Dan Lanning reveals the biggest difference in Bo Nix entering second year at Oregon

Bo Nix had the best season of his career statistically in 2022. Entering year two at Oregon, it seemed there was little room for improvement heading into his senior on the field. Because of that, he’s focusing more on his role as a locker room leader.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning explained what qualities have changed over the offseason for Nix to become the guy in Eugene that everyone else looks to for guidance.

“The ability to be vocal and know that he doesn’t have to wait for somebody to say ‘Hey, go ahead and say it.’ He’s willing to do that,” Lanning said after the spring game. “And he’s done a good job of that.”

It’s a trait that every great quarterback has — and Nix is going to need that same type of mindset as he rounds out his college career over the next year and prepares to turn pro. You can’t expect any NFL offense to rally behind a non-vocal leader. If Nix can be that, and continue to play football at a high level, the sky is the limit for the former Auburn transfer.

And just because Nix transferred in from across the country after starting for an SEC school for three seasons didn’t mean he automatically earned the respect of his peers upon his arrival.

“It was kind of ‘earning the respect’ versus ‘he’s earned the respect.’ Now that leadership role is expected for Bo,” Lanning said of Nix last season. “Expect him to step up and he has those traits.”

Nix set career highs across the board in his first season at Oregon to finish with a passer rating of 165.7. His completion percentage of 71.9% was more than 10% higher than any other season in his career to rank second in the country. He passed for 3,593 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He led the Ducks to an 8-1 start to the season and had them receiving College Football Playoff consideration in early November as they climbed as high as No. 6 in the rankings. However, they went 1-2 in their final three games of the regular season, dropping contests to Washington and Oregon State to fall out of the Pac-12 title race.

Nix will look to avenge those losses during the 2023 season and take the Ducks back to the Pac-12 Championship game for the fourth time in five years. Oregon will kick the new season off on Sept. 2 at home against Portland State.