Bo Nix Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)

School: Oregon

Class: 6th Year Senior

Position: QB

HT: 6’2

WT: 214 lbs

Sideline Prospect Ranking: #53

Background: Bo Nix was a 4-star recruit and top 100 player in his high school class. Nix went to Pinson Valley High School in Pinson, Alabama and became a top dual-threat quarterback in the country. Nix set Alabama high school records for total yards and touchdowns thrown during his career. Nix led Pinson Valley to two consecutive Alabama Class 6A state titles. On top of the statistical records, Nix was named to All-American teams and was the Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year. Bo Nix was always going to Auburn, that was never a question.
College: He became the first Auburn true freshman quarterback to start the season opener since 1946. He was the SEC Freshman of the Year and set the freshman record for completions in a season. He seemed as if he was ready to be an Auburn legend for the next 3 to 4 years. However, the rest of his Auburn tenure was a roller coaster ride that was full of downs. He struggled with injuries and consistency for years and transferred to Oregon as a grad transfer. In his first year at Oregon, he kept the Ducks in the playoff race through the entire season and had one of the most impressive quarterback seasons in program history. Bo Nix had a lengthy college career and his numbers are certainly skewed by being a part of an operational failure and a collegiate rebuild that resulted in Nix not being put in a position to succeed. His transfer to Oregon and instant success with his new program highlighted what he could be. Bo Nix became a completely different and improved player at Oregon.

Strengths: He demonstrated an ability to hurt teams with the ball in his hands as he was one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the country while also having elite arm strength. Bo can throw absolute lasers with little effort. Nix has one of the quicker releases in the entire class, making it difficult for pass rushers to impact his throw. 4-man pressure rarely fazes Nix as he can evade simple pressure looks. The only way to affect Nix with pressure is by sending extra blitzers, but he gets the ball out quickly enough to make defenses pay. He is an efficient passer in both play action and empty set personnel. Nix has solid mechanics that he can rely on if all else fails. His experience in college football has helped with his decision making and overall football IQ. His talent in all aspects of playing the quarterback position projects him to be a productive player at the next level.

Weaknesses: Something to make note of is that Bo Nix will be 24 on draft day. He will be drafted at the same age that some quarterbacks begin to enter their prime. Other quarterbacks in this draft cycle will have a few more years to develop at the professional level while Nix will have to step in and develop at a much more efficient rate. Nix is very much a product of the Oregon system. While he runs it better than most could, it is worth noting that he rarely works outside of structure.

Conclusion: Bo Nix could come into an organization and be a serviceable starter right away. He has plenty of talent that has been showcased in the back half of his college career, it is unsure if he has reached his ceiling or not, but there is still some meat on the bone in terms of Bo’s production.

Scheme Fit: West Coast

Ideal Role: Starting QB

Best Team Fits: DEN, MIN, NYG

Player Comparison: Sam Howell

Player Grade: 82.9