As part of a new series on some potentially under-the-radar redshirt freshman for Oregon Football, I’ll be taking a look at quarterback Austin Novosad today to see where he fits into the Ducks’ 2024 outlook and beyond.
Novosad came to Oregon via Dripping Springs, TX where he was a four-star prospect rated as the No. 10 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting cycle.
Standing 6-3 and weighing in at 185 lbs, it was clear to most that Novosad would need some time in the weight room before he was ready to contribute for an Oregon team that has consistently fielded some of the best quarterbacks in the country.
After playing sparingly in the 2023 season, Novosad impressed in Oregon’s 2024 Spring Game. With more runway to test out his abilities, he completed 12 of 22 pass attempts for 177 yards, a number that led all quarterbacks.
Novosad worked passes to all three levels of the field including a beautiful deep strike to tight end Terrance Ferguson that was dropped. Novosad has been primarily regarded as a short-area passer so seeing him stretch the field had to feel good for Oregon fans.
Entering 2024, Novosad figures to have another year of primarily bench duties as transfer quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore headline this season’s crop of passers.
Novosad’s best chance to start will likely come if he waits out Dante Moore, expected to start for Oregon in the 2025 season following Dillon Gabriel’s departure. This puts Novosad on a long timeline but any chance to start for Oregon should be regarded as a premium opportunity.
One of the more highly-regarded quarterback prospects in recent Oregon Football memory, Austin Novosad came to Eugene with high hopes but an expectation that he’d have to wait his turn.
This appears to have held true as Novosad works to improve his game through the 2024 season.
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