Ranking Top 5 Oregon Quarterback Hopefuls For 2015

By Alex Drude

Ranking The 5 Oregon Quarterback Hopefuls

Oregon Ducks quarterback Taylor Alie (12) and quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and quarterback Jeff Lockie (17) before the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. — The Heisman trophy winner left town, so now the Ducks have to figure who the next starter will be. Sure, Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams seems to have the inside track. But is Mariota’s backup the last two years really the second best option? Or can a redshirt freshman follow in Mariota’s footsteps? Here is a quick overview of all five potential starters.

5. Taylor Alie, Sophomore -- Chance Of Starting: Very Low

Oregon Ducks quarterback Taylor Alie (12) throws the ball during pre-game warmups against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium.

5. Taylor Alie, Sophomore -- Chance Of Starting: Very Low

Oregon Ducks quarterback Taylor Alie (12) throws the ball during pre-game warmups against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium. — If Alie somehow won the starting job, it would be a marvelous tale of “local boy makes good.” Alie was a starter at Sheldon High in Eugene, one of the top programs in the state. He chose to walk-on at Oregon -- current head coach Mark Helfrich turned down that role to start at Southern Oregon -- and redshirted his freshman year. Last season he was the holder on special teams and was the guy who made the call when it came to going for two or not.

4. Ty Griffin, Sophomore -- Chance Of Starting: Low

Oregon Ducks helmet on display at Autzen Stadium

4. Ty Griffin, Sophomore -- Chance Of Starting: Low

Oregon Ducks helmet on display at Autzen Stadium — Griffin has redshirted two straight years, first for Georgia Tech, and then he transferred to Oregon and sat out 2014 as well. In preparation for Florida State he simulated Jameis Winston on running plays, so we know he has some ability there. His brother Taj also decided to be a Duck and enrolled early to begin his running back career. The elder brother may very well get lost in the shuffle and decide to transfer again.

3. Jeff Lockie, Junior -- Chance Of Starting: Fair

Oregon Ducks quarterback Jeff Lockie (17) looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium.

3. Jeff Lockie, Junior -- Chance Of Starting: Fair

Oregon Ducks quarterback Jeff Lockie (17) looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. — Mariota’s backup the last two years, Lockie may be in trouble competing for the starting role because he’s been the safety valve for so long. He also certainly doesn’t appear to have that spark that Duck QBs need to have in the Blur offense. He's the safe pick, but Lockie seems to have a limited ceiling. He also didn’t play well subbing for Mariota in the CFB title game, but then again no one on Oregon really did.

2. Morgan Mahalak, Redshirt Freshman -- Chance Of Starting: High

Oregon Ducks quarterback Morgan Mahalak (16) and quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) talk before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium.

2. Morgan Mahalak, Redshirt Freshman -- Chance Of Starting: High

Oregon Ducks quarterback Morgan Mahalak (16) and quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) talk before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium. — A top QB in the state of California his senior year at Marin Catholic High in Marin County, Mahalak didn’t start until then because he was backing up future Cal starter Jared Goff. Finally in the spotlight he made several All-Star teams, the Ducks were quick to offer him and he was quick to accept. He’s already studied under two big-time college starting QBs, the Ducks value QB intelligence and Mahalak has that coming out his ears.

1. Vernon Adams, Senior Transfer -- Chance Of Starting: Very High

Eastern Washington Eagles quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) drops back for a pass against the Montana Grizzlies during the second half at Roos Field. Eastern Washington won 36-26.

1. Vernon Adams, Senior Transfer -- Chance Of Starting: Very High

Eastern Washington Eagles quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) drops back for a pass against the Montana Grizzlies during the second half at Roos Field. Eastern Washington won 36-26. — A heck of a career at Eastern Washington, including two-time runner-up for the Walter Payton award, the DI-AA equivalent of the Heisman, he certainly has the potential to be a one-year wonder. Yet Oregon might have gone after him as an insurance policy more than anything else. Adams leads the QB race going into spring practice, but he won’t participate because he has yet to graduate EWU. That may drop him on the charts sooner rather than later.

Alex Drude is a Pac-12 writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Alex_Drude. “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google+.

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