As Oregon football gears up for its first-ever Big Ten matchup, head coach Dan Lanning is still hard at work on the recruiting front. Despite having a top-10 recruiting class for 2025, currently ranked No. 8 in the country, Lanning is pushing to bolster his roster even further, focusing on four-star quarterback Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele, a current California Golden Bears commit.
Although Oregon already has a commitment from four-star quarterback Akili Smith Jr. out of San Diego, Lanning seems intent on adding depth and competition at the position by attempting to flip Sagapolutele. The Hawaii native, widely regarded as the top prospect from his state in the 2025 class, received an offer from the Ducks this past Thursday, signaling Oregon’s interest in bringing him to Eugene.
Oregon has a notable track record with quarterbacks from Hawaii, most famously with Marcus Mariota, who won the Heisman Trophy during his time with the Ducks. Currently, Dillon Gabriel, another Hawaiian standout, is a key player for Oregon. Lanning hopes to continue this successful pipeline by landing Sagapolutele, who has shown immense promise.
Sagapolutele, ranked as the No. 24 quarterback in the 2025 class and No. 283 overall by the 247Sports Composite, has been a solid verbal commit to Cal since July 8. However, with schools like Oregon in the mix, it may be difficult for the Golden Bears to keep him committed. He has also received offers from several other programs, including Boise State, Utah, Colorado, Washington, and Washington State, among others.
Ag2G🙏🏼. Grateful and blessed to receive an offer from @oregonfootball Mahalo @CoachDanLanning @CoachWillStein @CoachTuioti92 for the opportunity!@morisuesue @TheStandard_Co @deen_agustin @SaberFootballHI @TeamPALA7v7 pic.twitter.com/yzZ6qlOGWE
— Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele (@JaronKeawe) September 26, 2024
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound signal-caller’s potential makes him a highly coveted recruit, and Lanning’s recent offer could create a significant shift in his recruitment. Adding Sagapolutele to an already strong class would solidify Oregon’s quarterback depth, providing the Ducks with two highly ranked passers for the 2025 season.
With the recruiting battle heating up, it remains to be seen if Lanning can successfully flip Sagapolutele. If he does, it will be yet another major win for the Ducks’ future under his leadership.
