BREAKING: Nation’s No. 1 Recruit, QB Julian “Jules” Lewis, Stuns College Football, Flips Commitment from USC to Oregon Ducks
EUGENE, OR — In a seismic shift that recalibrates the future of West Coast football, five-star quarterback prodigy Julian “Jules” Lewis, the consensus top-ranked player in the nation for the 2025 class, announced his stunning decommitment from USC and pledged to the University of Oregon on Wednesday.
The decision, delivered via a cinematic social media reveal produced by Oregon’s renowned “Division Street” NIL collective, marks the most significant recruiting victory of the Dan Lanning era and a direct, powerful blow to the Ducks’ chief conference rival. Lewis, a generational talent from Carrollton, Georgia, had been the crown jewel of Lincoln Riley’s USC recruiting class, viewed as the Trojans’ heir apparent for their entry into the Big Ten.
“After careful thought and countless conversations, my path is clear,” Lewis stated. “The innovation, the culture, and the vision for my development at Oregon is unmatched. My relationship with Coach Lanning, Coach [Will] Stein, and the entire staff is built on genuine trust. They see beyond the player; they see the person and the leader. I’m coming to Eugene to compete for championships and help build a new dynasty. Sco Ducks!”
For Head Coach Dan Lanning, this flip is the ultimate validation of his “built not bought” philosophy and Oregon’s aggressive national recruiting strategy. Beating out Lincoln Riley—a quarterback whisperer with a Heisman pedigree—for the most coveted passer in America proves Oregon is not just a destination for elite skill players, but for the singular, transformative field general required to win national titles. It is a declaration that the Ducks’ combination of cutting-edge facilities, aggressive NIL infrastructure, and a culture of relentless competition can win any battle, anywhere.
The on-field implications are monumental. Lewis, a quarterback with pinpoint accuracy, preternatural poise, and advanced defensive-processing skills, is the perfect prototype to helm Oregon’s high-octane offense. His commitment instantly elevates Oregon’s 2025 recruiting class into the national top three and will act as a powerful gravitational force, attracting elite receivers and offensive linemen to Eugene for years to come.
The ramifications extend far beyond the Pac-12’s final season. For USC, this is a catastrophic loss, stripping the program of its franchise quarterback just as it enters the rugged Big Ten. For the future Big Ten conference itself, Lewis’s move signals that Oregon, not USC, may arrive as the league’s premier West Coast power. Nationally, it underscores a new reality: Oregon’s brand, backed by Nike’s resources and a sophisticated NIL apparatus, is now arguably the most potent recruiting force in the country for the modern athlete.
In Eugene, the news has ignited a frenzy, confirming that the program’s ambitions under Dan Lanning know no bounds. Julian Lewis is more than a recruit; he is a program-altering talent. His decision to choose Oregon over the traditional quarterback factories announces that the future of the sport is being forged in the Pacific Northwest. The Ducks didn’t just land a quarterback; they landed a statement, and the entire college football landscape must now adjust to a new world order.
