Oregon football: Ducks Pac-12 hopes hinge on quarterback decision

With Tyler Shough off to Texas Tech after transferring, Oregon football has a hole at quarterback. Who will win the job this spring or summer?

Former starting quarterback Tyler Shough surprised many by leaving Oregon football and transferring to Texas Tech. Shough completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 1559 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also led the Ducks in rushing with 217 yards.

Shough started the entire season but lost playing time in the Pac-12 Championship Game and the Fiesta Bowl to Boston College transfer Anthony Brown. Splitting time with Brown and the uncertainty of being the starter this season were factors that led Shough’s transfer to Texas Tech.

The sudden transfer of Shough, that leaves a hole at the most important position in college football for the Ducks. The Pac-12 North division is fairly wide open and the Ducks need stability at quarterback for an opportunity to win the division and play for another conference title.

Who could win the job this fall? 

The Ducks have three candidates for the starting job. First is Anthony Brown. Transferring from Boston College last year, Brown seemed like a consolation prize when Jamie Newman chose Georgia over Oregon. However, Brown took snaps from Shough.

Brown has two advantages coming into this quarterback competition. First, Brown has many snaps at the college level, playing at Boston College then coming to Eugene. Second, Brown has a season in offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead’s offense.

However, what could be an advantage could be looked at as a disadvantage. Because Brown is a proven commodity, there might not be much more upside left. That could leave room for freshman Ty Thompson.

Thompson comes to Oregon as one of the most highly-touted prospects in the history of the school. Thompson is the highest-rated quarterback prospect in the school’s history and the highest-rated prospect since Kellen Clemens in 2001.

Though Thompson is unproven, the ceiling is limitless. So, Oregon has to decide whether to go with the known entity that’s proven and possibly limited or the blue-chipper with unlimited potential unproven.

Whatever choice the Ducks make, the winner will definitely earn the job.

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