Quarterback Dominoes: Georgia trending for a QB, top flip targets to watch

Coming into the week, 12 of the nation’s top 15 quarterback recruits in the On3 Industry Ranking had already given their verbal commitment to a college program — including each of the top 10.

In roughly 48 hours, that number is expected to grow to 13 with four-star Findlay (Ohio) quarterback Ryan Montgomery choosing between Florida, Georgia and South Carolina on Wednesday. As it stands heading into that decision, the Bulldogs are the expected landing spot for Montgomery, who has been a longtime target for all three programs.

But after UGA missed out on Matt Zollers earlier this month, their attention turned to Montgomery.

And his commitment will be the latest movement in the quarterback dominoes as we head into official visits beginning May 1.

Programs still chipping away at USC 5-star commit Julian Lewis

One of the more interesting downstream effects if Montgomery chooses Georgia will be what happens with UGA’s pursuit of five-star QB and USC commit Julian Lewis. According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Lewis is no longer expected to take his May 31 official visit to Athens, which would seem to signal that Georgia is content letting Auburn, Alabama, Colorado and others try to flip the nation’s No. 2 quarterback.

Lewis was back at USC for a multi-day visit at the end of March, one where he got to spend ample time with head coach Lincoln Riley and get an idea of what living in L.A. would look like. Lewis is now expected back for his official visit June 7, but the aforementioned schools aren’t ceding him to the Trojans just yet.

What’s next for South Carolina and Florida after Montgomery?

For Shane Beamer and South Carolina, losing Montgomery would be a definite gut punch. The Gamecocks went all in on him this cycle, choosing not to seriously pursue any other quarterbacks in this class. Now it appears they’ll go back to the drawing board with limited options when it comes to uncommitted passers.

As for Florida, the Gators went heavily after Montgomery but have also been in pursuit of Warner Robins (Ga.) Houston County four-star quarterback Antwann Hill. He was in Gainesville at the end of March and also has an official visit locked in with the Gators for May 31.

UF also has another quarterback target on its radar: SMU four-star commit Keelon Russell. Billy Napier and Co. have been working hard to flip him away from the future ACC program, and according to Wiltfong, Russell isn’t shutting down other options. The Duncanville (Texas) High On300 passer is also talking to Alabama, Baylor, Florida and Texas.

Oregon looking to add a second quarterback commit

While a number of major programs, including Auburn, Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina — are in pursuit of their first quarterback commitment in 2025, Oregon is looking for its second. The Ducks got an early pledge from UO legacy and four-star Akili Smith Jr. But they are looking to add a second passer with Dillon Gabriel’s eligibility expiring after this year and only Dante Moore and Austin Novosad left in the room.

Oregon will continue recruiting recent Texas A&M commit Husan Longstreet, per Wiltfong, as the Ducks are very high on his passing ability. Another intriguing option is four-star Stanford commit Bear Bachmeier, another West Coast prospect who Oregon was in the mix for before he committed to the Cardinal.

A few options still on the board for Nebraska

Like the aforementioned SEC programs, Nebraska is also in the hunt for a commit at the position. The Huskers look to have their eyes on two West Coast passers: Madden Iamaleava and TJ Lateef.

Of each, On3’s Chad Simmons wrote this in March:

“Iamaleava visited UCLA earlier this month. The new staff in Westwood has made the local quarterback a top priority. Iamaleava is expected back this spring, then for an official visit. Nebraska is a competitor in this race and a visit to Lincoln is being finalized. Those two schools have the most buzz around them.”

“Nebraska is the team with the most buzz around it. Since offering TJ Lateef earlier this year, they have recruited him the hardest. The staff has been very consistent and he has one official visit locked in – it is to Lincoln next month. The Cornhuskers are the team to beat.”

Lateef is set for an official visit to Lincoln later this month.

Ole Miss and Auburn looking to pull off major flips

With the majority of their top targets already off the board, Auburn and Ole Miss are working to poach QBs away from the schools they’re already committed to. Julian Lewis is and has been Auburn’s top flip target, and after a visit this spring, the Tigers have some buzz around them, according to Wiltfong.

“There is a lot of smoke around the Tigers being the biggest threat to flip Lewis from the Trojans but the next visit he takes to Boulder, whether it’s the spring game or the official will be his third time on campus,” Wiltfong wrote Monday. “An opportunity to be a day one starter, that can’t be slept on.”

As for Ole Miss, they’ve been in contact with a couple of QBs, but in-state target and Notre Dame commit Deuce Knight looks to be at the top of the wish list. His commitment looks to be solid at this point, but anything can happen between now and December.

Alabama is another program looking to make a move with both Lewis and Knight, and they’re also keeping irons in the fire with Iamaleava and a few others as well.

The post Quarterback Dominoes: Georgia trending for a QB, top flip targets to watch appeared first on On3.