The Oregon Ducks are led this season by Dillon Gabriel, one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in college football history. However, this marks the final year of the sixth-year senior’s storied college career. After the season, Gabriel will aim to showcase his potential as an NFL quarterback, leaving Oregon in need of a new leader under center.
Although the Ducks already have former five-star recruit Dante Moore waiting in the wings, head coach Dan Lanning and his staff have added another talented quarterback to their roster. During the early signing period on Wednesday, Oregon flipped five-star recruit Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele from the Cal Golden Bears, a former Pac-12 rival. Sagapolutele, Hawaii’s No. 1 prospect, has seen his recruiting stock soar, climbing from an under-recruited three-star to breaking into On3’s top 20 rankings.
Initially committed to Cal in July, Sagapolutele’s other finalists included Oregon State, Utah State, and Boise State. However, a standout performance at the Elite 11 camp and a record-breaking senior season propelled him into the national spotlight. He became Hawaii’s all-time passing leader, surpassing players like Dillon Gabriel, Tua Tagovailoa, Timmy Chang, and McKenzie Milton. On Wednesday, he made his commitment to Oregon official, joining a recruiting class ranked No. 3 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten by On3.
In addition to his rise on the field, Sagapolutele’s NIL valuation has skyrocketed. He now ranks No. 23 among high school recruits in On3’s NIL rankings with a valuation of $603,000. With Moore, former four-star Austin Novosad, Sagapolutele, and 2025 signee Akili Smith Jr., the Ducks are well-equipped for life after Gabriel, who set the all-time FBS record for career touchdowns with 182 (and counting) in November.
Looking ahead, Gabriel and the Ducks are set to face Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET on CBS.
