Spring ball is quickly approaching and fans will finally get some insight after months of offseason workouts and conditioning.
Mario Cristobal is coming off his second straight Pac-12 title and if that’s going to turn into three in a row, the Ducks will need someone to replace Tyler Shough under center.
Shough decided to transfer to Texas Tech this offseason, opening the door for Boston College transfer Anthony Brown, Jay Butterfield or incoming freshman sensation Ty Thompson. The starting job is up for grabs and it might be one of the most intriguing quarterback battles in the country and it’s going to be under the microscope this spring.
Right now, Brown has to be the front-runner after deciding to return for another season after completing 15-of-23 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns last year. He also rushed for 40 yards and two scores on seven carries, showing he can be a legit dual-threat.
Thompson comes in as one of the top prospects in the 2021 recruiting class, ranked the No. 39 overall recruit and fourth-best pro-style passer, according to the 247Sports composite. He has great size at 6-4, 215 pounds and while he’s not as polished of a runner as Brown, he could use that strong frame to pick up yards with his legs.
Butterfield is the dark-horse in the race, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing just over 200 pounds. He was a four-star and top-150 prospect in the 2020 class. Brandon Huffman of 247Sports compares him to Nick Foles and says he could be a Day 2 or Day 3 NFL draft pick eventually.
This three-man quarterback battle is going to be intense.
Who should Oregon football go with as QB1?
Realistically, Oregon will probably go with Brown to start the season because he’s the veteran with plenty of starting experience under his belt and he’s the only quarterback on the team who has actually taken snaps at the collegiate level.
Brown showed promised late in the season with some accuracy and the ability to move in the pocket so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he got the start although the team’s ceiling may be higher with Thompson or Butterfield.
But just because Brown starts the season as QB1 it doesn’t mean he’s locked into that starting spot for the rest of the year. He could start and one of the younger guys could take over.
A huge spring by Thompson or Butterfield could change the outlook of the position, however. If Thompson shows he can handle the speed of college ball early, Cristobal could go with him over the veteran to make sure he has a solid 3-4 year starter. I see Butterfield as the third option, but he has the potential to be a solid starter at the Power Five level. Is that at Oregon or elsewhere?
My prediction? Oregon starts the year with Brown but with some shaky play, he opens the door for Thompson to take over and he becomes the starter by mid-season.