Oregon Football: Starting QB job is Anthony Brown’s to lose

Mario Cristobal spoke to the media on Thursday night and it seemed clear as he answered questions about the quarterback situation that one player was heads and shoulders ahead of the pack.

Anthony Brown came to Eugene last season as a grad transfer from Boston College and while he didn’t really have a major impact in his first season, we have to realize that he didn’t get a fair shake at an offseason with COVID-19 nearly canceling the Pac-12 season but instead shortening it, beginning in late-fall.

Brown came to Oregon hoping to challenge Tyler Shough for the starting job but ended up as the No. 2 and eventually took over near the end of the season.

Bringing a dual-threat element to the quarterback position was a nice development for Oregon’s offense, but it was too little too late. He ended the season on a high note despite the New Year’s Six loss, but it was enough to bring him back for one final season and force a transfer from Shough.

Now that he’s back for one final season, Oregon is hoping that he picks up where he left off and it seems like that’s the case, especially when you listen to Cristobal talk about him.

Even with freshman sensation Ty Thompson, Jay Butterfield, and Robby Ashford on the roster, Brown is standing out as the leader in the quarterback room and the clear QB1 option this spring.

Brown is Oregon football’s QB1 until proven otherwise

Cristobal trusts Brown even though the two have been together for just one shortened season and half of an offseason but when he talks about his veteran quarterback, he glows with enthusiasm. He talks about how he doesn’t take anything for granted, how he’s earned everything that’s been granted to him, and he’s great at mentoring the younger guys.

While fans may have been expecting an intense quarterback battle this offseason, it’s fairly clear that Brown is going to be the Ducks’ QB1 barring a miracle.

Unless Thompson has a huge final week of spring and subsequent tremendous summer of workouts and elite fall camp or Butterfield and Ashford break out, Brown is going to be taking the field when the season kicks off against Fresno State in September.

Oregon is in good hands at the quarterback position and even if Brown underperforms, there’s plenty of talent behind him and he will be one heck of a leader either way.