Oregon Ducks

Can Dave Yost help groom Oregon's next Marcus Mariota?

Published Jan. 11, 2016 2:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

Despite the fact that Marcus Mariota won the 2014 Heisman Trophy as Oregon's quarterback, the Ducks were exposed this year for their inability to groom his successor.

Graduate transfer Vernon Adams Jr. ended the 2015 season with the highest passer rating in college football (179.09), but his backups -- Jeff Lockie and Taylor Alie -- proved that they were not ready to carry the Ducks.

With that in mind, the Ducks have reportedly hired Washington State's Dave Yost as their new quarterbacks coach. Will Yost be able to mentor a young group that includes Travis Jonsen and 2016 recruits Tristen Wallace and Terry Wilson?

SOURCES: @WAZZU assistant Dave Yost is expected to join the #Oregon staff - @FoxSports report: https://t.co/IaSMshTCev
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 11, 2016

Yost has been the Cougars inside receivers coach for the past two seasons. In both seasons, WSU broke the Pac-12 single-season record for receptions. He had previously spent 12 years with Missouri, including as the offensive coordinator in 2009.

With Matt Lubick being promoted to offensive coordinator, the Ducks were bound to reshuffle their coaching staff. Yost could prove to be just the man Oregon needs to develop its young quarterbacks.

Oregon's "blur" offense has routinely produced incredible quarterback play, dating back to Chip Kelly's arrival as offensive coordinator in 2007. Darron Thomas, Dennis Dixon, Jeremiah Masoli, Mariota and Adams have succeeded wildly over the past decade.

With graduate transfer Dakota Prukop expected to be the team's starter in 2016, the Ducks have bought themselves another year to groom their next great quarterback. Is Yost is the man to help Jonsen, or another QB, become the next Mariota?