What are the Ducks getting in Jay Butterfield?

Recruiting / Friday, May 10th, 2019

It may not be the quarterback commitment that fans of Oregon football were originally hoping for (see DJ Uiagalelei), but it’s a quarterback commitment that should be met with open celebration from Duck fans nevertheless.

That’s because Friday, Brentwood (Calif.) Liberty four-star quarterback Jay Butterfield announced his verbal commitment to the University of Oregon, giving the Ducks their third highest-rated quarterback recruit in program history behind Kellen Clemens and Dennis Dixon.

Ranked as the fourth-best pro-style quarterback nationally and 78th-best prospect overall by 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, Butterfield is the son of former Stanford quarterback Mark Butterfield (’92-’95) and is the first – and likely only – quarterback to commit to the Ducks’ surging 2020 recruiting class, which now ranks 12th nationally.

Butterfield pledges to Oregon after garnering 15 scholarship offers from the likes of Tennessee, Michigan, Colorado, and Cal. He joins three-star tight end Seth Figgins and four-star wide receiver Kris Hutson as the third offensive addition to Oregon’s 2020 class to date.

Below we take a closer look at Butterfield’s game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.

Notable weaknesses:

  • Ultra skinny: At 6-foot-6 and 202 pounds, Butterfield has the height you love in a quarterback, but is a bean pole in terms of actual bulk. Fortunately, his frame should allow him to add size and strength once he enters Oregon’s strength and conditioning program, but it will likely be a multi-year process of working on his physical stature before he’s truly ready to face collegiate competition.
  • Suspect high school competition: Though Butterfield dominates like he’s supposed to against the high school competition he faces, it’s worth noting that he’s not exactly facing the stiffest high school competition out there – and when he has, neither he or his team has fared well. Against NorCal powerhouse De La Salle last season, Butterfield completed just 9-of-20 passes for 65 yards and one touchdown against four interceptions in a 42-7 loss.
  • Lacks athleticism, escapability: Butterfield is a good athlete, but he’s not the kind of athlete who is going to hurt you with his legs or extend plays thanks to plus athleticism. He is strictly a pocket passer.

Notable strengths:

  • Impressive arm talent: It’s hard not to fall in love with the way Butterfield throws the football. Not only does he have the arm strength to defeat opposing defenses in the short, intermediate, and deep passing game, but he displays great touch and accuracy on his throws to all areas of the field. Should be a player who completes a high percentage of throws at the next level as his game continues to develop and he matures physically.
  • Great pocket awareness: One thing that leaps off the screen when evaluating Butterfield is how cool, calm, and collected he is operating from the pocket. Rarely frazzled or off-balance from his throwing platform, Butterfield has a great feel for pressure and finding ways to deftly maneuver away from it while still being accurate and effective. 
  • Decisive thrower: As a quarterback, Butterfield exudes an air of quiet confidence when it comes to distributing the football. He appears to process information quickly and often delivers the football to his receivers with decisiveness and precision, advanced qualities for a high school signal-caller.

Overall outlook:

Though likely not surprised, it’s understandable that Duck fans were a little disappointed when DJ Uiagalelei spurned Oregon for defending national champion Clemson. After all, the five-star quarterback pretty much checks all the boxes in terms of what you’re searching for in an elite quarterback prospect. However, in Butterfield, the Ducks are getting a player who may not come with the pomp and circumstance of “DJ U” but still has comparable levels of upside. While he may not possess striking athleticism, Butterfield has all the tools you want from a quarterback who wins from the pocket and, compared to Uiagalelei, is arguably more ready to step in and compete for playing time thanks to how polished his game is. Physical development will be critical to Butterfield’s long-term success, as he’s probably a year or two away from being able to physically withstand the rigors of playing the position at the college level, but make no mistake, this is a huge addition for head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo. Keep a close eye on Stanford through Butterfield’s recruitment, as a potential offer from the Cardinal could make things interesting for this commitment down the road. Should his commitment stick, however, expect Butterfield to push Cale Millen almost immediately for reps behind Tyler Shough in 2020.

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