There are many questions about the Oregon Ducks‘ coaching staff and roster that need to be answered in the 2022 season, but arguably the most important — and one where an adequate solution might best translate into on-field success — is at the quarterback position.
At the moment, the Ducks have zero returning starters under center, but three viable options to take over as the signal-caller in Kenny Dillingham’s revamped Oregon offense. Those options are Bo Nix, Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield. We don’t need to go in-depth about each candidate or what they bring to the table because if you’re reading this, you likely already have a pretty good idea.
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You also likely have a good idea that, after Oregon’s spring game, there’s a feeling inside and outside of the program that veteran Bo Nix leads the battle, and is likely in line to be named the starter, barring an impressive summer run from Thompson or Butterfield.
How does the outside world look at Oregon’s QB battle, though?
Recently, ESPN went about breaking down the nation’s top quarterback competitions and giving a prediction for who would come out on top. Here is what it offered on the Ducks’ situation:
Nix was a confounding player throughout his Auburn tenure, but also an undeniably talented one. ESPN’s No. 23 overall recruit in the 2019 class can make impact plays with his arm and feet, and he has familiarity with new Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham from their time together at Auburn in 2019. The fresh start and coaching change favors Nix over Thompson, ESPN’s No. 67 player in the 2021 class, who appeared in only three games with 15 pass attempts last season despite Oregon’s average quarterback play. Butterfield, an ESPN 300 recruit in 2020, played even less than Thompson.
The initial transition has gone well for Nix, who shined during Oregon’s spring game, tossing three touchdown passes and opening with a 70-yard completion to Seven McGee. Thompson and Butterfield also showed some promise in Dillingham’s offense during spring ball. Dillingham and coach Dan Lanning want to emphasize downfield passing but also limit turnovers, which Nix cut down significantly last season at Auburn (three interceptions, 323 pass attempts). Thompson’s size and arm strength jump out, and he certainly projects as Oregon’s quarterback of the future if he remains in Eugene. But he and Butterfield will need a strong preseason push to overtake Nix.
Week 1 starter prediction: Nix. Even though he’s a newcomer to Oregon, the Auburn transfer brings a combination of experience and ability that will be hard for Lanning and Dillingham to resist. Dillingham’s previous connection to Nix helps, especially now that he will have true autonomy over the offense (unlike at Auburn under Gus Malzahn). Nix’s familiarity with the SEC and Oregon’s opening opponent, Georgia, also increases his chances of starting right away.
Not a huge surprise.
After his spring game performance, Nix showed that at this point in the season, he is the most poised option who will offer the fewest number of mistakes. He also has a powerful arm and possesses the accuracy to find streaking receivers down the field, which is something that Oregon fans hope they see a lot of in the 2022 season.
Again, that’s not to say that this competition is over. It’s only May, and there are still three months until the season gets underway. You can guarantee both Thompson and Butterfield are hard at work trying to hone their craft and give Nix a run for his money.
At the moment, though, it seems like Nix’s job to lose.
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