Akili Smith junior has the arm talent--and the head--to be Oregon's next great quarterback. But can the Ducks hold off Florida, Michigan and the rest of the NCAA?

 

Sometimes the stars just line up, and what a story it would be if this were one of those times.

This week former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert signed a contract extension with the San Diego Chargers. His new deal currently makes him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL at five years, $262 million. 

A couple of miles away from Herbert's boyhood home, Dan Lanning got a new deal as coach of the Oregon Ducks. His new contract pays him over $7 million a season. Most importantly, it locks him up as coach of the Webfoots through 2028.

Saturday night in Eugene, Akili Smith junior is coming to Autzen Stadium to participate in Saturday Night Live, the school's annual recruiting event.

Last season Smith started as Vista Murrieta High School as a sophomore.

He's 6-5, 205, a four-star quarterback in the class of 2025. In 2022 he earned All-CIF Southern Section honors after throwing for 2,432 yards with 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions, completing 67% of his passes.

The arm talent, footwork and vision are all spectacular, particularly for a sophomore who is still growing into his body. Smith escapes trouble and finds open receivers. He's poised and smart, a 3.57 student who already understands the game at a high level.

His vision, balance and accuracy are stunning for a young quarterback. He shows incredible savvy in his ability to see the entire field, adjust on the fly when things break down and deliver the football to either sideline, over the middle or far down field. He throws receivers open, knows just where the football should go and how to get it there.

His father Akili sr. is his quarterback coach, and both his parents have done an exceptional job of training both the mind and the body.

The throw @Akilismithjr and the catch @NaeshaunM 🏈 pic.twitter.com/hXjK3kri0L

— The Underclassman Report (@TheUCReport) June 24, 2023

In March he transferred from Vista Murrieta to Lincoln High School in San Diego, his father's old school, the place that brought the Ducks cornerbacks Jahlil Florence and Jalil Tucker, since transferred to San Diego State. Royce Freeman played 114 miles inland at Imperial.

His father starred for two seasons as a Duck and was chosen as the number three pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, a good enough athlete that he also played minor league baseball.

Neither sport worked out for the father at the pro level. He joined a downtrodden franchise that went 3-14, then bounced around to Green Bay, NFL Europe and the Calgary Stampeders before hanging it up.

He didn't get great coaching or guidance, and there were maturity issues. A few years later he told Sports Illustrated, "We had a 16-week program, and I would be in Cincy four days at a time; then I'd jet back to San Diego and party. I was a complete embarrassment off the field."

Already Junior, nicknamed KJ, seems to be the rare son who can learn from the mistakes of his father. He's taller and more accurate. Florida and Michigan are pressing hard. He's competed at the Elite 11 Regional, the Showdown Series 7v7 event and the Future 50 in June at IMG Academy in Florida. After every camp stop and 7-on-7 tournament more offers pour in, over 20 now. On3 Sports named him the best quarterback on the West Coast, top five in the country.

He came to Oregon for the Spring Game, made visits to Ohio State, UCLA and Arizona. Washington's offered, which would be the ultimate tweak on expectations. The Ducks offered on January 27th.

EXTREMELY excited and blessed to have received my 6th offer from the university of Oregon…@oregonfootball

Thanks for the offer @CoachWillStein.@GregBiggins @alecsimpson5 @BrandonHuffman @ESPN300News @LemmingReport @CraigHaubert @TheUCReport #goducks #nike #jordan pic.twitter.com/9vDgZqpe8m

— Akili Smith Jr (@Akilismithjr) January 27, 2023

He told Greg Biggins of 247Sports, “That was big since my dad played there and growing up, Oregon was the school I rooted for,” Smith Jr said. “Coach Stein (OC/QB coach) came to my school and watched my film and then offered.

“I’ve been up to Oregon a few times already and went to two games last season. I was able to meet coach Lanning and I like him a lot. He’s an amazing coach and I like where the program is going.”

Like many high-level recruits, he knows how this game is played. Browse through recruiting interviews for top prospects at a half dozen different schools, and they all know to sound enthusiastic about every program and every opportunity. Because, why wouldn't you be?