When quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. returned to action against Washington last week, he made plays back-ups Jeff Lockie and Taylor Alie simply weren’t capable of making. Although he has yet to single-handedly take over a game the way Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota often did, Adams proved to his naysayers that he is the Ducks’ only serviceable option behind center.
To have thought either Lockie, a two-star recruit from Danville, California, or Alie, a walk-on from Sheldon High School in Eugene, had the chops to run the Oregon offense the way Mariota ran it was naïve. Through seven games, however, it has become blatantly evident that neither can be trusted to take the reins at quarterback next year.
This leaves the Ducks in a precarious situation looking forward to the 2016 season. Adams, a graduate transfer, will have exhausted his eligibility. Oregon has two other quarterbacks rostered: Morgan Mahalak, who is running the scout team offense, and Travis Jonsen, who is redshirting due to a season-ending injury. Following Seth Green’s apparent de-commitment from the 2016 recruiting class, Oregon is expecting two new freshmen to join next season’s quarterback competition.
Here’s a look at Oregon’s untested potential quarterbacks next year:
Morgan Mahalak: redshirt freshman, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds.
Mahalak is a four-star dual-threat quarterback from the class of 2014. He was a one-year starter in high school, but Oregon saw enough to make him an offer before he started a varsity game. Mahalak redshirted his first season and admittedly struggled with motivation — knowing he wasn’t going to play — and a shoulder injury. 2015 was supposed to be the year Mahalak separated himself in the quarterback competition, which is why many fans scratched their heads when Alie remained ahead of the Elite 11 athlete on the depth chart. During an Oct. 6 press conference, head coach Mark Helfrich said Mahalak was “just not operationally as good” as the other quarterbacks.
Travis Jonsen: freshman, 6-foot-3, 194 pounds.
Rivals considered Jonsen, who changed his name from Travis Waller, the third-best dual-threat quarterback in the 2015 class. A four-star recruit, Jonsen is an accurate passer with above-average arm strength who shows good touch and zip. He has the speed and mobility to elude the rush and extend plays. Although his delivery is a bit unorthodox, he makes up for it with athleticism and has a high ceiling for development.
Terry Wilson: incoming freshman, 6-foot-2.5, 187 pounds.
Wilson, a four-star recruit, ran an offense similar to that of the Ducks in high school. He watched the Ducks dismantle Eastern Washington during an official visit, and shortly thereafter, de-committed from Nebraska to commit to Oregon. He’s a poised pocket passer with decent accuracy, excellent arm strength and a quick delivery. Wilson makes smart decisions in the zone-read game, runs north-south and protects the ball well.
Justin Herbert: incoming freshman, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds.
Herbert is an unrated product of Sheldon High School in Eugene. He maintained interest from Helfrich and offensive coordinator Scott Frost despite breaking his femur his junior season, and accepted a scholarship offer earlier this month. He navigates the pocket well and can keep plays alive when it breaks down. He has a quick, over-the-top release, but must improve his mechanics on the whole. He’s not a threat in the running game, nor is he adept at reading progressions.
Follow Kenny Jacoby on Twitter @KennyJacoby