4-star QB Oscar Rios decommits from Ryan Walters' Purdue

By Byron Terry

Modified Oct 04, 2024 07:33 GMT

Four-star quarterback Oscar Rios from Downey High School in California has decommitted from Purdue's 2026 class.

Rios announced the decision on Wednesday, just days after the firing of offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. Rios was committed to the Boilermakers since June but decided to reopen his recruitment.

"First and foremost I want to thank God for putting me in this position in my life," he tweeted. "I want to thank everyone that has helped and been by my side since Day 1. I want to thank the amazing Purdue family and the amazing coaches. I also want to thank my guy Coach Harrell for believing in me.

"I will be decommitting from Purdue University. My recruitment is officially open."

Rios is ranked No. 44 in the class of 2026 in the state of California. He holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Washington and Auburn among others.

Purdue only had two commits in the class of 2026, but with Rios' decision, the Boilermakers are left with just one -- three-star cornerback Zyntreacs Otey from Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Alternatively, Oscar could decide to stay in California, which doesn't have a single commit for the 2026 class, according to 247 Sports.

The Indy Star reported that Purdue, which is 1-3 this season and 15th in the Big 10, is set to continue to recruit Rios.

Oscar Rios has made a strong start to the season

Oscar Rios had led the Downey Vikings to a strong start. He's thrown for 1,543 yards and 12 touchdowns with just five interceptions. The 6-3, 175-pound junior has rushed for 448 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging a team-leading 89.6 rush yards per game.

Fueled by Rios' efforts, the Vikings are 4-1 and have scored 197 points through five games.

The Downey Vikings lost to Red Mountain 35-32 in their most recent game and will be looking to bounce back when they face La Mirada on Friday.