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Oregon Football: Ranking the top 5 quarterbacks since 2000

By Connor Muldowney

EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 05: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks warms up prior to taking on the California Golden Bears during their game at Autzen Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 05: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks warms up prior to taking on the California Golden Bears during their game at Autzen Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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29 Dec 2000: Quarterback Joey Harrington #3 of the Oregon Ducks drops back to pass during the Culligan Holiday Bowl against the Texas Longhorns at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross/ALLSPORT
29 Dec 2000: Quarterback Joey Harrington #3 of the Oregon Ducks drops back to pass during the Culligan Holiday Bowl against the Texas Longhorns at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross/ALLSPORT /

I might get some hate for ranking Joey Harrington No. 5 on this list, but you have to realize that this isn’t exactly a knock on him, but rather an indication of how good Oregon has had it at quarterback over the past two decades. If a former No. 3 overall NFL draft pick is only your fifth-best quarterback since 2000, at least in my opinion, then you’re doing something right.

Maybe I’m also a little salty about Harrington’s NFL struggles as a Lions fan, but that’s probably not it.

And you have to remember, this is best quarterbacks since 2000, so I’m not counting his warm-up to his breakout season which was 1999 when he passed for just over 1,000 yards with 10 touchdowns and only three picks on 53 percent completions. Harrington took over as full-time starter in 2000 and never looked back.

In his final two seasons in Eugene (2000-01), Harrington passed for over 5,700 yards and 49 touchdowns but he did have a turnover problem which carried over into the NFL, throwing 20 interceptions in that span. He also wasn’t the most accurate quarterback, never completing more than 60 percent of his passes which is why I have him ranked slightly lower than the next quarterback on this list.

Harrington did lead Oregon to a 21-3 record in those final two seasons which included a Fiesta Bowl win as he cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in Duck history.

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