Golden Bears Lose Five-Star QB to the Ducks

© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Cal Golden Bears (6-6, 2-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) saw the shiny crown jewel in their 2025 recruiting class slip away to the No. 1 Oregon Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten Conference). Hawai'i native Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele committed to Cal on July 8, but on the first day of the early signing window, Dec. 4, Sagapolutele broke Cal's heart by signing with Oregon.

Rated by On3 the No. 19 overall prospect and the No. 4 quarterback in the 2025 cycle, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound gunslinger grew up on O'ahu.

Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein was the primary Oregon representative responsible for Sagapolutele's recruitment. Cal's quarterbacks coach Sterlin Gilbert, who is in line to be the team's next OC, was the primary Golden Bears representative involved in Sagapolutele's months-long commitment.

Scouting Report on Sagapolutele

"Sagapolutele has a very high ceiling and NFL potential," according to 247Sports. At the prep level, he has been primarily a pocket passer. "His deep ball accuracy is among the best in the country," and he excels at fitting the ball into tight windows. As a high school sophomore, he completed 73.5 percent of his passes for 3,522 yards and 31 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. In his junior campaign, he threw for 3,757 yards and 37 TDs. He also plays basketball and is a star in track and field, competing in shot put and discus events.

Golden Bears' 2025 Class

After losing Sagapolutele to the Ducks, Cal's overall 2025 class ranking dropped from No. 55 to No. 65, and in the ACC, the Golden Bears' ranking slipped from No. 12 to No. 15. Promising members of the class include four-star cornerback Jae'on Young, rated by Rivals as the No. 18 CB in the 2025 cycle. Another auspicious prospect is four-star safety Aiden Manutai, rated by ESPN as the No. 34 safety in the class. The average disclosed value of the NIL deals of Cal's new batch of recruits is $32,000.

Oregon's 2025 Class

The Ducks' 2025 class is an embarrassment of riches. Rated No. 3 nationally by On3, the class comprises four five-star recruits and 15-four-star players. Headlined by wide receiver Dakorien Moore (ranked No. 4 overall) and CB Na'eem Offord (ranked No. 12 overall), the impressive new batch of recruits headed to Eugene, Ore. will likely keep the future bright for the top-ranked Ducks.