Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Preseason Camp Preview: QB
07/25/23 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Assessing how things stack up for the UO football program entering the start of preseason camp Aug. 2.
QUARTERBACK
Who's back: The Pac-12 Conference returns an elite lineup of veteran quarterbacks for the 2023 season, and the Ducks boast a headliner of their own in senior Bo Nix. In his first year quarterbacking the UO football team last fall, Nix led the Pac-12 with an Oregon-record completion rate of 71.9 percent, and his 8.24 yards per play of total offense also led the conference. On his way to completing 294-of-409 passes for 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns, Nix had the Ducks in the thick of the College Football Playoff race and was drawing Heisman Trophy buzz entering November. An ankle injury derailed those lofty goals, but gutty performances against Utah and North Carolina late in the year helped Oregon finish on a high note and set a solid foundation for 2023.
The Ducks also return their primary backup from the 2022 season, sophomore Ty Thompson. He completed 11-of-20 passes in support of Nix last fall, then had a 16-of-34 showing for 274 yards and two touchdowns in this year's spring game – bouncing back from a slow start to nearly lead his team to a comeback victory. The Ducks also return a veteran depth player in Marcus Sanders, a redshirt freshman who showed his versatility last season by also practicing at tight end when the need arose there.
Who's new: The 2023 spring game also was the first chance for fans to see true freshman quarterback Austin Novosad suited up in UO practice gear. The newcomer from Texas completed his first pass for the Ducks that afternoon, capping his first camp with the program. A top-100 recruit in the class of 2023 who earned prep all-America honors as a high school senior, Novosad has a ton of tools to work with as he enters his first full season of development in college. The Ducks also added another class of 2023 senior, local product Brock Thomas out of Sheldon High School – alma mater of former UO starters Chris Miller and Justin Herbert.
What to watch: Spring camp also was the first for the UO offense under new coordinator Will Stein, one of the bright young, up-and-coming offensive minds in the college ranks. At least based on spring, Stein wasn't looking to completely overhaul what worked so well for Nix and the rest of the Oregon offense during Dan Lanning's debut season as head coach in 2022. So preseason camp will be a chance to refine and augment the Ducks' offensive attack for the coming season. Thompson has been patient and methodical in his development since arriving in Eugene, and looks to continue on that upward trajectory for when his next opportunity arises, while the younger quarterbacks continue to lay the foundation for their careers.
Who's back: The Pac-12 Conference returns an elite lineup of veteran quarterbacks for the 2023 season, and the Ducks boast a headliner of their own in senior Bo Nix. In his first year quarterbacking the UO football team last fall, Nix led the Pac-12 with an Oregon-record completion rate of 71.9 percent, and his 8.24 yards per play of total offense also led the conference. On his way to completing 294-of-409 passes for 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns, Nix had the Ducks in the thick of the College Football Playoff race and was drawing Heisman Trophy buzz entering November. An ankle injury derailed those lofty goals, but gutty performances against Utah and North Carolina late in the year helped Oregon finish on a high note and set a solid foundation for 2023.
The Ducks also return their primary backup from the 2022 season, sophomore Ty Thompson. He completed 11-of-20 passes in support of Nix last fall, then had a 16-of-34 showing for 274 yards and two touchdowns in this year's spring game – bouncing back from a slow start to nearly lead his team to a comeback victory. The Ducks also return a veteran depth player in Marcus Sanders, a redshirt freshman who showed his versatility last season by also practicing at tight end when the need arose there.
Who's new: The 2023 spring game also was the first chance for fans to see true freshman quarterback Austin Novosad suited up in UO practice gear. The newcomer from Texas completed his first pass for the Ducks that afternoon, capping his first camp with the program. A top-100 recruit in the class of 2023 who earned prep all-America honors as a high school senior, Novosad has a ton of tools to work with as he enters his first full season of development in college. The Ducks also added another class of 2023 senior, local product Brock Thomas out of Sheldon High School – alma mater of former UO starters Chris Miller and Justin Herbert.
What to watch: Spring camp also was the first for the UO offense under new coordinator Will Stein, one of the bright young, up-and-coming offensive minds in the college ranks. At least based on spring, Stein wasn't looking to completely overhaul what worked so well for Nix and the rest of the Oregon offense during Dan Lanning's debut season as head coach in 2022. So preseason camp will be a chance to refine and augment the Ducks' offensive attack for the coming season. Thompson has been patient and methodical in his development since arriving in Eugene, and looks to continue on that upward trajectory for when his next opportunity arises, while the younger quarterbacks continue to lay the foundation for their careers.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballDillon Thieneman: "Keep grinding day in and day out."
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Ify Obidegwu: "Going the extra mile."
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Emmanuel Pregnon: "Starting early, starting fast."
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