2015 in Review: Quarterbacks
01/11/16 | @GoDucksMoseley
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Reviewing Oregon's 2015 season and looking ahead to spring drills.
DEPTH CHART
QB: Vernon Adams Jr., Sr.; Jeff Lockie, Jr.; Taylor Alie, So.; Morgan Mahalak, RFr.; Travis Jonsen, Fr.
Starter: The wisdom of Oregon's decision to welcome Vernon Adams Jr. as a graduate transfer for the 2015 season was borne out in both victory and defeat. The Ducks were unbeaten in seven regular-season games started by a healthy Adams, and led the Alamo Bowl 28-0 prior to his being knocked out of the game. With Adams limited or sidelined in the regular season, Oregon went 2-3, and the Ducks squandered a 31-0 halftime lead in the Alamo Bowl without him.
A late arrival to preseason camp, Adams still helped the Ducks put up 61 points in their opener against the school he left, Eastern Washington. But the slippery scrambler suffered a finger injury in the second half, which surely hampered him on a potentially game-winning errant pass at Michigan State a week later. Adams sat out three of the next four games, starting but departing early from the loss to Utah, and returned for good Oct. 17 at Washington. That was the first of six straight wins to close the regular season by Oregon.
Tasked with replacing the nation's most efficient passer in 2014 — Marcus Mariota, who compiled a 181.75 rating on his way to the Heisman Trophy — Adams improbably himself led the FBS in efficiency in 2015, at 179.09. He wasn't the running threat Oregon fans have been accustomed to in recent years, but his elusiveness outside the pocket paid huge dividends in the passing game, no more so than on the desperation fourth-down touchdown pass that forced overtime at Arizona State on Oct. 29. He played just one year in Eugene, but Adams left an indelible mark, completing 168-of-259 passes for 2,643 yards, with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Reserves: Because of the injuries to Adams, Oregon's backups were pressed into significant action. Junior Jeff Lockie started three times and directed wins over Georgia State and Colorado, but he was also on the field as the Ducks saw halftime leads over both Washington State and TCU slip away. Sophomore walk-on Taylor Alie also was called upon to help spell Adams, and the Ducks put his running ability to use as a complement to Lockie against Utah, Colorado and WSU. Despite those steps, Oregon's offense wasn't the same without Adams.
Redshirt freshman Morgan Mahalak spent another season with the scout-team offense. Though the Ducks seemed in dire straits while Adams was out, the coaching staff felt Mahalak's time was best spent continuing to develop in that role. His physical tools were apparent during the scout team's weekly scrimmage periods, and the desire was to see his command — both of the offense and the huddle — progress as well.
Redshirts: On hand for spring drills, true freshman Travis Jonsen tried to play through a pre-existing injury but ultimately opted to have season-ending surgery early in the fall. He figured to share reps with Mahalak on the scout team, which Jonsen was doing prior to surgery. Given the injury to Adams, it's worth wondering whether Jonsen would have been considered for playing time if healthy, but he instead preserved his year of eligibility as a redshirt.
SPRING PROJECTION
QB: Dakota Prukop, Sr.; Jeff Lockie, Sr.; Travis Jonsen, RFr.; Taylor Alie, Jr.; Morgan Mahalak, So.
What to watch: For the second year in a row the Ducks welcomed a graduate transfer — in this case the Montana State transfer Dakota Prukop — but unlike Adams he won't be a late arrival. Prukop enrolled for the start of the university's winter quarter last week, and will participate in winter strength and conditioning, spring practices and summer workouts with his new teammates. The Ducks have lost a host of respected leaders over the last two years, and Prukop has the chance to take the 2016 team by the reins in the coming months. As a junior for the Bobcats last fall, he threw for 3,025 yards and accounted for 39 total touchdowns — 28 through the air and 11 as a rusher. His running ability could rejuvenate the option elements of the UO offense.
Among the backups, Lockie remains the most experienced. But all eyes will be on Jonsen over the coming months, as he returns from injury and reestablishes himself in the rotation. He's a smart, charismatic player, and the door seems open for a quick ascension up the depth chart. Mahalak's status is in question after he requested a release from his scholarship agreement in order to investigate a possible transfer.
