QB Adams Signs Paperwork with Ducks
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
The competition to replace Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota is on track to feature one more participant, with the nation’s most efficient passer at the FCS level in 2014 looking to follow in the footsteps of the most efficient passer in the FBS last season.
Vernon Adams Jr. on Monday signed a financial-aid agreement with Oregon, clearing a path for the Eastern Washington quarterback to play his senior season with the Ducks as a graduate student. Adams is a two-time runner-up for the Walter Payton Award as the best player at the FCS level, and two-time Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the year.
Adams, a native of Mission Hills, Calif., must complete his undergraduate degree at Eastern Washington in order to join the Ducks and be immediately eligible. Oregon’s returning quarterbacks entering the spring are Jeff Lockie – the backup to Mariota each of the last two seasons – and sophomore Taylor Alie. Sophomore Ty Griffin and redshirt freshman Morgan Mahalak quarterbacked the scout team last fall.
UO coach Mark Helfrich is reserving comment on Adams’ potential addition until Adams arrives at Oregon, as Helfrich has done in the cases of high school players who sign financial-aid agreements with the university.
Adams had an efficiency rating of 183.13 in 2014, completing 251-of-380 passes (66.1 percent) for 3,483 yards and 35 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. He set FCS records with 10.28 yards per pass attempt and 9.0 yards per play of total offense.
The Ducks have the unenviable task of trying to replace the greatest quarterback in school history, Mariota, who led the FBS in 2014 with a passer rating of 181.75. He also led the FBS with 10.0 yards per pass attempt, and was second with 9.01 yards per play of total offense.
In 2013, Adams led Eastern Washington to a 49-46 win over Oregon State, completing 23-of-30 passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushing for 107 yards and two scores. Last season, Washington needed a fourth-quarter comeback to beat Adams and the Eagles, with Adams completing 31-of-46 passes for 475 yards and seven touchdowns against the Huskies.
Oregon and Eastern Washington face off to open the 2015 season, on Sept. 5 in Autzen Stadium.
