Replacing Justin Herbert: Looking back at the candidates as recruits
Oregon has quickly turned things around under first-year head coach Willie Taggart, but the Ducks got some bad news this week when they learned starting quarterback Justin Herbert will be out for an extended period of time with a broken collarbone. Thanks to attrition on the roster over the past few years, the Ducks only have a few options to fill Herbert’s shoes heading into the toughest part of their 2017 schedule.
So who are the candidates to do that and how were they ranked as recruits? We take a look back at the Ducks' options and also revisit some “What If?” scenarios about former Ducks who are now elsewhere.
A local prospect from Eugene’s Sheldon High School, Alie walked on with the Ducks in 2013 and wasn’t ranked by Rivals.com as a prospect. By his redshirt freshman season, he worked his way onto the field as a holder and in 2015 he saw time when starter Vernon Adams went down with an injury, helping the Ducks to a road victory at Colorado. In 2016, Alie kept his job as a holder but didn’t see any time at quarterback and also spent time practicing as a wide receiver. When Taggart and company came to town, Alie was given the opportunity to compete for the backup job to Herbert and won the job during fall camp, seeing mop up duty before coming in for an injured Herbert in Saturday’s victory over Cal before leaving the game with an injury of his own. Alie is healthy and practicing this week, but Taggart has stopped short of naming him the starter for this weekend’s game against Washington State.
Burmeister had one of the more interesting recruitments in recent years, first committing to Arizona during his sophomore year before backing off that pledge and then eventually rejoining the Wildcats' commitment list. But once Taggart got the job in Eugene, he quickly targeted Burmeister and flipped him from the ‘Cats in January of this year. After enrolling early, the former Rivals250 prospect battled Alie for the backup job and started the year as the third-string quarterback and seemed to be on track to redshirt before injuries led to him entering Saturday’s victory over Cal late in the game.
Burmeister is an accomplished runner but is still developing as a passer. Several Oregon fans are hoping he gets the start this weekend but even if he doesn’t, expect him to see the field during Herbert’s absence.
Burch was ranked as a three-star athlete coming out of powerhouse program Apopka, Fla. And played primarily quarterback during his high school career. He initially committed to USF but later followed Taggart to Eugene with a plan to play wide receiver for the Ducks. However, a number of transfers during the spring led to Burch opening spring practice as a quarterback, but he only played the position for a week before going back to work with the wide receivers. This week, Burch is back with the quarterbacks and while it’s unlikely he will see the field, he does have a unique skillset that could be put to use at the position.
A true freshman walk-on from Lake Oswego, Ore., Irwin didn’t have a ranking as a high school prospect nor did he receive any FBS offers. If he is called upon, the Ducks are likely in major trouble.
WHAT IF?
A three-star member of Oregon’s 2013 signing class, Hobbs spent just one year with the Ducks before electing to transfer. He landed at Utah State, where he played sparingly during the 2015 and 2016 seasons but he did tie the Aggies' record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single game with three in a game against Wyoming last November. Hobbs was moved to tight end for his senior season and he has four catches for 23 yards on the season.
The high school backup to eventual No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Jared Goff, Mahalak came into Oregon with big expectations. But the Ducks took his commitment before he started a varsity game in high school and when he arrived on campus, he failed to move up the depth chart, even when the Ducks were faced with limited options due to injuries. After not playing in either of his first two years, Mahalak elected to transfer to FCS program Towson, where he went 4-1 as a starter in 2016 before going down with an injury. This year Mahalak has played in one game, going 8-of-19 with three interceptions.
The highest-ranked quarterback signee by the Ducks in the Rivals.com era, Waller was expected to be the bridge to the future following the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. But an injury forced him to redshirt his freshman season in 2015 and despite opening fall camp in a battle for the starting job, he fell to fourth string by the time the 2016 season started. Stuck behind Herbert, Waller never saw the field in 2016 and after failing to win the job in spring practice he elected to transfer earlier this year. Waller is currently at Riverside City College in California, where he has seen scattered playing time this fall.
A three-star member of the Ducks 2016 signing class, Wallace was once committed to Texas Tech and Ohio State before eventually landing with the Ducks. Upon his arrival in Eugene, he was moved to wide receiver, where he drew rave reviews during the first part of his redshirt season in 2016 before running into off-field problems and being suspended by the team. Wallace is now at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, where he is playing wide receiver.
Another three-star member of the Ducks 2016 recruiting class Wilson flipped to Oregon after previously being committed to Nebraska. After briefly battling for the starting job his first year on campus, Wilson redshirted and entered 2017 looking to make an impression on the Ducks new staff. But after not being able to pass Herbert or Waller during the first part of spring practice he left the team. Wilson is now at Garden City Community College in Kansas and is expected to leave JUCO as a part of the 2019 Signing Class. He’s picked up offers from Baylor and Indiana so far this year.
A four-star member of Oregon’s 2017 signing class, Judson was a high school quarterback who was once committed to Ohio State during his high school career and then flipped from USF to Oregon to follow Taggart. Judson was likely to play running back or wide receiver in college, but he never arrived in Eugene and was likely an academic casualty. His current status is unknown, but if he were in Eugene he would at least bolster the Ducks depth at the position.
