Oregon Ducks College Football Pregame Quote, 12/30/2023

Q. Heading into next year, I know this is the last chance we’ll probably be able to talk to everybody. What do you think life after Bo Nix is going to look like? What do you see in the quarterback room that you’re like: Okay, we’re going to be just fine with the talent that we’ve got?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: There’s a lot of good talent, and obviously, we’re bringing in some guys that have a track record of being good players. So I think there’s no drop-off really. We have some big guys ‚Äì or some big shoes to fill, obviously, but they’ve done a great job in practice and impressed me that way. I have full confidence in the guys in the room.

Q. What has Austin Jones shown you this fall, if he has to come in on Monday and play a little bit, that gives you confidence?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: He’s been a student of the game and he’s learned a lot. Being a young quarterback, it’s hard. High school games are totally different. Especially at that level where you have to read defenses and all this stuff. So he’s done a great job of being a student of the game. And he has a hell of an arm. He can put the ball where it needs to be. He’s grown from the start to now.

Q. Do you know much about the two new guys?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: Not really. So you get pretty busy with practice and try to figure everything out, so you haven’t gotten to know them too well. I’ve watched Dillon Gabriel play a lot watching the Oklahoma games. I have friends that play out there. So I’ve been able to catch some of his games. He’s definitely a baller and can play.

Q. So as you go about making your decision over the next couple weeks, how much does that play into it? Or is all that irrelevant to what you feel like you can accomplish at the next level?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: It sweetens the pot a little bit when you know you have someone that can play ball like that and there’s not a drop-off. I feel that way, definitely. But it’s not too much of something that’s affecting my decision. Just because basically I’ve been praying about it and letting God guide my decision.

So I think either way I make, it’s not a bad decision. There is a dream in playing in the NFL and playing here in Oregon has been a dream. So doing that one more year is definitely not a bad decision at all.

Q. Is that hard to keep it out of your mind? Or are you able to compartmentalize and be like: I’ll deal with that later?

TERRANCE FERGUSON: It’s a little bit hard. You put yourself behind the team and try to make that decision. It’s a selfish decision, honestly, because you’re leaving your team and doing different things. But at the same time, being out here with the guys and being able to hang out with them, it makes it easy to push it to the back burner.

At home, it’s different. That’s all that’s been on my mind. But out here, it’s nice to hang out with my guys and enjoy the time with them.