Auburn football transfer Bo Nix is frontrunner for Oregon starting QB job

Perhaps the most shocking transfer portal entry in the post-2021 season recruiting period was Bo Nix’s departure from Auburn football.

What’s not shocking is that Nix is now on his way to start for another Power Five program under center.

Nix’s choice (Oregon) was almost completely inspired by the presence of former Tigers offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham. Gus Malzahn’s former OC got the most out of Nix of any Auburn play-caller, so it’s only natural that Nix has the chance to step in and make an impact in Eugene ahead of the 2022 season.

The Register-Guard’s Antwan Staley broke down the current QB situation for the 2021 Pac-12 runner-up Oregon Ducks:

"While Nix is the frontrunner to win the starting job, he isn’t the only quarterback to watch this spring.Redshirt freshman Ty Thompson is the Ducks’ quarterback of the future. He was the ninth-rated player of the 2021 class and the first five-star quarterback to ever sign with the Ducks. Thompson is a dual-threat quarterback who could compete with Nix for the starting spot under center."

Clearly, Nix has competition under center on the West Coast that he never quite did on the Plains.

Last year around this time, Dematrius Davis was the primary competition for Nix at the quarterback spot for Auburn football. Davis never saw a snap during his freshman season, maintaining his redshirt devoid of opportunities on the field.

T.J. Finley’s presence certainly didn’t push him. Neither did Cord Sandberg’s or Joey Gatewood’s before that.

It’s crazy to think that projected first-round NFL prospect Malik Willis transferred from Auburn with Nix having the spot all but cinched up back in 2019.

There will be a struggle for Nix to be the main man for Oregon that never seemed tangible for the former Pinson signal-caller when he was playing for the school he was always pegged to attend.