Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown (13) reads the defense during the spring game in Eugene in May. Brown was officially named the Ducks’ starting QB on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021.

EUGENE — Over 500 days since committing to end his college career at Oregon, Anthony Brown Jr. is officially the Ducks’ starting quarterback.

The long-expected decision was announced Friday, Aug. 27, eight days before No. 11 Oregon opens the season against Fresno State on Sept. 4.

“The way he handles and has control and command of the offense, his presence amongst the players at the line of scrimmage, his ability to improvise, sometimes negotiate throws in tough situations, his ability to run the ball as well,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said of the ways Brown separated himself from the team’s trio of freshmen quarterbacks. “He’s been really accurate and his explosive play ratio has been really high.”

As Oregon’s only quarterback with any college game experience, Brown worked exclusively with the first-team offense throughout the offseason. He went 17 of 26 for 208 yards and a touchdown during Oregon’s spring game and was 8 of 14 for over 70 yards passing and had six carries for approximately 20 yards during the first fall scrimmage earlier this month.

As one of UO’s super seniors, Brown took on a mentor role to the team’s three freshmen quarterbacks, Jay Butterfield, Ty Thompson and Robby Ashford, and has worked extensively with the team’s wide receivers throughout the offseason.

“He’s become more of a leader,” receiver Mycah Pittman said. “That man is a gunslinger. When I tell you that guy has one of the strongest arms — it reminds me of Justin (Herbert) a lot.”

While spending the 2020 season as the backup to Tyler Shough, Brown went 15 of 23 for 164 yards and two touchdowns, and he had seven carries for 40 yards with two touchdowns and a fumble over the final two games.

“It was needed for what’s about to come,” Brown said of spending last season as the backup. “I wouldn’t have changed it for anything right now.