Addition of QB Anthony Brown meant to increase competition – 247Sports

Oregon head football coach Mario Cristobal did a Livestream interview with school reporter Rob Moseley on May 7th, and during that interview, he spoke on the record for the first time about the addition of graduate transfer quarterback Anthony Brown.

Brown made an unofficial visit during one of Oregon's four spring practices during the middle of March and then committed to Oregon a few weeks later. Nearly two months later Cristobal explained why he added a graduate-quarterback to the roster for the 2020 season.

"It's my job first and foremost to make sure that we provide as much opportunity and experience at every position group, competition, to make sure that we are in a position and a situation that if we are in a certain situation that we can respond. I love the way the young guys are developing," said Cristobal.

The Ducks lost out on 11 spring football practices, including the team's spring game during March and April. Cristobal said those lost practice dates were going to be critical to the development of the quarterback room, as well as the rest of the program's other position groups. Prior to Brown's commitment, the Ducks had one sophomore and three freshmen on the roster for the 2020 football season, and no quarterback behind Shough had played a snap of college football.

Enter Brown, who has started over 20 games as a quarterback at a Power 5 school. Brown comes to Eugene with the intention of winning the starting job behind his three-years of starting experience at Boston College. Cristobal said his experience will be valuable for Oregon's other quarterbacks on the roster to observe and learn from.

"I love the fact that we are bringing in an experienced guy also in, in Anthony Brown," said Cristobal. "To bring some experience into that room, and to increase competition."

Cristobal endorsed Shough as the team's No. 1 quarterback leaving spring football."Without a doubt he entered spring as a starter, left spring as the starter, and we're going to always present him and the rest of the team with competition. I can't say enough of how pleased we are with his progression and approach to the game."

Cristobal also noted he wouldn't be doing his job as head coach if he wasn't trying to improve the program any way possible. Thus, he's adding Brown into the mix for the quarterback battle and to ramp up the competition.

"I don't think you can stress that enough, that you can't provide enough competition," said Cristobal. "I think that in this day and age, as it relates to all of us, coaches, players, you have got to make sure you do everything you can to keep everyone on edge of being the best they can be and this is another way to do it."

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Addition of QB Anthony Brown meant to increase competition - 247Sports