With final exams for the academic year completed, most Oregon Ducks football players scattered across the country this week, visiting hometowns and family.



Likewise, Vernon Adams Jr. graduated from Eastern Washington University on Saturday and soon left. Only his destination wasn't his native Los Angeles but instead Eugene, per a 247Sports report -- the place he announced way back in February would be his new home as he competes for Oregon's starting quarterback job.



Adams is not the only player with promise expected to arrive at the UO athletic complex this week. Since Saturday, Oregon's football facilities have hosted camps that include a regional for Nike's The Opening, a kicking and long-snapping showcase and, running Tuesday through Thursday, a non-contact camp for high schoolers. After a few days off, hundreds more will arrive Sunday for Oregon's 37th annual full-contact team camp. All those players want a piece of the spotlight.



Adams, meanwhile, has been living under one since January, when he became college football's most intriguing recruit when it became clear he was exploring his options to graduate from Eastern Washington and play immediately in his final year of eligibility, per an NCAA rule. In February, he announced his intention to transfer to Oregon once he'd finished his degree at Eastern, where he became a Football Championship Subdivision All-American quarterback after three decorated years as starter.



That plan hinges on his graduation. Adams walked in EWU's commencement ceremony Saturday and, should he officially complete graduation requirements, is free to enroll at any school that offers a graduate degree program Eastern does not. He signed a financial aid agreement with Oregon in February that officially binds Oregon to Adams, but not the other way around. Since the announcement of his intent to transfer, however, Adams has publicly stuck by his commitment to Oregon and stayed on schedule by arriving in Eugene soon after graduation, just as he predicted in February.

The whole fam made it out for my graduation. So thankful for them. First one in my family to graduate. Thank God always [?] [?] A photo posted by Vernon Adams Jr. (@vadams_qb) on Jun 13, 2015 at 1:51pm PDT

Good bye Cheney 😔✌🏾️😁 — Vernon Adams Jr. (@bigplay_va) June 14, 2015

Adams first visited Oregon in February, before his commitment, and then returned in April and May, the latter to watch UO's annual spring game. During his latter visits he said he learned some of Oregon's offensive signals from coordinator and quarterbacks coach Scott Frost.



Summer classes begin June 22, though it's unclear whether Adams will enroll immediately or a later date before the Ducks open fall camp practices Aug. 10. Those who will attend classes starting Monday include dozens of new student-athletes beginning a four-week "bridge" program that serves as a transition between high school and college.



Adams holds graduate school standing academically but in his first few weeks in Eugene might have more in common with some of the youngest incoming Duck football players given that he's starting from scratch at a new program, with a new offense and in a new division.



The chief challenge will be adjusting to Oregon's version of the spread offense, which is similar to Eastern's spread in name but isn't close to being a carbon copy. Oregon asks its quarterbacks to operate at a faster pace, leaving fewer idle seconds between plays, and execute designed running plays. Eastern's offense looked to pass first and then allowed Adams to improvise with his feet.



"I didn't run as much as they run over there and it's a lot faster," Adams told The Oregonian/OregonLive in April while training in Cheney, Washington. "I have to be able to process (signals) fast so we can move and snap things every 12-15 seconds."



Oregon coaches praised junior Jeff Lockie's after spring practices ended in early May, saying the two-year backup to Marcus Mariota displayed good decision-making owing to his experience and played the most consistently in three spring scrimmages.



"As far as what he needs to do and what he needs to do to be 'the guy,' he had a very good spring," coach Mark Helfrich said in May.



What wins out? Experience as a college starter, or experience within Oregon's system? Teammates of Adams at Eastern Washington cautioned not to make the same mistake as Oregon State -- which was beaten at home by EWU and Adams in 2013 -- by undervaluing the small-school guy.



"When people see him that first week of fall camp I think they'll realize he's got what it takes," said Austin Ehlo, a former EWU receiver. "He's going to walk in there as if he's third on the depth chart. He's going to earn it like he did here. I don't think he thinks he's the starter but he knows he's capable."



-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com

503-221-8100

@andrewgreif