The 2026 quarterback class is beginning to take shape, but a few elite names still haven’t committed. These are the guys at the top of every Power 5 board — multi-year starters in waiting, with polished mechanics, physical tools, and production to back it up.
Here are the five highest-rated uncommitted quarterbacks in the class, along with background, visits, recruiting momentum, and a projected landing spot for each.
1. Ryder Lyons – BYU
| Height | 6′2″ |
| Weight | 205 lbs |
| High School | Folsom HS (Folsom, CA) |
| QB Style | Pocket er |
- Official Visits: Oregon (June 13), earlier visits to USC, BYU, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Michigan
- Recruiting Trend: USC and Oregon were long seen as front-runners, but BYU is trending sharply due to mission plans and cultural fit
- Projected Landing Spot: BYU
Lyons has one of the cleanest releases in the class and is a polished rhythm er who thrives in quick game and play-action concepts. He’s put up huge numbers at Folsom and checks all the boxes physically and mentally. He’s also an outlier in of timeline: Lyons plans to take a two-year LDS mission after high school and enroll in college in 2027. That complicates things for most Power 5 programs — but not BYU.
momentum is shifting towards the Cougars. Lyons has visited BYU multiple times (has another scheduled for June 20), and his ties to the program run deep. The staff is on board with his mission schedule, and they’ve made it clear he’s their QB1 target for the future. Oregon will stay in it, but BYU now has every reason to be confident. This feels like their recruitment to lose.
2. Landon “Duck” Duckworth – South Carolina
| Height | 6′3″ |
| Weight | 190 lbs |
| High School | Jackson HS (Jackson, AL) |
| QB Style | Dual-threat |
- Official Visits: Auburn (May 30), South Carolina (June 6)
- Recruiting Trend: South Carolina is the favorite after hosting him again; Auburn still pushing
- Projected Landing Spot: South Carolina
Duckworth was once committed to South Carolina and has never lost with Shane Beamer’s staff. After decommitting late last year, the Gamecocks stayed in the picture, and it’s paying off now. Duckworth took an official to Columbia on June 6, and by all s, it went well enough to re-establish South Carolina as the favorite.
Auburn remains a threat and got him on campus just before that South Carolina trip. But the buzz has never quite matched what the Gamecocks are building. Duckworth’s playing style — mobile, accurate, and dangerous outside the pocket — fits well with South Carolina’s current scheme. He also has a real shot at early playing time there. Most signs point to a second commitment to the Gamecocks soon.
3. Bowe Bentley – Oklahoma
| Height | 6′1″ |
| Weight | 200 lbs |
| High School | Celina HS (Celina, TX) |
| QB Style | Dual-threat |
- Official Visits: LSU (May 30), Oklahoma (June 6)
- Recruiting Trend: Oklahoma leads; LSU remains in striking distance
- Projected Landing Spot: Oklahoma
Bentley is one of the biggest risers in the 2026 class. He led Celina to an undefeated state title run in Texas and backed it up with a strong spring. He’s a creative dual-threat with a compact release and excellent movement skills. Programs love how he extends plays but keeps his eyes downfield.
LSU made a strong push as well — he visited Baton Rouge first — but the buzz around Bentley to OU has only picked up since. He’s expected to commit this summer, and barring a surprise, the Sooners should win out.
4. Oscar Rios – Arizona
| Height | 6′3″ |
| Weight | 170 lbs |
| High School | Downey HS (Downey, CA) |
| QB Style | Pocket er |
- Official Visits: Arizona, Utah, Kentucky, Colorado (June 20), plus others from his top seven
- Recruiting Trend: Wide open group; Arizona slightly ahead
- Projected Landing Spot: Arizona
Rios decommitted from Purdue after the coaching change and reset his recruitment in spring. Since then, he’s quietly become one of the most in-demand West Coast arms. He has a fluid motion, above-average arm strength, and the kind of frame that could explode with more weight added. He’ll be at the Elite 11 Finals this summer, which could raise his stock even further.
He named a top seven of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kentucky, UCLA, Oklahoma State, and Virginia Tech. Most of those schools are still in play, and he’s spacing out his official visits to each. Arizona appears to be in the best position. He’s visited multiple times, their pitch hasn’t changed, and he’d likely be the only QB in the class. Unless Colorado knocks the visit out of the park, Arizona is the safe bet.
5. Matt Ponatoski – Alabama
| Height | 6′2″ |
| Weight | 195 lbs |
| High School | Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, OH) |
| QB Style | Pocket er |
- Official Visits: Alabama (June 8), Oregon (June 20), also in touch with Kentucky and Arkansas
- Recruiting Trend: Alabama recently surged after late offer; Oregon fading slightly
- Projected Landing Spot: Alabama
Ponatoski is a two-sport standout who threw for over 4,000 yards last fall. He’s a compact, efficient pocket er with a baseball background that shows in his quick release. Originally recruited more heavily by Midwest programs, he’s now a national target after recent offers from Oregon and Alabama.
Alabama offered in late May and got him on campus June 8. That visit reportedly went very well. Oregon had early buzz, but Alabama has gained ground quickly and may now lead. Kentucky and Arkansas are still involved, but more for baseball-football crossover potential. With the Ducks visit coming up, the final decision could swing, but Alabama feels like the most realistic destination right now.
