Potential Oregon starting QB Vernon Adams eligible after passing math exam

Quarterback Vernon Adams has passed his final math exam and will be eligible to play for Oregon this season, he confirmed on his Twitter account.

The former FCS star at Eastern Washington announced his decision to transfer to the Ducks in February and is expected to compete for the team’s starting quarterback job.

Adams will compete with junior Jeff Lockie, who backed up Heisman winner Marcus Mariota last season. The Ducks’ 2015 season opener will be against EWU, potentially giving Adams a chance to play against his old school (which wrongfully griped when he left).

In 2014, Adams completed over 66 percent of his passes for 3,483 yards, 35 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Against Washington, he threw for 475 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. In 2013, Adams led the Eagles to a victory over Oregon State, ranked No. 25 at the time. The Ducks play Washington in October and Oregon State in November this season.

Lockie completed 21 of 28 passes in limited playing time last season, throwing a touchdown in the season opener against South Dakota.

Whether it’s Adams or Lockie, Oregon should still be considered the Pac-12 favorite. As Bill Connelly pointed out in his season preview of the Ducks, when’s the last time the Ducks didn’t get production from the quarterback position anyway?

Darron Thomas (2010-11) was solid. Jeremiah Masoli (2008-09), ditto. Dennis Dixon (2006-07) might have won the Heisman in 2007 if not for a late-season injury. Kellen Clemens (2003-05) is still scratching out a living in the NFL.

Et cetera. Even Jason Fife (2002) put up pretty decent numbers for the Ducks.

Whoever wins the starting job, be it last year’s backup Jeff Lockie, graduate transfer Vernon Adams, etc., will probably be fine. And while the Ducks are competing in a conference that is potentially as loaded as ever, they’ll be fine, too. National powers get the benefit of the doubt, after all.

For more on Adams and what he has to offer the Oregon offense, read film breakdowns from Addicted to Quack and Pacific Takes.