Vernon Adams Update and Expectations

George Schroeder of USA Today wrote a piece giving us a Vernon Adams update today. It’s a wonderful piece that illustrates what he’s doing to get work in while waiting to graduate from Eastern Washington and essentially being a player without a team at the moment.

Also in the article we find out Adams shifted his major to essentially allow him to graduate earlier. But earlier is still June 13th, making June 14th the target day for his arrival in Eugene. Are the expectations realistic that await him at Oregon?

Is Adams the Next Russell Wilson?

Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon fans have been crystal clear on social media and forums. Vernon Adams is going to take Oregon back to the College Football Playoff and hopefully over the hump. Citing Russell Wilson who lead Wisconsin to the Rose Bowl against Oregon in his one year in Madison.

It’s hard to ignore that while playing at North Carolina State Wilson was facing Division I competition, and while Wilson has faced some of that at EWU, he hasn’t faced it consistently.

Can Oregon fans expect there to be no learning curve? Well they can and they do, with the bar being set as high as it possibly can be for Adams. With his late arrival to the team will he be up to speed enough to hit the ground running?

Vernon Adams Working Out Essentially Alone

Schroeder caught up with Adams at Cheney Middle School playing “organized catch” with Daniel Johnson a recent EWU graduate. He works out at a strip mall gym, at 6a.m. alone. He sprints and runs hills alone. He finds people like Johnson to help him keep his arm in line by running receiver route trees. He took a trip to Washington State to throw with some of their receivers. It’s hard to see that believe that could really be a consistent solution. This is a snippet of information from the article but I encourage you to read the article an entire picture of what his life in Cheney looks like now.

What’s clear to me is that if anyone could make this work, it’s probably Adams. The determination and dedication he’s shown so far illustrate his work ethic. His willingness to sacrifice shows he’s serious about wanting to get to Eugene as quick as possible. And his biggest fear, timing with his new Duck teammates shows he’s confident in his ability physically and mentally to be prepared when he arrives in Oregon.

Probably the biggest asset is maybe the biggest difference between he and Marcus Mariota, the man he’ll likely replace, other than physical difference is his bravado. Adams comes off as a little cocky, and that’s not in anyway a criticism. I’m not sure I believe Mariota could pull of what Adams is trying to do this year. I think his swagger so to speak will help him with the transition. What’s clear is he won’t fall into the trap of trying to be the next Mariota.