If you're an Oregon football fan, you likely miss Bo Nix to an unhealthy degree even though the Ducks haven't played a single game without him yet in 2024.
The former Auburn-turned-Oregon quarterback led the Ducks to two successful seasons to begin the Dan Lanning era in Eugene and then he was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He experienced one of the most drastic career turnarounds of any college football player in recent memory.
In fact, while he was at Auburn, he was considered a "bust" as a former blue-chip recruit who just struggled to live up to the hype early on in his career. But then he changed scenery to Eugene.
With Oregon, he had two of the most successful seasons of any quarterback to play for the Ducks, including a 4,508-yard, 45-touchdown season in 2023 where he led the program to a 12-2 record and Fiesta Bowl win over Liberty. He went from "borderline NFL prospect" to "first-round lock" in just a couple of years and now he's projected to start as a rookie for the Broncos.
And he will lock up that QB1 job if he plays like he did in his preseason opener moving forward.
Bo Nix was the most efficient QB in his draft class because of his ability to process complex schemes with ease and the QUICK RELEASE you see on this TD throw. He showed that going 15/21 for 125 yards with 4 scoring drives in his preseason debut and his creativity too.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 11, 2024
🎥- @NFL pic.twitter.com/kiNXiPcKsy
Nix was 15-for-21 for 125 yards and a touchdown. He led Denver on four scoring drives and the offense looked much more locked in with him at the helm than it did at any point last season.
Oregon fans have plenty of reasons to watch the Broncos on Sundays this year, led by Nix but also because fellow rookie Troy Franklin was also drafted by Denver. This could be one of the most improved teams in the NFL this season thanks to Nix.
This preseason debut was more than encouraging.