Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Oregon Lands Projected $603K QB to Replace Dillon Gabriel

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Dec 4, 2024 10:01 PM ET

The Oregon Ducks have one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in college football history leading the charge this season in Dillon Gabriel, but this is the final year of the sixth-year senior's illustrious college career.

At the season's end, Gabriel will look to prove he has what it takes to be a quarterback at the NFL level, which means the Ducks will need a new quarterback. While Oregon already has a former five-star in Dante Moore waiting his turn behind Gabriel, Dan Lanning and company made sure to add another talented signal caller to the room.

In an early signing period flip on Wednesday, the Ducks snatched five-star Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele from a former Pac-12 foe in the Cal Golden Bears.

There may not have been a recruit whose process heated up as much or as fast as Sagapolutele's, as the No. 1 player in Hawaii went from an under-recruited three-star to ascending into the top 20 of On3's recruiting rankings. When he initially committed to Cal back in July, his other finalists were Oregon State, Utah State and Boise State.

Following a strong showing at the Elite 11 and a historic senior season that saw him become Hawaii's all-time passing leader, passing names like Gabriel, Tua Tagovailoa, Timmy Chang and Mckenzie Milton, Sagapolutele saw his recruiting blow up.

He made his pledge to Oregon official on Wednesday, joining Oregon's class that ranks No. 3 in all of college football and No. 1 in the Big Ten, according to On3.

Oregon is getting a good one in QB @JaronKeawe Sagapolutele

Ducks successfully flip the former Cal-commit.

Sagapolutele, the all-time passing leader in Hawai’i HS football, follows in the footsteps of Hawai’i-born signal-callers Dillon Gabriel and Marcus Mariota.… pic.twitter.com/newmKq1wk5
— Michael Lasquero (@MichaelLasquero) December 4, 2024

On top of his interest from major programs rising this season, Sagapolutele's NIL Valuation also skyrocketed. Sagapolutele ranks No. 23 in On3's NIL Valuation rankings for high school recruits, posting a $603,000 NIL value.

With Moore, former four-star Austin Novosad Sagapolutele, and fellow 2025 signee Akili Smith Jr. in the mix, the Ducks will have plenty of options to replace Gabriel, who became the all-time FBS leader for touchdowns back in Nov. with 182 and counting.

Sagapolutele's future squad is set to take on Penn State on Saturday in the Big Ten Championship in a game that will air at 8:00 ET on CBS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: