Former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix announces transfer to Oregon
Dan Lanning has his quarterback.
The first-year Oregon Ducks head coach landed one of the biggest quarterback names in the transfer portal Sunday when former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix announced he will transfer to Eugene.
Coast to Coast. It’s official!🦆 #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/XozWIW7wMi
— Bo Nix (@BoNix10) December 19, 2021
Nix started three seasons for the Auburn Tigers. With Oregon, he’s reuniting with new offensive coordinator Kenny Dillinghan, who was the Auburn OC in 2019, Nix’s freshman season. His first career game was actually against Oregon, featuring a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Ducks led by Nix himself.
The former 5-star started every game he was healthy for during the last three seasons after earning the starting job as a true freshman. Before fracturing his ankle on Nov. 13 against Mississippi State, Nix had started 34 consecutive games. The Alabama native earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2019 after passing for 2,542 yards and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions while rushing for another 313 yards and seven scores. That freshman campaign included a game-winning touchdown pass in his debut against Oregon, as well as helping engineer a win over Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
This year, prior to his injury, Nix completed a career-high 61% of his throws for 2,294 yards and 11 touchdowns against three interceptions in 10 games.
Nix finished his Auburn career as the program’s third-leading passer all-time with 7,251 yards, he completed 59% of his throws for 39 touchdowns, adding another 18 rushing scores on the ground. Nix has two years of eligibility remaining.
Both Lanning and Dillingham weighed in on the addition on Twitter shortly after Nix made things public:
🦆
— Dan Lanning (@CoachDanLanning) December 19, 2021
😎😎😎 pic.twitter.com/ZK7XaE6WHA
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) December 19, 2021
His addition to the team injects quite a bit of controversy into the Oregon quarterback room. Nix is a big name, but has seen his career marred by inconsistency. And the Ducks have a pair of former high-profile youngsters in Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield waiting in the wings. Butterfield was a 4-star in the 2020 class and a top-150 prospect overall, per the 247 Composite.
Thompson was a crown jewel of the 2021 class—which ranked 6th nationally. The dual-threat quarterback was a 5-star in Rivals’ evaluation and the 10th overall prospect. He was a 4-star in the 247 Composite and ranked as a top-50 prospect nationally.
With the transfer portal QB market booming, and supplied by quarterbacks leaving a situation where they can’t play for one where they can—how Nix’s addition changes the dynamic of the Ducks’ quarterback room will be curious to watch.
“I’ve been in the past where we’ve carried anywhere from four to five quarterbacks on scholarship and then even some programs where it’s been higher than that,” Lanning said this week when asked what an ideal number would be for the Ducks to carry at quarterback. “Not every one of them can be on the field at the same time. That’s generally a position that’s overstaffed for how many can actually play.”
But he also said development of players who have already built up sweat equity with the team is important to him.
“The two things I’m looking for when I’m hiring these coaches moving forward is relationships and development,” Lanning said. “When you talk about development, you’re not signing finished products. You have to take players and take them to where you think they can be when it’s all said and done. That’s going to be a big part of what we’re doing moving forward, developing young men.”