EUGENE -- He wasn't in pads, and he won't "officially" be in Eugene until this summer, but Monday morning at Oregon, future quarterback Vernon Adams had a presence.

The former Eastern Washington quarterback, who is transferring to Oregon, took in Monday morning's practice. He's tweeted that he'll be spending the week on campus.

While Adams, who is finishing his degree in Cheney, Wash., won't join the Ducks until this fall, it was hard to miss him around the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex on Monday.

"At this point, he's an unsigned guy. You can't practice or anything like that," Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said of Adams' presence. "But he can be around, just like any other play, guy, an unofficial visit type of temperament."

Helfrich has directed conversations this spring toward the players in camp who are competing to replace Heisman Trophy-winner Marcus Mariota. Before the announcement of Adams' transfer, junior Jeff Lockie seemed to be the heir apparent. But with only a handful of game snaps to his name, many assume that Adams will push the California-native for the job, if not outright take it this fall.

Adams threw for 10,438 yards and 110 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in his three years with Eastern Washington. He dominated the lower-rung of competition at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, but also had impressive success against Pac-12 opponents. In 2013, Adams led the Eagles to a 49-46 win over Oregon State, completing 23 of 30 passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 107 yards and two scores.

The next year, he nearly led the Eagles to an upset of Washington, throwing for 475 yards and seven touchdowns in a 59-52 loss.

Because of this success against Pac-12 opponents, as well as his dual-threat ability in a spread offense, Adams is projected to excel with in the Ducks' system. But for now he's a spectator, and Helfrich said all Adams can do it make sure he's ready for when he's officially on the roster. At the same time, Helfrich gave true freshmen Travis Jonsen credit for doing just that. Jonsen is an early-enrollee and is four practices into his Oregon career.

"Everybody that is coming in is doing stuff behind the scenes to learn the systems," Helfrich said. "You can tell that (Jonsen) did a great job. He knows a lot right now. Playing quarterback is one of the hardest positions in that way, because sometimes you're right and two others guys are wrong and it's a blown up play. And he's doing a pretty good job so far of enduring through that."

-- Tyson Alger

talger@oregonian.com