Will Mencl, the No. 1 QB in the Country, Just Closed the Door on Auburn and One Other Program

The 2027 recruiting class is heating up fast, and one of the biggest names in the cycle just made his decision official. Five-star quarterback Will Mencl, ranked as the No. 1 QB in the Rivals300 and the No. 49 overall prospect in the entire class, committed to Oregon on Wednesday. That's a massive get for the Ducks, and it leaves at least two major programs scrambling.

Who Is Will Mencl?

This kid is legit. Mencl plays for Chandler High School and has been their starting quarterback for the last two seasons. In that stretch, his team made it all the way to the Arizona Open Division Championship. The numbers back up the hype: 4,885 passing yards, 44 touchdown passes, and just five interceptions through the air. On the ground, he added 924 yards and 22 scores. He is also Arizona's top-rated recruit in the class.

According to 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins, Mencl "can make a variety of different throws while playing both in and out of structure" and he "will find some easy exit velocity, but likes to utilize touch on deeper shots." That's elite-level quarterback play, and scouts are taking notice.

Oregon's Future QB Room Is Set

With Mencl's pledge, the Ducks now have a clear succession plan locked in. Returning starter Dante Moore, who is projected as a probable top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL draft, will hold down the fort in 2026. Then former Nebraska starter Dylan Raiola will take over for at least 2027 before handing things off to Mencl down the line. That is a quarterback pipeline that just got seriously scary for the rest of the Pac-12.

Auburn and Another Program Miss Out

Auburn came hard after Mencl, starting their recruitment back in December 2025, just a month after parting ways with head coach Hugh Freeze. The Tigers even got him on campus during spring practice in March. But it was not enough to land the commitment.

This is the third straight loss at the quarterback position for Auburn in the 2027 class. Four-star Gunner Rivers picked NC State over the Tigers back in late February, and four-star Israel Abrams chose Miami over Auburn in early April. That is not the recruiting narrative Auburn wants building heading into the offseason.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.