Coaches want to add a quarterback every year. It just makes sense at a place like Oregon, where the Ducks currently have four working in the NFL. A staff wants progression and development.
They feel good about the future of 2025 true freshman Akili Smith Jr. and 2026 commit Bryson Beaver, so much so that the staff hasn't officially offered Ryder Lyons and doesn't have plans to have him visit.
They're targeting three quarterbacks in the 2027 class and they're in a good position for all three, Dane Weber of Chapparal High School in Temecula, California, who's visiting for the Montana State game, Trent Seaborn of Alabaster, Alabama, a 72 percent passer in 2025, and Keegan Croucher, a 6-4 gunslinger and three-sport athlete from Chesire Academy in Chesire, Connecticut.
Croucher has a fastball in the 90s and the confident way of a gifted athlete, a varsity starter as a sophomore who threw 31 touchdowns with just three interceptions, accurate and poised in the pocket. According to the 247Sports Composite he's the No. 10 quarterback in the country and No. 125 prospect in the 2027 class.
A lot to like in the 2025 film of Keegan Croucher. Four-star 2027 QB down to Oregon, Ole Miss and Penn State. @Hudl https://t.co/DxdG6XR8gQ #hudl
— Dale Bliss (@AutzenZoo_Bliss) August 25, 2025
Following the film, with notes:
Throws accurately rolling right or left. Stays poised in a collapsing pocket, athletic enough to buy time and manipulate the pocket. Quick release, can deliver an accurate ball to tight windows with a flick of the rest. Finds his receiver under pressure. Size helps him as he surveys the field, shows good command under pressure, resourceful.
Accurate on all types of throws. Three-sport background helps him in asserting leadership. Comfortable making the deep sideline throws or running the RPO like a point guard. Hits a 30-yard target running across the middle, a reliable clock in his head. Senses the rush without panic. Accurate at the deep and intermediate levels.
Resourceful and smart. Full toolkit as to type of throws and keeping a play alive. Good base and whip in his motion-- can zip it on a string 30-35 yards over the middle to the right numeral on the jersey. Takes something off the ball underneath. Good footwork in evading pressure. Used to being in the spotlight whether shuffling up in the pocket, on the pitcher's mound or driving the lane.
Checks protections, slides away from pressure, throws down and away to give his receiver a safe spot to go down and get the ball at the goal line in traffic. Processes quickly, a confident decision-maker. Handles situations on the fly. Lays the ball out and can throw a receiver open. Advanced pocket presence and maturity for a sophomore.
Quick reads and snap throws in the red zone. Ball is out-- NOW, on-time and in rhythm. Tall in the pocket, knows where his guys are. Recognizes mismatches. Puts a deep route down the sideline on the receiver 40 yards, touchdown. Can sling it to all parts of the field with confidence.
Picks a defense apart, and can handle things off-platform. Works well with the tall receiver and exploits advantages. Next-level confidence in his arm strength. Will have to adjust to playoff-level coverage talent. Doesn't face much of it here-- he's often the tallest and most athletic guy on the field.
Has a bit of Namath/Marino swagger in his command of the position. Rolling right, a rainbow to the corner of the end zone, a strike. Keeper from the 10. Runs well enough to exploit numbers advantages or open space. Comfortable on the easy pitch and catch, no rush or aiming the ball.
Pocket breaks down, escapes rolling left, throws low and away with authority where only the receiver can get to it while protecting his guy, complete for a first down. Wheel right with nice touch. In the grasp, a quick lateral to an outlet. Saves plays with a quick mind, only three picks versus 31 touchdowns in 2025.
Scrambles for a first down and gets out of bounds. Keeps running, protects his body and the football. As a New England kid, plays in fog, rain, cold. Good hand size enables him to handle a slick ball. Pass in the flat, can change arm angles and find a way to deliver the football. Quick snap throw like turning a double play. Tight rotation allows him to deliver a pass even when his guy is only a little bit open. Decisive.
While it's early in his development, Croucher's athletic pedigree and ability to stand and deliver reminds me a bit of Justin Herbert. He has two high school seasons to capitalize on that promise
Croucher told Kevin L.. Smith of Sports Illustrated,
“I’ve played quarterback my whole life. It’s the only position I’ve ever played. I’ve always wanted the ball in my hands. I’ve taken everything I learned back at home and throughout my career and brought it to Cheshire.”
To Steve Wiltfong of On3 he said,
“Oregon has done an excellent job in my recruitment. I’ve been in touch with them a lot. Their offense speaks for itself. Coach (Will) Stein has done a tremendous job with the offense and their quarterbacks. They have one of the best recruiting classes every year.
This is the fifth cycle for Dan Lanning and the Ducks in quarterback recruiting, a type is emerging. The Oregon staff gravitates toward pure throwers with intelligence. All of the quarterbacks they've recruited actively, Novosad, Dante Moore, Luke Moga, Akili Smith Jr., Lyons, Beaver, Jared Curtis, have been pass-first guys with athletic ability, and all of them were honor roll students in high school.
Lanning values decision-making, leadership and work habits. A quarterback has to have all of those to succeed Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel.