Chip Kelly is returning to college football and he needs a quarterback.
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In four seasons at Oregon, Kelly — who agreed to a five-year, $23-million deal Saturday to replace Jim Mora at UCLA — had spectacular quarterback play. Jeremiah Masoli (2009), Darron Thomas (2010-11) and Marcus Mariota (2012) combined for 136 passing and rushing touchdowns in four seasons while leading the Ducks to four BCS bowl berths and one national championship game appearance.
With Josh Rosen expected to skip his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL Draft, Chip Kelly needs a long-term replacement. Who might he target in the 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes?
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Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Year: 2018
The only current commit on the list, Dorian Thompson-Robinson is one that Chip Kelly must retain. The four-star dual-threat quarterback from Bishop Gorman picked UCLA in April and is scheduled for an official visit in early December.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is an elite athlete with good speed and improvisational skills, though he is destined for a redshirt season (and potentially a season on the bench after that) because of a lack of experience compared to other high-end 2018 quarterbacks.
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Tanner McKee
Year: 2018
One of Chip Kelly's first calls should be Tanner McKee, a four-star pro-style passer from nearby Corona.
McKee has taken two unofficial visits to UCLA (July and September) and while the Bruins are not among his five scheduled official visits — three are done; two remain (Stanford, Jan. 12; BYU, Feb. 3) — he's shown enough interest in staying close to home to make it worth Kelly's time.
At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, he doesn't fit the dual-threat mold of Kelly's Oregon quarterbacks but is a phenomenal passer who could compete for the starting job immediately.
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Hank Bachmeier
Year: 2019
The buzz surrounding four-star quarterback Hank Bachmeier is building.
A 6-foot-3, 185-pound pro-style passer from Murrieta, Calif., Bachmeier was a primary target of Bruins' offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch. He has taken six unofficial visits, none of which were to UCLA, who offered him in January.
MORE: Bachmeier Talks Minnesota Visit
Bachmeier has remarkable pocket presence and poise for a prep player, can make any throw on the field and doesn't get enough credit for his athleticism and mobility. Cal, Minnesota and others have made him a top priority.
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Cameron Williams
Year: 2019
Cameron Williams continues to fly under the radar.
A three-star dual-threat quarterback from Bakersfield with only one Power Five offer (Arizona), Williams is a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder that is . candidate to switch positions but could thrive under a patient staff with a good talent development skills.
Remember, Marcus Mariota was also a three-star prospect ranked outside the top 15 at his position.
