Lane Kiffin is closer to getting clarity on his next star QB as top prospects decide between Alabama, Oregon, and Ole Miss
Four teams appear to be in the thick of a race for four quarterbacks, and multiple teams would love to add multiple recruits to their 2026 class. As visits wrap up this weekend and most superstar prospects have announcement dates set, things are heating up for Lane Kiffin and his targets. The Ole Miss Rebels […]
Four teams appear to be in the thick of a race for four quarterbacks, and multiple teams would love to add multiple recruits to their 2026 class. As visits wrap up this weekend and most superstar prospects have announcement dates set, things are heating up for Lane Kiffin and his targets.
The Ole Miss Rebels need a quarterback in their 2026 recruiting class, but so does Alabama, Oregon, and a surprising lurker in BYU. Alabama has added Jett Thomalla but wants a second four-star, while BYU appears poised to steal Ryder Lyons from Oregon and Ole Miss.
Matt Ponatoski is close to Oregon and Alabama, but he's also a two-star athlete who could get drafted into the MLB. The merry-go-round is intense.
That leaves Bryson Beaver and Landon Duckworth, but other SEC teams are at play with the latter. Duckworth is visiting South Carolina this weekend, and they're expected to win that race over Auburn.
Beaver may have to be the de facto choice for Kiffin and his Rebels. On3's Steve Wiltfong reported the following this week:
"Murrieta (Calif.) Vista Murrieta four-star quarterback Bryson Beaver showed why his stock is soaring on Tuesday night, earning a spot in On3’s Top Performers for day 1 checking in at No. 6.
Ole Miss and Oregon are the two programs to keep a closest eye on right now. Similar to Ponatoski, Alabama told him they’d take two quarterbacks so he’ll keep the Crimson Tide warm as well. All three programs have offered the former Boise State commit in the last two weeks."
Beaver, like most other quarterback recruits, has been very impressed and complimentary of Kiffin's development of Jaxson Dart and the offense as a whole.
“That’s a guy I like to style my play off,” Beaver said of Dart. “He’s a great competitor. It’s very intriguing. I love their offense and love their scheme. They do some special things there.”
But Beaver will be in Oregon this weekend while Ponatoski goes to Kentucky. There's a chance someone gets left out, and the Rebels might be it.
For now, Beaver is projected at 97% to select Oregon. Duckworth is considered an 80% lean toward South Carolina. Ponatoksi has skyrocketed to an 89% favoring Kentucky.
Can Kiffin pull off a late recovery?
