Oregon Lands 4 Signal-Callers on Top-90 College Quarterbacks in 2000s List

No. 29: Bo Nix

Bo Nix's college career didn't start with the Oregon Ducks, but once he was in Eugene, he looked like a different player than we had seen during his time at Auburn. 

Ironically, at the time, Nix's first career win came against Oregon, led by Justin Herbert. 

"His career stats definitely got a boost from the bonus year of eligibility associated with the 2020 season, but in two seasons at Oregon, he was otherworldly. Two losses to Washington were the only blemishes in an otherwise perfect senior season that saw him complete 77% of his passes for 4,508 yards and an eye-popping 45-3 TD-INT ratio," Connelly wrote. 

In his rookie season, Nix showed flashes and helped lead the Denver Broncos to its first playoff appearance since they had won the Super Bowl in 2015. 

No. 24: Dillon Gabriel

Dillon Gabriel's college career also started elsewhere, but once in a Ducks uniform, it looked like a match made in heaven. 

Gabriel's arm talent made him a fun watch while at UCF, and once with the Ducks, we saw something truly special. 

With his extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, Gabriel finished his collegiate career with the second-most passing yards in FBS history with 18,722 and the most touchdowns with 155. 

"Gabriel also took advantage of the 2020 bonus eligibility year to become the No. 2 passer of all time. He threw for more than 7,000 yards at UCF and nearly 7,000 at OU before leading Oregon to an unbeaten regular season and the No. 1 seed in the first 12-team CFP as a senior," Connelly wrote. 

No. 9: Marcus Mariota

Perhaps the most decorated quarterback on this list, Marcus Mariota exemplified what it means to be a quarterback at Oregon. 

The Ducks had gone to the National Championship just two seasons before Mariota took over for Darron Thomas, so expectations were high. 

But whatever was expected of Mariota, he shattered through. He became the first player in Oregon Ducks history to win the Heisman Trophy and led the Ducks back to the National Championship before falling to Ohio State. 

Mariota finished his college career with 10,796 passing yards with a stellar 67% completion rate and 15 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 2,237 yards and 29 touchdowns. 

"By 2014, Oregon's defense had fallen off pretty significantly, allowing 27+ points in seven games. And it didn't matter in the slightest because the Ducks had Mariota. It's hard to call someone underappreciated when he won the Heisman and went second in the NFL draft the next year ... but even in an age of gaudy stats, his 2014 totals -- 5,224 combined passing and rushing yards and 57 combined TDs -- stand out," Connelly wrote. 

Was anyone snubbed? Is there a quarterback on this list that shouldn't have made it? That's the beauty of lists like this; it often raises more questions than answers.