Oregon QB Jeff Lockie taking first-team reps

The Oregon Ducks may be looking forward to graduate transfer quarterback Vernon Adams joining the team soon, but coach Mark Helfrich has made it clear that Adams will have to earn his playing time.

Speaking to ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura, Helfrich said that junior quarterback Jeff Lockie would continue to take reps with the first team because he had earned the privilege to do so and would until “proven otherwise.”

Well, I think we can say that the shots have been fired.

Though Adams put up excellent numbers at Eastern Washington — 10,438 pass yards and 110 touchdowns with 1,232 rush yards and 11 scores — academic issues have kept him from joining the team currently and has already said he will be late to camp.

That isn’t exactly an ideal first impression to make on a team that is needy at quarterback following the departure of Heisman winner Marcus Mariota to the NFL.

But it also makes sense from a coaching standpoint, as Lockie has been on the field and on the sidelines for Oregon in a reserve role the past two seasons, completing 29 of 41 attempts for 264 yards and a touchdown over that stretch. He knows Helfrich’s offense and there isn’t as much of a learning curve and given how Adams has had issues making sure that he will indeed be able to play, why let him start immediately when Lockie has been working hard each of the past two years to eventually become Mariota’s successor?

Chances are Adams will practice with the first team at some point, but Campus Sports will update this story if anything does or does not change.

Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!

*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports 

Urban Meyer, Ohio State AD comment on suspended players
Urban Meyer, Ohio State AD comment on suspended players