Eastern Washington QB says he has offer to transfer to Oregon
Oregon’s replacement for Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota may come from the FCS level.
According to the Spokane Spokesman-Review, Vernon Adams Jr., a record-setting quarterback at Eastern Washington, has been offered a scholarship by Oregon and will visit the school this upcoming weekend.
Adams, who finished his redshirt junior season in 2014, has not committed to leaving Eastern Washington, but the offer from the Ducks is understandably enticing.
“I’m not saying I’m leaving Eastern, but I’m just going to check it out and see what they have to say,” Adams said.
Adams, who has thrown for 10,438 yards, 110 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in three years, said he will fly to Eugene on Friday and return to EWU on Sunday. He told the Spokesman-Review that he first spoke with Oregon coaches, including head coach Mark Helfrich, late last week.
He fits the Oregon mold of a mobile quarterback. In addition to his gaudy passing stats, he also has 1,232 rushing yards and 11 scores in his career.
If he were to transfer to Oregon, he’d have just one season of eligibility remaining and could play immediately after graduating in the spring. He’d enter a quarterback competition full of inexperience. The Ducks return last season’s backup Jeff Lockie, along with Morgan Mahalak, Ty Griffin and Taylor Alie. Additionally, Rivals.com four-star recruit Travis Waller, the 49th-best prospect in the country, is expected to sign with the Ducks on National Signing Day.
Of course, there’s no guarantee the 6-foot, 190-pound Adams would win the starting role.
“I’m not going there to be a walk-on or a second-stringer,” he said. “But if I do go down there, I’m going to work my butt off.”
Eastern Washington has gone 35-8 with Adams as a starter (including a win over Oregon State and a narrow loss to Washington), so the draw of chasing an FCS title could also draw him back to the Cheney, Wash., campus.
“Just the family I’ve made here and the people. I love it in Cheney,” Adams said.
Even if he doesn’t transfer, he’ll play in Autzen Stadium in 2015. Oregon opens its season against the Eagles in Eugene on Sept. 5.
For more Oregon news, visit DuckSportsAuthority.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
