Oregon Ducks

Vernon Adams Jr. is playing like Marcus Mariota right now for Oregon

Published Nov. 23, 2015 4:06 p.m. ET

foxsports

With Vernon Adams Jr. healthy this season, Oregon is undefeated. While the Ducks are not into playing the "what if" game, they do know that with Adams they are a completely different team.

"If Vernon is healthy all season, if our defense is healthy all season, I think we might be talking about a big time playoff run," wide receiver Bralon Addison said, per ESPN. "But we can't worry about that. We are where we are."

Adams has been spectacular for the Ducks during the team's current five-game winning streak. In Oregon's 48-28 destruction of USC in Eugene, Adams threw for 407 yards and six touchdowns.

After the game, Adams was asked if he would have been able to play at this level had he not been injured. "Yes," he said, per ESPN.

Adams' passer rating this season is 179.36. That rating is higher than former quarterback Marcus Mariota's in each of his first two seasons in Eugene. In fact, Mariota's passer rating during his 2014 Heisman Trophy campaign was 181.75, just a hair above Adams' rating right now.

On the season, Adams is completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 2,080 yards and 22 touchdowns and six interceptions.

While the Ducks are playing like one of the hottest teams in college football right now, the team knows it missed a great opportunity with Adams. However, the coaches are excited that Adams has had the chance to show off how great he really is.

"I'm just glad people are able to see the type of player he is," offensive coordinator Scott Frost said. "We knew it when we were recruiting him. He's showing it now to everyone. I think this would've happened a little earlier if he hadn't had the setback."

(h/t ESPN)