Like Father, Like Son?

TL;DR

Akili Smith Jr. is following in his father's footsteps as a quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. Despite showing promise in the Spring Game, he is likely to be the fourth string quarterback this season.

Key points

Akili Smith Jr. is the son of former Oregon quarterback Akili Smith Sr.
He participated in the Oregon Ducks' annual Spring Game.
Smith Jr. is expected to be the fourth string quarterback this season.

Akili Smith Jr.Akili Smith Sr.Oregon DucksSpring Game

Combat Ducks quarterback Akili Smith Jr. throws a pass during the Oregon Ducks annual spring game on April 25, 2026 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Gen-Zers may not take much from the name Akili Smith, but anyone who was actively viewing Oregon Football’s famous resurgence in the 90s will likely have a smile on their face when hearing him mentioned. Building on the momentum from the ‘94 Rose Bowl team, Oregon Football finished the 90s on a hot streak fans had never seen before. Right in the thick of that was Akili Smith Sr., who helped Oregon climb into National Title contention during the 1998 season. Smith was one of the top collegiate quarterbacks heading into the 1999 NFL Draft. A quarter-century later, it was pure nostalgia when his son committed to Oregon, and the past couple Spring Games, we’ve been able to see him suit up in a Duck uniform. Question is, will we get to see much of that on Saturdays in the fall at any point? In the Spring Game this past weekend, Smith Jr. led a couple first half drives for Team Black, the second of which culminated in a field goal to go on top 10-7. He didn’t make any glaring mistakes, but after Brock Thomas tossed the game-winning touchdown and Dante Moore and Dylan Riola looked as good as advertised, it’s likely he’ll spend his Redshirt Freshman season as the fourth string quarterback. Unless your name is Justin Roper or Darron Thomas, you likely won’t see an abundance of time as a fourth stringer at Oregon. Which is fine, considering Smith Jr. is still being groomed. But given the amount of talent the Ducks are reeling in under Dan Lanning, how likely is it that Smith Jr. will follow his father in becoming the Ducks’ starting signal-caller? A specimen at 6-foot-6 and over 230 pounds with football genes coursing through his veins, it’s not like the framework isn’t there for it to happen, but in the age of transfer portal mania to accompany blue chip recruiting, the windows of opportunity get considerably smaller than before. Having one of the best QB rooms in the nation is a great thing, but it makes anyone who watched 90’s wonder if they’ll ever get a chance to watch another Akili Smith toss touchdowns at Autzen Stadium…

Q&A

What position does Akili Smith Jr. play for the Oregon Ducks?

Akili Smith Jr. plays as a quarterback for the Oregon Ducks.

How did Akili Smith Jr. perform in the recent Spring Game?

In the recent Spring Game, Akili Smith Jr. led a couple of first-half drives, resulting in a field goal, but did not make any glaring mistakes.

What are the chances of Akili Smith Jr. becoming the starting quarterback for the Ducks?

Given the depth of talent in the Ducks' quarterback room, Akili Smith Jr. is likely to spend his Redshirt Freshman season as the fourth string quarterback, making his chances of starting this season slim.