Son of former Oregon star commits to Ducks: ‘The best option for me’

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The Oregon Ducks have landed a commitment from 2025 quarterback Akili Smith Jr., the son of former Oregon star Akili Smith, who was selected with the third overall pick of the 1999 NFL Draft. 

Smith Jr. is out of San Diego and is the fifth-ranked quarterback in the 247 Sports 2025 class. 

The Oregon Ducks' mascot, Puddles, performs for the crowd during a Pac-12 football game between the UCLA Bruins and Oregon Ducks Oct. 22, 2022, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.  (Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"I’ve always wanted to go to Oregon," Smith Jr. said, according to 247 Sports. "Ever since I was young, that’s all my dad had me wearing, Oregon gear and watching Oregon football.

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"Saying all that, it was still a business decision for me, and my dad really didn’t push me to pick Oregon. He wanted this to be my decision, and I looked at a few other schools really hard. When I evaluated everyone equally, Oregon was the best option for me."

Smith Jr.’s father was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 1998, leading the Ducks to an 8-4 record before being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals.  

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An Oregon Ducks helmet during a Senior Bowl team practice session Feb. 2, 2023, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala.   (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Smith Jr. is the fourth commitment in the 2025 class for second-year head coach Dan Lanning. 

Lanning, who led Oregon to a 10-3 record in 2022, found himself in the news Monday due to his comments on the University of Colorado’s move to the Big