Adams hits road to University of Oregon

For three years Vernon Adams has been off limits from being tackled by his Eastern Washington University football teammates in practice and scrimmages.

All that changed Monday, Feb. 9 when the All-American Eagles' quarterback announced his transfer to the University of Oregon. He hopes to assume the job that was held by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariotta who decided to forego his senior season and entry April's NFL draft.

EWU and Oregon meet in Eugene to open their respective 2015 football seasons on Sept. 5. "It's going to be crazy," Adams said. "The defense can finally tackle me."

Adams, who had been a sought after commodity at quarterback by not only Oregon, but also UCLA and Texas, each seeking experience at the position, Tweeted his decision as follows:

"Oregon it is! I want to thank God for this amazing opportunity. I want to thank all of Eagle Nation for all the love and support. Want to thank every single one of my teammates for pushing me to be a better man/athlete everyday these past four years," his statement read in part.

Adams, twice runner-up for the Walter Payton Award given to the top Football Championship Subdivision player, will compete with Jeff Lockie, Morgan Mahalak, Ty Griffin, Travis Waller and Taylor Alie during the Ducks' fall camp.

But announcing the transfer to Oregon, where Adams hopes to study for a masters degree, is just one of a number of steps the record-setting EWU quarterback needs to complete in order to compete.

Adams is eligible to transfer under an NCAA rule that allows those athletes who complete undergraduate requirements at one institution - and who have eligibility remaining - to move to another school.

Seattle Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson did undergrad studies at North Carolina State before transferring to Wisconsin where he led the Badgers to the 2011 Rose Bowl.

Of course that all depends on a number of things including whether Adams completes graduation requirements at Eastern and whether he can fast-track his conditioning and learn the Ducks offensive system and ultimately win the job.

"He felt like it was a great opportunity for him, he wanted to explore that opportunity and go down that road," EWU head coach Beau Baldwin said during a press conference Monday.

According to an interview Monday afternoon on the "Dickau and Slim Show" on 700 ESPN in Spokane, Oregon has long been on Adams' radar screen.

"I've always dreamed of playing in the Pac-12, playing at Oregon, winning the Heisman, winning the national championship," Adams said.

Again, his former coach cautioned that there remains a long and twisting road between Cheney and Eugene.

"He's got a lot of challenges in terms of the hoops he needs to jump through to make sure he can get that degree in a timely fashion," Baldwin said. "Nothing that's sitting here right now is a slam-dunk, no matter what."

EWU athletics director Bill Chaves addressed another part of the situation.

The NCAA rule that allows players in Adams' case with a season of eligibility to transfer to another institution to pursue a masters degree, is well-intentioned Chaves said.

"I really do think the legislation, when it was put together, it was for all the right reasons," Chaves said. However, like a tax loophole, "We've probably gone into a world we didn't intend."

Baldwin was vocal over how the rule appears to be manipulated. EWU and Portland State were the only schools that offered Adams a scholarship in 2011.

"This is a guy we recruited, this is a guy we developed, and during that three to four years, obviously, Oregon doesn't feel like they recruited or developed a guy to the same level that we did here in Cheney, Wash.," Baldwin said.

"That can be a little bit frustrating, and I would ask the question, 'cause I don't see myself finding my next QB at Linfield," Baldwin said with more than a little sarcasm in his voice.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.