After suffering a setback on the recruiting trail when five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons committed to BYU over the Oregon Ducks, head coach Dan Lanning quickly rebounded by securing a pledge from four-star quarterback Bryson Beaver the very next day. Beaver, a standout at Vista Murrieta High School in California, has rapidly climbed the rankings after an impressive showing at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles, positioning himself among the fastest-rising prospects in the 2026 class.
Currently ranked No. 55 among quarterbacks and No. 93 overall in California by 247Sports, Beaver became Oregon’s first quarterback commit in the 2026 cycle. However, the Ducks may not be done at the position. It’s increasingly common for programs to bring in two quarterbacks—whether from high school or via the transfer portal—in a single class. One name at the top of Oregon’s remaining wish list is Matt Ponatoski, a four-star QB and dynamic two-sport athlete who is quickly gaining national attention.
Ponatoski, who hails from Archbishop Moeller High School in Ohio, is currently being pursued by Oregon, Arkansas, and Kentucky. He is ranked as the No. 21 quarterback and No. 12 overall player in Ohio by the 247Sports Composite. Like Beaver, Ponatoski made a strong impression at the Elite 11, securing a spot in the final group of 20 quarterbacks. His performance was so strong that he was named top performer during the pro day session, outshining several highly ranked peers, including commits to USC and Oklahoma.
Renowned football analyst Bruce Feldman praised Ponatoski as one of the biggest revelations of the event, noting his “electric arm” and uncanny ability to place the ball into tight windows. Feldman called Ponatoski “the most pleasant surprise” of the camp and lauded two of his throws as “wow” moments that showcased elite-level vision and arm talent.
Interestingly, Ponatoski had committed to Missouri for baseball as an eighth grader, but eventually decided to shift his primary athletic focus to football—though he still plans to play both sports in college. A Gatorade Player of the Year in both football and baseball, he led his high school team to an Ohio state championship while throwing for 4,217 yards and 57 touchdowns. On the diamond, he plays shortstop and third base and is viewed as a top-20 national prospect.
Should Oregon manage to land Ponatoski, it would be a major win for both Dan Lanning’s football program and Mark Wasikowski’s baseball team, securing a high-upside, multi-sport talent capable of thriving in multiple systems. With Beaver already in the fold, a commitment from Ponatoski could give the Ducks one of the most intriguing quarterback tandems in the 2026 recruiting cycle.
