Through the first four games of the year, it was made pretty clear that Oregon Ducks’ quarterback Bo Nix was not a player who was going to just sit in the pocket. He was willing to let his legs do a lot of the work when need be.
Of course, we knew that from his time at Auburn, where he had just under 900 yards rushing in three years with the Tigers. In Eugene, though, it was becoming apparent that his running ability was improving. Through five games with the Ducks, the passer had amassed 261 yards on the ground with 5 touchdowns.
Despite all of that prior knowledge, it still took everyone by surprise on Saturday night when Nix broke the pocket up the middle and took off. He kept going, and going, weaving through a couple of defenders and splitting a gap into open daylight. It ended in an 80-yard TD, the longest of Nix’s career, and the longest by an Oregon QB since Taylor Alie’s 87-yard TD in 2015.
More than the numbers it provided, this play gave both fans, teammates, and coaches a new look at what Nix is capable of with his legs.
“I didn’t know he was gonna pull the ball like that,” RB Bucky Irving said on Tuesday. “So I was excited for him when he ran an 80-yard TD, just celebrate with him after.”
Any notes from the Ducks’ leading running back?
“I didn’t know he was that fast, though. It was exciting to see him get up and get running like that.”
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Nix’s speed wasn’t the only surprise. Wide receiver Troy Franklin says that he was most impressed by the stamina showed by his QB to cap off an 80-yard sprint.
“I think it was a surprise to me that he ran that long, you know, it was 80 yards or whatever,” Franklin said. “But it definitely wasn’t a surprise, Bo can run for sure.”
Not to be overlooked in this highlight is the superb downfield blocking that helped spring the play. While Nix’s elusive abilities got him into the second level of the defense, it was the receivers and tight ends who shepherded him into the endzone.
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“I was like oh s**t, it’s time for me to get busy, you know?” Franklin recalled seeing Nix run up beside him. “Gotta help him. I broke him loose and he did what he did.”
The blocking was perfect, the escapability was impressive, and the stamina reflected a cross-country runner rather than a football player. It all resulted in a play that helped buoy the spirits of a surging team, and offer head coach Dan Lanning a little bit of an opportunity to rib his leading man.
“I gave him a really hard time last week. We threw the throwback to Bo at Washington State, and I told him ‘I didn’t expect you to go down like that’ so I’ve been kind of jabbing him for a long time here,” Lanning said after the game. “That run was fun. When he got over there after, he was sucking wind on the sideline. So he was running hard; he let up a little bit at the end and their defender came in there aggressive with an opportunity to punch it out. But I’m proud of the way he finished there. He might have to do just a little bit of extra conditioning for 80-yard runs.”
I’m not sure how many more times Nix will be asked to sprint 80 yards in his career, but if he ever does again, it will certainly turn some heads.
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