Until Thursday evening, Jeff Lockie was the guy.
He was the guy who had built trust with his teammates over the years and learned a meticulous Oregon offense that takes tremendous time to fully maximize. Lockie was the guy that simply looked the part, a redshirt junior who patiently waited for his opportunity, backup quarterback groomed behind reigning Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and a likeable locker room leader.
Head coach Mark Helfrich — somewhat ironically — praised Lockie on Monday for not transferring earlier to pursue a starting role.
“It’s so weird in college football right now,” Helfrich said. “As soon as somebody is named the starter, the first question for the backup is, ‘Where are you transferring?’ It’s just assumed, and that’s weird. It says something about him to be able to sit through it.”
Heading into fall camp, it was unknown whether Lockie’s earned reputation would be enough to solidify him as the starter on this year’s roster. Oregon has not been shy about letting their players battle it out in the offseason, and it’s proven to be the best method. Look no further than the not-so-long-ago duel between Bryan Bennett and an unproven Mariota.
So, when news first broke that the two-time Walter Payton Award runner-up Vernon Adams (10,438 career passing yards, 1,232 on the ground) from Eastern Washington was making the move to the FBS, Mark Helfrich and the Oregon coaching staff had no choice but to welcome this competition with open arms.
That’s what any team would have done. And if it weren’t for unforeseen distractions surrounding Adams’ failure to graduate on time back in June – passing one last math test – the decision to name a week-one starter would have no baggage.
Adams’ numbers and highlights against Pac-12 opponents can’t be ignored.
He’s already proven he can beat in-state rival Oregon State. Furthermore, Adams just looks like the flashy dual threat quarterback that would fit right into Oregon’s offense. When you combine that potential with the departure of the best quarterback in school history, people naturally start looking for the quickest fix. From the eye test, Adams fits that profile.

However, this will be a distraction to a locker room that has, at least publicly, backed Lockie from the beginning.
Does that mean skill players like Bralon Addison and Royce Freeman aren’t curious about what Adams could bring to the table? Far from it.
Take Addison’s words from Thursday’s practice: “Like I say all the time, Ohio State had three quarterbacks. It never hurts to have too many quarterbacks”
Timing is important in school, careers and in life. It’s especially important in a place like Oregon that has thrived under a nationally recognized, up-tempo system. That’s why Adams’ arrival – albeit better late than never – brings tension to an otherwise comfortable situation.
For Oregon, Adams’ arrival couldn’t have been any more untimely. Roughly three weeks stand between Oregon and their season opener against Adams’ former team that was recently pre-ranked No. 6 in the FCS. Then, the Ducks will meet a sixth-ranked Michigan State team that has no other plans than to expose what could be an unprepared, Mariota-less Oregon roster.
It’s bad timing because Adams will have to hurry up (no pun intended) the process grasping a brand new system. It’s bad timing because the locker room will now have to give Adams a fair chance to earn their trust and respect. Again, competition has proven time and time again to be the bottom line, but when it could disrupt an already well-oiled machine, you start to question the risk versus reward.
This Oregon offense has all the tools to mold into one of the best in school history. The question now becomes: who will Oregon choose? The groomed backup that has been working towards this one opportunity his entire career or the tardy transfer that hasn’t played a snap at the FBS level?
Whoever Helfrich decides will hold the keys to this year’s Ferrari, we, the outsiders looking in, will remember this moment in time when it was Lockie’s job to lose.
Fans can only hope the best man wins.
“(Vernon Adams) has what all the other guys have: he’s football smart, he picks up things fast as far as football terminology, has a big arm, a strong arm, he’s accurate,” Addison said. “Whichever guy gets the job will be fine. I think Vernon will fit in with the quarterbacks we have.”
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim