4-Star QB Akili Smith Jr., Son of Former NFL 1st-Round Draft Pick, Commits to Oregon

The Oregon football team landed a commitment from a player with family ties to the school.

Class of 2025 4-star quarterback Akili Smith Jr. committed to the Ducks on Monday:

As The Athletic's Antonio Morales noted, Smith's father starred for Oregon during the late 1990s and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 3 pick in the 1999 NFL draft. The elder Smith reacted to the announcement on Twitter:

Smith, who is entering his junior season at Lincoln High School in San Diego, is ranked as the No. 6 quarterback in the 2025 class by 247Sports' composite. He chose Oregon over offers from Michigan, Florida, Miami (FL), Arizona and Colorado, among other schools.

Morales called Smith "a high-quality get for the Ducks," especially considering the talented 2025 quarterback class in the Southern California area. Morales noted that there are "four top-150 players at the position within the region, and Smith sits atop the list."

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning now has secured blue-chip quarterback commitments in each of the next two recruiting cycles, as Smith joins 2024 4-star prospect Michael Van Buren plus 3-star QB Luke Moga. With 2023 4-star recruit Austin Novosad added to the mix, Lanning is "stacking talent well at the position," per Morales.

Smith will have a lot to live up to when he plays for Oregon, as his dad put up 3,763 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior in 1998.

Oregon is coming off a 10-3 finish to the 2022 season with a 7-2 conference record, which tied for second in the Pac-12. Senior quarterback Bo Nix will lead the way when the Ducks open the 2023 season against Portland State on Sept. 2.