drama, the next few days could be a major sorting point. Outside the kicking competition, former Trojans Kamari Ramsey, Bishop Fitzgerald and Anthony Lucas also made their NFL preseason debuts, a reminder of how much USC talent is now trying to establish itself at the next level. [Read more 🡒]