Helfrich isn’t anxious about the lower outside expectations for the Ducks, who open the season ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press poll. Adams was not academically eligible until August of previous year, while Prukop enrolled for spring classes and completed 20 of 29 passes for 190 yards in the UO spring game, a performance that helped establish him as the favorite for the starting role.
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Herbert, a local prospect out of Sheldon High School in Eugene, threw for 3,170 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior a year ago. Redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen also was among the competitors to start.
Unlike Adams, who didn’t join the Ducks until a few days into fall camp last season, Prukop arrived in Eugene early.
Prukop follows Vernon Adams Jr. who transferred from Eastern Washington past year and arrived on campus days before the start of the season to win the job.
“By the end of fall camp, it always gets a little edgy between the offense and defense, so we’re ready to go out and hit someone else”, Prukop said after capping the preseason practices with three touchdown passes in Thursday’s scrimmage. In 2014, Prukop led Montana State to a 77-37 win over UC Davis, throwing for 361 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 148 yards and two scores.
“Justin’s done a great job of not putting the ball into tight (situations)”, OR quarterbacks coach David Yost told the media earlier this week.
Jonsen completed 15 of 24 attempts for 188 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the spring game.
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“Knock on wood, we’re healthier than we were last year, we’re stronger than we were last year”. “We’re going to be in a good place whoever they put out there”. The season was capped by a triple-overtime loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl.
