Duck Feed: 2010 Preview - Quarterbacks - University of Oregon Athletics

2010 Preview - Quarterbacks
Wednesday, March 17, 8:00 a.m. PDT

Spring Practice begins March 30 in Eugene, and as we count down the days until the formal kickoff of the 2010 season, Duck Feed will be offering up a look at what's on the horizon for Oregon Football. Today's topic: Quarterbacks.

Not since 2005 has Oregon gone into a season with a clear-cut, senior starter at the quarterback position. Kellen Clemens was the man then, and Jeremiah Masoli was in line for that distinction this year before a season-long suspension put him on the shelf. But even with their potential Heisman Trophy candidate unavailable, the Ducks are in better shape than some people may think.

While Masoli’s mere presence as Oregon’s signal-caller would have made the Ducks a Pac-10 contender in 2010, it’s the quality of overall depth at QB that still gives merit to that prediction.

Fifth-year senior Nate Costa, now two-years removed from winning UO’s starting job before a knee injury wiped out his 2008 season, will be rewarded for his determination and perseverance in overcoming two major surgeries with the chance to compete for the top spot once again. When healthy, as he was for all of 2009, Costa has proven to be clutch, leading the Ducks to a key Pac-10 road victory at UCLA in his lone start last year, while making pivotal special teams plays in wins at Washington and Arizona. If not for his miraculous hold on the game-tying PAT in Tucson, which earned him Pac-10 player of the week honors, Oregon would not have played in the Rose Bowl.

The one-time heir apparent to Dennis Dixon is the only UO quarterback to own a higher career completion percentage (65.8 to 63.9) than Dixon over the past six years.

QBs By Class
RS-SR Nate Costa
SR Jeremiah Masoli*
RS-SO Darron Thomas
RS-FR Dustin Haines
RS-FR Daryle Hawkins
FR Bryan Bennett
*Suspended for 2010, would be a redshirt senior in 2011

Pushing Costa will be redshirt sophomore Darron Thomas, who tantalized Oregon fans with his outstanding debut as a true freshman against Boise State in 2008. Three and a half games into that season, Thomas, who former head coach Mike Bellotti had hoped to redshirt, possessed the only healthy body of UO’s five quarterbacks. All he did over the game’s final 15 minutes was throw for 210 yards and three scores, nearly leading Oregon back from a 24-point deficit.

Thomas was able to redshirt last year, honing his throwing motion and mechanics while gaining insight into Oregon’s offense. He also developed physically, becoming a member of UO’s strength and conditioning “Iron Club,” a group that included only 16 Ducks in 2009. Pound for pound, Thomas rated as the strongest quarterback and ninth strongest player overall based on a ratio of weight lifted to body weight.

Redshirt freshman Daryle Hawkins begins his second-year in the program. Hawkins, who played just three games at the position over his final two prep seasons due to injury, manned the scout team as a true frosh and was prepared to back up Costa at UCLA last season while Masoli was sidelined with an injury. He should get plenty of regular practice snaps this spring and fall.

Oregon will again have the services of Dustin Haines, another redshirt freshman who had scout team duty last season. Haines is a walk-on from South Eugene HS, where he was a two-time MVP for the Axemen.

Joining the QB fray for fall camp will be Bryan Bennett, a four-star prep recruit from Encino, Calif. (Crespi Carmelite). Considered one of the top 15 prep quarterbacks in the country by both major scouting services, Bennett’s high school resume details a player with a combination of remarkable athleticism and an accurate arm, as evidenced by his 64-percent completion ratio and 27 touchdown passes against only six interceptions.

Tomorrow's topic: Running Backs.

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