After the recent developments in Jeremiah Masoli’s case, Oregon football will see no unexpected repercussions in 2010, as head coach Chip Kelly had already suspended Masoli for the year.
However, it does eliminate a potential quarterback controversy in 2011.
Masoli was pulled over in Springfield on June 7 and charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop at a driveway or sidewalk. He has pled not guilty.
Redshirt senior Nate Costa and redshirt sophomore Darron Thomas are competing for the starting job at quarterback, with Costa appearing to have a slight edge because of experience. If Costa won the job in 2010, it seemed likely Masoli would resume his starting role in 2011. Costa will have graduated, so he will not be a factor in 2011. However, if Thomas starts this year, the situation will really get interesting. Would Masoli, rusty after a year off, but still a deadly dual-threat, start in 2011? Or would Thomas, with a year of starting experience, take the reins? However, with Masoli off the roster, it is Thomas’ job to lose.
Because Masoli was kicked off the team, it appears Thomas will take over as a redshirt junior next season, unless young redshirt freshman Daryle Hawkins or true freshman Brian Bennett rapidly improves. Oregon has two quarterbacks, Jerrard Randall from Hollywood, Fla., and Marcus Mariota from Honolulu listed as verbal commitments for the recruiting class of 2011 on educk.com. If both sign with the Ducks, they could challenge for the backup job in 2011.
Masoli’s departure does damage Oregon’s quarterback depth in 2011, as neither Hawkins nor Bennett have ever taken a collegiate snap. If Thomas were to be injured, the next quarterback would be very inexperienced.
Masoli finishes his career as Oregon’s all-time leading rusher at quarterback with 1,386 yards. He will have two years to play one season of remaining eligibility.
For Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, this latest incident was the last straw.
“I had a plan in place for him to follow, and if he didn’t follow it, he was gone,” Kelly said, according to the Register-Guard. “He didn’t follow it, so he’s gone.”
According to reports from the Register-Guard, Masoli has hired Eugene attorney Dan Koenig. He also is receiving pro bono help from two employees of Los Angeles-based public relations firm Sitrick and Co.
Quarterback Darron Thomas was a passenger in the car when Masoli was arrested. Thomas was not charged.
Gaines, Jackson academically ineligible

Oregon’s depth at receiver took a substantial hit when junior receiver Tyrece Gaines and redshirt freshman receiver Diante Jackson were declared academically ineligible for the fall 2010 season.
Gaines, from El Dorado, Kan., played in one play in 2009, and Oregon appealed to the NCAA to have that year of eligibility restored because of a coach’s mistake. The appeal was recently granted. Jackson, from Walnut Creek, Calif., redshirted in 2009.
According to the Register-Guard, neither is expected to remain with the team. Gaines will have two years to play two seasons, and Jackson will have four years to play four seasons.
Both were highly touted recruits that never really lived up to their potential. Scout.com and Rivals ranked both Gaines and Jackson as four-star receivers.
Oregon returns all three of its starting receivers in senior Jeff Maehl, senior D.J. Davis and junior Lavasier Tuinei, but Gaines and Jackson were expected to contribute as backups. This opens the door for sophomore walk-on Justin Hoffman, who had a tremendous spring, and redshirt freshman Blake Cantu, who played well in 2009’s spring game, but was slowed by injuries this spring.
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