Autzen Zoo
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
EUGENE, OR – NOVEMBER 03: Quarterback Dennis Dixon #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Autzen Stadium on November 3, 2007 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks defeated the Sun Devils 35-23. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – NOVEMBER 03: Quarterback Dennis Dixon #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Autzen Stadium on November 3, 2007 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks defeated the Sun Devils 35-23. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Another ranking I might get a little hate from but I truly believe the love Oregon fans have for Dennis Dixon comes from one season: 2007.

The 2007 campaign for Dixon was special as he finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and really made the Ducks’ offense fun to watch. Although Oregon finished just 9-4 that season, he put up some video game-like numbers before tearing his ACL. Had he not gotten injured, missing three games in that last season in Eugene, he may have been a top-three Heisman finisher.

He ended the season with 2,136 passing yards and 20 touchdowns with only four picks and a 68 percent completion rate. He also rushed for 583 yards and nine more touchdowns as the offense flourished with him under center.

The year before, however, was a forgettable one for Dixon. In 2006, he finished with a career-best 2,143 yards, but he averaged a career-low 6.7 yards per attempt, with another career-worst 61 percent completion rate with just 12 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. Dixon did rush for 442 yards and a few more touchdowns, but he was a turnover machine and the Ducks finished just 7-6.

Dixon was a really good quarterback for Oregon, but I have a hard time saying he’s a top-three Duck quarterback since 2000 even though that 2007 season ranks up there with one of the best in school history.

Home/Oregon Ducks Football