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Bo Nix tells prospective players why they should come to Oregon

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Bo Nix was on billboards this season and he’ll be the poster child for prospective transfers to Oregon, especially quarterbacks.

One of four Heisman Trophy finalists, including three transfer quarterbacks, Nix led two of the most prolific offenses in Oregon history.

He’s completing a nation-leading 77.2% of his passes, is tied for the FBS lead with 40 touchdown passes and is second in the country in passing yards (4,145), passer efficiency rating (186.24) and total touchdowns (46) this season.

The Ducks knew they’d have to replace Nix after this season, but that doesn’t make the task easy. UO is pursuing quarterbacks in the transfer portal, including Dillon Gabriel, and has a commitment from three-star Luke Moga in its 2024 recruiting class.

Nix said players considering coming to Oregon should know the “resources that Oregon has, it’s second to none” and helped him be successful the past two years.

“I think when you look at Oregon you’ve got to ask yourself why not Oregon?” Nix said at Friday’s Heisman Trophy press conference in New York. “What does Oregon possibly not have that’s going to expand someone’s career? Time and time again Oregon proves again that it’s going to reach the full potential of student-athletes. It’s a great college experience. It’s awesome resources and at the end of the day when you go as a football player, you’re going to be coached, you’re going to mentored, you’re going to be pushed to be the best you can be.

“I think every person wants that opportunity. Every individual wants a chance to go and reach their full potential. That is probably a lot of their goals if they’re playing football because they want to reach the next level.”

Nix is hardly the only success story among transfers to Oregon during the Dan Lanning era and before.

Running back Bucky Irving has rushed for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons after coming to UO from Minnesota. Receiver Tez Johnson has a career-high 75 catches for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns this season after transferring from Troy and Chase Cota had a career-high 497 receiving yards in 2022 after transferring from UCLA.

Running back Noah Whittington, receivers Traeshon Holden and Gary Bryant Jr., right tackle Ajani Cornelius, defensive end Jordan Burch, nose tackles Taki Taimani and Jordon Riley, defensive tackle Casey Rogers, linebacker Jestin Jacobs, cornerbacks Khyree Jackson and Christian Gonzalez, safety Tysheem Johnson and punter Ross James all transferred to UO over the past two years and played significant roles for the Ducks.

Even prior to Lanning’s arrival at Oregon, offensive linemen T.J. Bass and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, outside linebacker DJ Johnson and safety Bennett Williams were all transfers, three via junior colleges, who became significant contributors.

“There’s been a lot of grad transfers in the past and they’ve all been able to go on and do something else, get a fresh start,” Nix said. “That’s all my story was, was a chance to go and get a fresh start, and be around a new team and have a chance to go out there and compete at a high level. ...They put me in a position now to really succeed and I’m thankful for them and I’m always going to be able to wear that ‘O’ on my chest with pride now. It makes me excited.”

Even with 90 projected scholarship players on paper for next year, five over the limit, Oregon has voids to fill on its roster, including at safety, interior defensive line and receiver.

Additional clarity will come after draft-eligible players, including Irving, Franklin and Burch, declare whether they’re entering the NFL draft or returning, as Nix did.

Nix said he returned for a fifth season to try and win a championship and didn’t want to “chase” the NFL when it was still going to be an opportunity he would have.

“I thought there was some potential left in college and I wanted to maximize that,” Nix said. “Fortunately for me I was able to I think take all I had in college and use it to the best of my ability and set myself up for a good situation moving forward.”

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