Oregon Football: What can we expect from Ty Thompson in 2021?

Ty Thompson was one of the top recruits in Oregon football’s 2021 class and is regarded as the best quarterback commit in school history.

Mario Cristobal has to feel fortunate to have landed him over some of the biggest names in college football but the Gilbert, Ariz., native felt the best fit with the Ducks. He felt at home in Eugene and enrolled early this winter.

And with Tyler Shough transferring and Anthony Brown not exactly the surest thing at quarterback, the starting job is up for grabs.

But what does Thompson think about the upcoming season and his role with the team?

Erik Skopil of 247Sports caught up with the freshman quarterback to talk about his expectations for the upcoming season and his answer was refreshing. He didn’t say “I expect to start” or “hopefully I win the job” but rather that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help the Ducks win.

"“I’m just here to make the team better whether I’m the fourth string taking scout team reps or I’m with the twos pushing [Anthony Brown] for the starting job,” Thompson told DuckTerritory.com at the team’s media day on Tuesday. “I’m here to practice hard and make the team better. I want to make sure we have the best opportunity to win football games.”"

So what should we expect from the former top-50 recruit’s freshman season?

Expectations for Thompson in year one with Oregon football

Thompson came to Oregon as the proclaimed “top quarterback recruit in school history” and that already puts major pressure on a kid.

The four-star quarterback was ranked the No. 40 recruit in the 2021 class and enrolled early. He is the projected backup or third-string quarterback after Cristobal recently stated that Anthony Brown is his QB1 heading into the fall. He could eventually overtake Brown, Robby Ashford, or Jay Butterfield (whoever starts this fall) as the leash is expected to be relatively short for the QB1 given the amount of talent and depth in the quarterback room.

I’m expecting mostly a learning season from Thompson in year one and while I think he could start for this team, I just see his time coming in 2022 as he holds the job for multiple seasons.

If you’re an Oregon fan, you’re elated at the possibility of Thompson being a three-year starter and if that’s the case, you take it. But I see Brown starting the season as QB1 and Thompson eventually taking over.

Ashford wouldn’t be a bad option, either, as he showed this spring.