The 10 best remaining quarterbacks in the 2023 recruiting class

You can count on the Oregon Ducks to try hard to sign one of these remaining QBs in the 2023 class.

A major domino in the college football recruiting world fell on Monday morning, with 5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr. announcing that he would be committing to the Tennessee Volunteers.

Iamaleava Jr. chose Tennessee over schools like the Oregon Ducks, Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Miami Hurricanes.

With Nico off the board, there are still a number of highly-rated QB prospects left without a commitment announced, but as we get closer to spring games across the nation, you can expect some more dominoes will start to fall. It is always thought that getting a QB to commit to your team early on will help with the rest of the recruiting class because they can help draw other talents to your roster.

So when looking at the 2023 class as a whole, who are the top passers remaining that will likely commit to a school in the next couple of months? Let’s take a look:

Breaking: 5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr. commits to Tennessee over Oregon Ducks

5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr. is off the board, choosing to commit to the Tennessee Volunteers over the Oregon Ducks.

[jwplayer LCTahqD7]

One of the top quarterbacks in the 2023 recruiting class is now off the board, with 5-star Nico Iamaleava Jr. announcing on Monday that he would be committing to the Tennessee Volunteers.

Iamaleava, who is rated by 247Sports as the No. 4 QB in the class, and No. 7 player overall, listed the Oregon Ducks in his top-5 just a week ago, and was predicted by many to be headed to Eugene after taking a visit earlier this year to the Oregon facilities. However, a recent trip to Knoxville swayed some things, and a hefty NIL offer from the Volunteers looks like it has done the trick in sending this elite QB prospect to the SEC.

While it is a bummer to miss out on a player like Iamaleava, there are still a number of highly-rated 5-star QBs in the 2023 class, and the Ducks are certainly in the mix for a few of them. We will see over the coming weeks which guys Oregon really makes a run after, but things have certainly changed now that Nico is off the board.

[listicle id=21309]

[mm-video type=video id=01fypffmnsb2xcaqnx7y playlist_id=01f27mq9z7hjgk6vc6 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fypffmnsb2xcaqnx7y/01fypffmnsb2xcaqnx7y-d5ce3f907dbe554381d8aea63834dbc3.jpg]

Oregon target Nico Iamaleava Jr. draws comparisons to Ducks’ legend Justin Herbert

Nico Iamaleava Jr., a big-time Ducks’ target, is drawing comparisons to Justin Herbert. That’s not something that should be said lightly.

[jwplayer JYsUO2iH]

The recruiting momentum for 2023 5-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava Jr. to come to the University of Oregon has certainly been picking up steam, and in the past week, On3 Recruiting projected that the Oregon Ducks are currently in the lead to land him this spring.

On3 recently added more fuel to that fire as well, making a comparison with Iamaleava — the No. 4 QB in the 2023 class, and the No. 7 player overall — and saying that he has shades of Justin Herbert.

“Iamaleava has some of the more impressive raw physical tools we’ve seen,” On3’s Charles Power said. “Has a huge arm with the ability to drive the ball to multiple levels with ease.”

Obviously saying that Nico is comparable to Herbert should not be done lightly. After a thrilling college career that saw the Ducks win a Rose Bowl, Herbert has gone on to become one of the best and most promising young QBs in the NFL. Should he keep up on his current trajectory, it is not hard to see him being named a future MVP and potentially being gifted a golden jacket down the road.

It’s way too early to say any of that is in the cards for Iamaleava, but the fact that he’s drawing comparisons to an Oregon legend this early on is never a bad sign.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f27mq9z7hjgk6vc6 player_id=none image=https://duckswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=20607]

Oregon Ducks receive favorable odds to land 5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr.

The Ducks have set their sights on 2023 5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr., who plans to make his commitment in the coming months.

[jwplayer YqJXx42j]

A lot of college football fans may be under the belief that recruiting is just something that happens for part of the year, but in today’s day and age, that couldn’t be more wrong.

Though the Oregon Ducks turned in an impressive 25th-ranked class earlier this month on national signing day, the grind hasn’t stopped for the coaching staff in Eugene, where they are still working to add a couple of pieces to the 2022 class, and being aggressive when it comes to landing top prospects in the 2023 class and beyond.

[lawrence-related id=20381]

One of those top prospects in the 2023 class will be at the quarterback position, where the Ducks will undoubtedly look to grab a highly-rated player as early on as they can to help attract other stars to Eugene as well. So far, it appears that California’s 5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr. is the main target for Oregon. Standing at 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, Iamaleava is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 4 QB in the 2023 class, and No. 7 player overall.

Nico has a few schools that he is interested in, but after his recent visit to Eugene at the end of January, it is the Ducks who are currently in the lead to land him, according to On3 Recruits.

With a few visits left on his schedule, Iamaleava is expected to narrow his recruiting list down over the next month and plans to try and make his ultimate decision before the summer begins. If he does ultimately end up choosing the Ducks, it will be the biggest recruiting win in Dan Lanning’s young tenure at Oregon, and act as a recruiting boon for the 2023 class.

[listicle id=20354]

2023 5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr. takes visit to see Oregon Ducks

5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr. is in Eugene to see the Ducks this weekend. Iamaleava ranks as the No. 4 QB in the 2023 recruiting class. Big visit.

[jwplayer 9vYKauUB]

One of the top national prospects in the 2023 recruiting class is in Eugene for the weekend visiting the Oregon Ducks on a recruiting trip before the dead period comes and shuts things down a week from now.

5-star QB Nico Iamaleava Jr. who ranks as the No. 4 QB in the 2023 class and the No. 17 player overall, according to 247Sports, is a 6-foot-5, 195-pound passer who is among the most coveted players in next year’s recruiting class. He currently has a load of Power 5 offers, including Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, USC, and many others.

Iamaleava Jr. will join a slew of other highly-rated recruits in Eugene this weekend, taking a look around the facilities and hearing the recruiting pitch from head coach Dan Lanning. While we likely won’t hear a commitment from him any time soon, the fact that he is taking a visit to the Ducks is certainly a big deal.

Contact/Follow us @Ducks_Wire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. 

[listicle id=17144]