Oregon Football: Dakota Prukop, Travis Jonsen in heated QB battle
The Oregon Ducks have a heated quarterback competition between graduate transfer Dakota Prukop and redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen who both put on shows at the spring game.
Oregon football’s spring game was played this weekend and fans got their first glimpse of the offense’s 2016 signal caller. Dakota Prukop played a smart efficient game completing 20-of-29 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. A game like Prukop’s would usually seal the starting job. But, Travis Jonsen isn’t out of the race either. He completed 15-of-21 passes for 188 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Oregon football head coach Mark Helfrich has a tough decision on his hands. He can go with the polished, two-year starter, senior quarterback in Prukop.
Or, he can forgo Oregon’s best chance at a top-tier season and move on the to the future. Jonsen isn’t just some freshman, though. He is a former four-star recruit out of a blue blood high school in Servite. He would give Oregon more hope for the future instead of a one year fix.
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When Prukop transferred from Montana State the Ducks gained an experienced Div. I starting quarterback. Oregon football already had a couple up-and-coming quarterbacks. Travis Jonsen leads that group. But, the Ducks weren’t going to turn down the opportunity to land another graduate.
In 2015, Vernon Adams gave the Ducks more than they could ask for. He led the nation in passing efficiency (179.1) and put up a 26-to-6 TD-to-INT ratio. Adams came to Oregon after an impressive three-year stint at Eastern Washington. His TD-to-INT ratio in his three years at Eastern Washington says it all at 110-to-31. Prukop, much like Adams put up mind-boggling numbers at Montana State as a dual threat. He threw for 5,584 yards, 46 touchdowns to 16 interceptions and rushed for 1,743 yards and 24 touchdowns in two seasons.
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Jonsen fits the scheme just as much as Prukop. He was the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback the 2015 recruiting class. He threw for over 1,500-plus yards and rushed for 800-plus yard in back-to-back seasons. This quarterback battle will be something to watch. Whoever gets the job will easily fit into the system and put up big numbers.