An FCS transfer QB was awesome for Oregon in 2015, so here comes another one

For the second straight year, an FCS quarterback will look to play at the sport’s highest level. Montana State QB transfer Dakota Prukop has committed to Oregon, according to Bruce Feldman, where he will be eligible to play immediately for one season under the NCAA’s graduate transfer rules.

Prukop follows in the footsteps of Vernon Adams, who is currently starting for Oregon in a graduate transfer year after starring at Eastern Washington. Prukop chooses the Ducks over Alabama, Texas and Michigan, among others.

Prukop could have walked on at Texas Tech or SMU coming out of high school in Austin. But as detailed by Feldman, he was way too raw as a prospect to get serious consideration as an FBS prospect:

He said he went to Texas Tech’s camp and ran a 4.5, but the Red Raiders’ DC eventually stopped talking to him and then got fired. In retrospect, he believes going the FCS route was the right move for him. He didn’t get lost on a crowded roster with scholarship guys, and it afforded him some time to develop. “I was way behind,” Prukop said.

At Montana State, he developed into a true dual-threat, much like Adams. He passed for 3,025 yards for 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, completing nearly 63 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns. Those rushing numbers are particularly impressive for someone of his size, at 6’2, 200 pounds.

Prukop did not play an FBS opponent this year, but he did have a showdown against Adams and Eastern Washington as a sophomore in 2014. Prukop threw for 248 yards and four touchdowns on 17-of-26 passing in that 52-51 loss, rushing for 68 more yards and a touchdown. Adams threw for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 25-of-43 passing.

Adams is an obvious template for Prukop, and he did not disappoint at Oregon. He was injured for a good amount of the season, but he was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country when healthy. Had he not been injured early in the season, he even would’ve had a Heisman case. His numbers from the final six games of the season projected over the course of the entire year: 4,352 yards, 49 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Both players’ final two seasons at the FCS level are similar. Adams was a bit better as a passer, but Prukop was a far better runner.

The 5’11 Adams is an incredible improvisor, but Prukop is as good of a runner as he is a passer and could be more dangerous on designed runs.

Prukop will also have more time to study the playbook, as Adams didn’t arrive in Eugene until August of this year due to a later graduation.

The competition will be improved, but with a top-notch supporting cast, an FCS transfer to Oregon has the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in FBS, again.