Four-star Oregon quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, a 2025 recruit who committed to the Ducks on December 4, has verified to ESPN that he will join the NCAA transfer portal.
Originally pledged to Cal in the summer, Sagapolutele switched his commitment to Oregon during the early signing period and started classes at the institution last month.
“I simply sensed that I wasn’t a top priority [at Oregon],” Sagapolutele informed ESPN. “Naturally, there will be competition wherever I am.” “I’m simply considering other quarterback situations and identifying where I can play early.”
The 6-foot-3 athlete hailing from Ewa Beach, Hawai’i, is ESPN’s 18th-ranked pocket passer for the 2025 class and was ranked 17th among the prospects in the Ducks’ recruiting class, which currently holds the top spot in ESPN’s rankings for this cycle.
247Sports was the first to announce Sagapolutele’s decision to join the portal.
Sagapolutele, a precise passer who set the record for Hawai’i’s all-time high school passing leader last fall, has emerged as a sought-after late bloomer in the 2025 class.
He pledged to Cal on July 8 before receiving offers from Oregon and Georgia in the fall of his senior year. He evaluated both schools in addition to Cal during the final weeks leading up to the early signing period — visiting Oregon in October and entertaining November trips to Georgia — before switching his commitment to the Ducks when the signing period began on Dec. 4.
“It’s rare to reach this stage and be uncertain about its direction or status,” Ducks coach Dan Lanning remarked regarding Sagapolutele on Dec. 4. “What I was aware of was the location of Jaron’s heart all along.” I believe the process began a bit later for us here. His heart desired to be in Oregon, and I’m very enthusiastic about him and what he will contribute to our team.
Sagapolutele took part in the preparations for the Rose Bowl before the Ducks’ defeat against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Cal did not recruit another quarterback prospect in the 2025 class after Sagapolutele’s commitment change, and the Golden Bears are anticipated to be one of the schools vying for his signature once Sagapolutele officially joins the portal.
Since Sagapolutele joined Oregon last month, he can utilize the transfer portal without needing a release from his financial aid agreement with the Ducks. Oregon athletes have five days following the program’s defeat in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 to officially enter the portal.
Sagapolutele’s transfer to the portal signifies an uncommon choice from a notable quarterback candidate, yet there is recent precedent from the 2024 recruiting cycle. Five-star quarterback Julian Sayin, the ninth-ranked prospect by ESPN in the 2024 class, joined Alabama last year but subsequently entered the portal and moved to Ohio State after Nick Saban retired.
Although Oregon will be without experienced quarterback Dillon Gabriel following the 2024 season, the Ducks have opted against seeking transfer quarterbacks during this portal period and plan to proceed with Dante Moore and Austin Novosad as the primary choices at quarterback in 2025. Oregon additionally secured four-star 2025 quarterback recruit Akili Smith Jr. (ranked No. 87 in the ESPN 300) during the early signing phase. Smith, the child of ex-NFL quarterback Akili Smith, participated in bowl practices and will formally become a Duck this month as an early enrollee.
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