Oregon Fall Camp: Morgan Mahalak Third Man At QB, But For How Long?
By Alex Drude
Oregon Ducks quarterback Morgan Mahalak is officially, at best, the third man on the depth chart behind Vernon Adams and Jeff Lockie, but the redshirt freshman is getting praise from coaches past and present as fall camp continues.
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When Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich acknowledged that the starting QB job was a two-man race, he said that Mahalak has improved noticeably.
“He’s working and learning how to give himself a chance to be in the mix,” Helfrich told The Oregonian.
Mahalak says that last year was maybe a little overwhelming for him. “As a freshman, it’s tough to come in and prepare for fall camp,” he told his hometown paper, the Marin Independent Journal. “I know what I’m doing on the field now, which helps a lot. I know the offense a lot better and don’t have to think as much. I can play freely and have fun.”
Whomever ends up winning starting job, it means that Mahalak will have studied three Pac-12 starting QB’s up close and personal before he ever takes an official snap. Last season at Oregon, of course, he redshirted behind future Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. But he didn’t start a game at Marin Catholic High School (Marin County, CA) until his senior season because he was behind Cal’s current starter, Jared Goff. That’s a pretty good group of QB’s to learn from.
Mahalak will have studied three Pac-12 starting QB’s up close and personal before he ever takes an official snap.
His high school coach, Marin Catholic’s Mazi Moayed, says the transfer of Adams, the presumed starter by many, will only help Mahalak as he works toward becoming a starting Pac-12 QB himself.
“If you’re not quite ready, it can buy you another year,” Moayed told the IJ. “And if you are ready, God bless you, you’re off and running. I think the situation is a good one for him.”
Mahalak, Eugene native Taylor Alie (Sheldon High School grad), and freshman Travis Jonsen will compete for the third QB spot.
“I want to contribute however I can,” Mahalak told the IJ.
Mahalak may be the third man for now, but when he figures it out it will be difficult for the Ducks to keep him on the sidelines, no matter who is ahead of him.