5-star QB Will Mencl, nation's top passer, commits to Oregon Ducks
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Since taking over the Oregon Ducks in 2022, Dan Lanning’s routine has been to recruit quality talent at the quarterback position but to give way to elite transfer portal passers to lead the offense. That could continue, but the Ducks’ latest commitment might buck the trend.
Five-star quarterback Will Mencl announced his commitment to the Ducks live on the Rivals YouTube channel on Wednesday. He picked the Ducks over Auburn and Penn State. Mencl is the top-ranked quarterback in the country and the No. 13 overall recruit in the 2027 cycle, per Rivals.
“The biggest thing was the relationship with the staff,” Mencl said. “I feel like that continued to grow over time, especially when I first got there last spring. Being able to sit down with Coach Koa, really being an underlooked guy at that time, and kind of blowing up my junior season. And then, the path to the NFL. You can’t deny what they do with quarterbacks and the type of scheme they run. I felt like that was the best fit for me and my family to get to the next level.”
Oregon has been all over the signal caller from Chandler, Arizona, on the recruiting trail after extending an offer in the fall. Auburn made a late push, but a recent visit to Eugene sealed the deal for Mencl and the Ducks. He is now the highest-ranked recruit in Oregon’s class, and the highest-rated quarterback commit for the Ducks since Ty Thompson in 2021.
Mencl is a prolific dual-threat quarterback, completing more than 70% of his passes for 3,815 yards and 33 touchdowns against five interceptions in his junior season, leading Chandler to a state title berth. He also rushed for 741 yards and an additional 17 touchdowns.
Although the Ducks already have Dylan Raiola and former four-star Akili Smith Jr. preparing to replace Dante Moore in 2027, there can never be too much talent in the quarterback room, and Mencl could push both of them right away.
The 6-foot-3 passer provided a much-needed boost to Oregon’s recruiting class, which now ranks among the best nation, per Rivals. The Ducks have recruited Arizona well under Lanning, and are still in contention for a couple more recruits in the desert.
Securing Mencl’s commitment before the summer begins is a huge advantage, but the Ducks will have to find a way to hold on to the talented quarterback moving into the fall for his senior season at Chandler. Mencl has been a rising prospect, and one the Ducks can’t afford to lose in this class. The Ducks have already had three players shut down their recruitments this spring, and the next step for Oregon is to have Mencl do the same.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 5-star QB Will Mencl commits to Oregon over Auburn, Penn State
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos