This Oregon Ducks quarterback is being urged to enter the transfer portal next year.
Right now, Dante Moore is the Oregon Ducks' starting quarterback, but the general consensus is that he will declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Moore's impending departure will leave Oregon in quite a rut, as the Ducks don't have a clear in-house answer under center and will have to scour the transfer portal for a solution.
Oregon has been linked to signal-callers like Sam Leavitt and Dylan Raiola in the portal, but there is no guarantee that the Ducks will land any of the top options available.
So, what about Akili Smith Jr.?
Smith committed to Oregon last December and redshirted his freshman season in Eugene, but at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds with tremendous athleticism and all-around ability, he could ultimately have a future as Ducks starting quarterback.
However, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian isn't too sure Smith is guaranteed much of anything at Oregon and went as far to say that Smith should enter the transfer portal next year if he is unable to establish himself in 2026.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Akili Smith Jr. Credit: Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images."Should Moore leave, I’d expect the Ducks to pursue a quarterback in the transfer portal," Fentress wrote. "Smith must continue to work hard to place himself in a position to start in 2027 as a redshirt sophomore. If not, he should probably enter the 2027 transfer portal."
What puts Oregon in such a difficult position at the moment is that it is playing in the College Football Playoff, so Moore hasn't made any decision on his future yet.
Top quarterbacks will surely like to know what Moore is doing before committing to the Ducks, so Dan Lanning's squad may fall behind the 8-ball when it comes to securing a signal-caller in the transfer portal this winter.
Oregon has gone 13-1 this season, with its lone loss coming at the hands of undefeated Indiana back on Oct. 11.
As fate would have it, the Ducks will be facing the Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl with a trip to the National Championship Game on the line Friday night.
Once Oregon's matchup with Indiana is complete, we will surely get more clarity on Moore's future, which, in turn, will help the Ducks to sort our their quarterback situation for next season.