Vernon Adams Named Starter at Oregon

It was also the one week mark for the Ducks’ season opener against FCS opponent Eastern Washington.

In 37 career games at Eastern Washington, Adams threw for 10,438 yards with 110 touchdowns against only 31 interceptions while adding 1,232 yards and 11 scores on the ground. Oregon opens the season ranked seventh in the AP Poll, and fifth in the coaches poll. The late start was expected by some to delay Adams’ debut for the Ducks, especially since Lockie had spent the past two seasons as Mariota’s backup, not to mention the entire spring and summer working out with the first-team offense.

Though Adams is still learning Oregon’s playbook and has publicly admitted that Lockie is light years ahead in that category, his play has improved with each practice.

Mariota is now in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. His status at Oregon was up in the air for a number of weeks, as he had to pass a final math course at EWU in order to be eligible as a graduate transfer this season. “Mobile in the pocket, knows the playbook, getting more use out of the playbook”, senior wide receiver Byron Marshall said about Adams.

Jeff Lockie, and missing out on spring ball and some of fall practice to take over the gig, and now the pressure of the Pac-12 title is on his shoulders.

Away from the quarterback situation, some notable players were featured on Oregon’s recently released depth chart. Certainly there’s some disappointment on the field from those who thought they would play, but ultimately everyone has to get on the same page whether they’re starting next Saturday or finding a spot on the sidelines. Players and coaches were not available to the media on Friday.