CORVALLIS – Sixth-year senior Jake Luton will start at quarterback this season, coach Jonathan Smith announced Friday.

Luton won an extended battle for the job against Tristan Gebbia, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Nebraska. Smith said the two players were told of the decision on Wednesday.

“It really started in January, the work he put in, the body of work from spring practice and fall camp,” Smith said. “I will say Tristan really made it tight the last week and a half. But we felt at the end of the day, Jake deserves to go first. I still feel confident we have two guys we can score points with.”

The 6-foot-7, 229-pound Luton has extensive starting experience, as he was the Beavers’ starting quarterback at the outset of the 2017 and 2018 season. But injuries derailed Luton’s campaigns both years, each time causing him to miss large stretches of the season.

Luton, a transfer from Ventura College, has nine career starts at OSU. Over his 12-game career, Luton has completed 223 of 359 passes for 2,513 yards and 14 touchdowns. His most notable performance came last October at Colorado, where Luton rallied the Beavers from a 28-point second-half deficit to beat the Buffaloes 41-34 in overtime.

The challenge for Luton isn’t starting the opener against Oklahoma State, but making it it to October and the end of the season. Last year, Luton sustained a concussion during the first series against Ohio State, then a high ankle sprain from the Nevada game kept him on the sideline for more than a month.

In 2017, Luton suffered a season-ending spinal injury against Washington State in late September.

Once Luton learned that the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility in January, Luton went to work on increasing his mobility. Luton’s weight is about the same, but training allowed him to add muscle and speed during the offseason. Luton says escaping the pocket was something he was able to do in high school and college stops at Idaho and Ventura, but not OSU.

“I got here and I’ve kind of been unhealthy and it’s held me back,” Luton said.

Senior offensive tackle Blake Brandel says Luton isn’t shy in letting people know about his new-found wheels.

“He’s always bragging about how slow I am,” Brandel said. “He’s always been able to throw the ball, but now he can run it, too.”

Senior defensive tackle Elu Aydon says he’s noticed a more nimble Luton during practice.

“Most definitely. He’s really healthy now,” Aydon said. “I feel like he’s one of those quarterbacks in the Pac-12 that’s going to get recognized.”

Luton went through Senior Day ceremonies prior to the Civil War game last year, not knowing if he would return. Luton has the framed jersey from Senior Day hanging on his apartment wall.

“I told coach Smith you have to give me another framed jersey,” Luton said.

--Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel

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