Josiah Boyd, the No. 2 quarterback in the 2028 class, just dropped a bombshell, locking in Nov. 23 as his commitment date. This California dual-threat passer is one of the most sought-after recruits out there, and he’s got three powerhouses vying for his talent: Oregon, UCLA, and Kentucky.
The Frontrunners and the Homefield Edge
For a minute there, it felt like Oregon was leading the pack for Boyd, the first QB they went all-in for in this class. He even took a trip to Eugene earlier this fall and got to see the Ducks stomp Portland State. There’s also that old family tie with his cousin, Devon Blackmon, who enrolled with the Ducks back in 2011. And yeah, Oregon has been Boyd’s “dream school” for a while. UCLA, being the closest program to home, was always a solid second, giving him that home-state vibe.
Kentucky Changes the Game
But holy smokes, things just got wild. Boyd visited Kentucky this past weekend, and what he saw there might have flipped everything upside down. He watched them pull off a massive upset against then-No. 10 LSU in overtime. That’s a serious statement! Plus, Kentucky’s got Will Stein, the guy who developed Heisman finalist quarterbacks back in Eugene before heading to Lexington. That connection, paired with that insane upset, has Kentucky “at the top of Boyd’s mind.” Seriously, this kid could commit in any direction now. Talk about high drama.
Boyd’s Skills and Other Targets
You gotta look at Boyd’s game to see why he’s such a hot commodity. As a sophomore at Vista Del Lago High School, he threw for 2,920 yards and 19 touchdowns, with only three interceptions. He also torched defenses on the ground for 462 yards and nine more scores. This season? In seven games, he’s already racked up 1,237 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and added eight rushing TDs. The kid’s a beast. While Boyd makes his choice, Oregon is also getting closer to Tristin Gaines, the No. 8 quarterback in the class. Gaines has visited Eugene a couple of times, for the Boise State game and the UCLA game, but he hasn’t set his decision date yet. So, if Boyd goes elsewhere, Oregon’s got another top talent in their sights.
The countdown is officially on for Nov. 23. This isn’t just a decision; it’s a seismic shift for one of these programs. Can Oregon regain that frontrunner status, or will Stein’s upset magic seal the deal for Kentucky? Or does UCLA keep him close to home? Get ready, because Josiah Boyd’s choice is going to be HUGE.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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