Oregon Football Recruiting: Jonas Williams Brings Intelligence and Arm Talent to 2026 Class

Oregon's move to the Big Ten has already paid dividends in a major recruiting battle. Today Jonas Williams, a four-star quarterback from Frankfort Heights, IL chose the Ducks over LSU, Ohio State, and Alabama.

Williams told Greg Smith of Tide Illustrated, “Yeah, I think them playing in the Big Ten is also important too. Because right now I live in Chicago, Illinois. So I think when I come to play teams in the Big Ten, I'm familiar with the area. With the Midwest, so it's kind of like I'm going to Oregon, which is pretty far but it's not going to be far from home."

A 6-2, 200-pound passer with a strong, accurate arm and a 3.9 G.P.A., Williams is rated the number 7 quarterback in the country and a Top 100 player overall in the 2026 class according to On3 Sports.

At Bolingbrook, a public high school south of Chicago with over 3400 students, he earned the starting quarterback job as a 14-year-old freshman, keeping it until he transferred to Lincoln-Way East this summer. In two seasons he threw for over 5900 yards with 70 touchdowns.

Williams is Oregon's third commitment in the 2026 class after running back Tradarian Ball and defensive lineman Tony Cumberland. All are top 150 players.

He easily passes the character test. In a June interview with Mike Clark of the Chicago Sun-Times, Williams said, “I’m all about winning honestly. I don’t care if I throw for 50 yards and throw two passes and we win. So as long as you win, the stats take care of themselves.”

His high school coach at Lincoln-Way East, Rob Zvonar said to Clark, “My first experience [with him] was when he was 14 years old, he was still supposed to be in eighth grade. He came here and threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns against the defense that finished second in the state. I remember saying after that game, ‘It’s gonna be a long few years for us unless he goes to [Florida prep school power] IMG or something."

Already gaining chemistry with new teammates, Williams has dude qualities, the easy confidence that good quarterbacks display while setting the pace in a workout. Here he is in a clip from last year:

In his highlight video from HUDL, the Illinois native stands out as a quarterback with a quick release, an accurate arm and the confidence to deliver the ball into windows. Scouting notes follow:

Scouting notes:

:01 The first thing to note is that we're looking at video from Williams' freshman and sophomore seasons, starting at 14 and 15 at a school with 3400 students.

He's confident and in command in the pocket. Rolls right, sets up and throws a beautiful ball to an open receiver over the middle, 30 yards in the air in stride. He drives the ball with his legs.

:10 Williams escapes pressure and rolls left, feeling and evading the defense end coming from the back side. He throws a strike across his body to a receiver along the sideline, 20 yards upfield. It takes a lot of confidence, control and accuracy to make throws like that, and he does so easily.

:22 Deep in his own end zone from the spread. 13 lays a deep pass over two defenders for 35 yards. His touch is excellent. As he matures and gains strength, he'll get more power on his ball, but his timing and accuracy are already there.

:25 A seam route thrown over the linebacker and under the safety. He understands windows and can drive the football into tight spaces. Exceptional command to be able to layer a throw at 15 years old.

:37 Designed run, takes off left for 20 yards. Good speed. The dual threat mobility makes him tough to stop. Like Bo Nix or Dillon Gabriel, he can bail out plays with his legs, punish the defense for overcommitting.

:44 Designed rollout to the left, and he delivers a 15-yard out on the run to the receivers' midsection. Creates incredible pressure for the defense to have a guy who is this mobile and accurate.

:52 In the red zone, lays one out to his receiver in the left corner of the end zone, working the ball toward the sideline away from defenders. The receiver makes a nice adjustment, but Williams puts the ball in a safe place away from coverage.

1:01 At the opponent's 10, number 13 shows playaction then delivers a bullet between two defenders, a slant for a touchdown. This is a rifle shot, quick and accurate, a good presnap read and delivery.

1:10 In the pocket at his own end of the field, one, two, bang, the ball is out to his receiver running the slant, over a linebacker, past the cornerback, on time and right on target.

1:16 Own 20. Five wides, designed keeper over left tackle. Bolts right up the field for 20 yards. Runs with purpose, protects his body at the end.

1:22 Gets pressure, flushed from the pocket. Escapes rolling right and finds a receiver on the dead run for a positive gain. His ability to make off platform throws while seeing the field reminds me a bit of Caleb Williams. Very poised and resourceful.

1:36 Takes a hit while throwing and delivers a strike over the middle for a big gain. He's been tutored. He processes the game incredibly well for a sophomore.

1:47 He's looking left, then checks off over the middle to the crossing route, open for a big gain.

1:53 15-yard out to the left sideline from the right hash. That's elite arm talent for such a young player. He'll have to learn to adjust to the recovery speed of Division One cornerbacks, but man, that's ability.

2:03 Retreats, retreats and escapes right. Again finds a receiver as he's running to the sideline and delivers a strike to an underneath receiver, saving the play. Buys time with his legs while surveying the field. This is how the best ones do it.

--That's enough of me. You get the idea. You can see why Alabama, LSU and Ohio State all wanted this quarterback.