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Dan Lanning provides update on health of Bo Nix ahead of Holiday Bowl

Jarrid Denneyby: Jarrid Denney12/27/22jarrid_denney
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(Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

When Bo Nix announced earlier this month that he will be returning to Oregon for the 2023 season, it provided a spark for the program and sent Dan Lanning’s Ducks into the new year with plenty of momentum.

Nix is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons ever by an Oregon quarterback and will have a chance to close out the year on a high note when the Ducks face North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl.

According to Lanning, the senior quarterback has mostly recovered from the ankle injury that hindered him toward the end of the regular season and is gearing up for a strong showing in San Diego.

“I certainly think he feels a lot better than he did at the end of the season,” Lanning said during his Tuesday press conference. “I expect to see him play some of his best football.”

When he last spoke with reporters in Eugene on Dec. 16, Nix said his ankle is feeling “better.”

The injury, which he suffered in the fourth quarter of Oregon’s loss to Washington on Nov. 12, proved disastrous for the Ducks late in the year. Nix was nowhere near 100% healthy during a do-or-die drive against the Huskies.

A week later against Utah, he was severely hindered against Utah but gutted out a memorable performance to help the Ducks to a 20-17 win.

In the regular-season finale at Oregon State, though, Nix’s ankle still limited his ability to move outside the pocket. That, among other factors, contributed to the Ducks’ fourth-quarter collapse against the Beavers that ended their Pac-12 title hopes.

Nearly a month later, it sounds as though Nix is full-go.

Lanning noted that the Holiday Bowl will provide the Ducks with an opportunity to build momentum for spring ball and the 2023 campaign.

“In a lot of ways, this is the crescendo to a season. But it’s also the beginning of next season,” Lanning said. “And I think every one of our players — when you play at the end of the season and when you play long seasons like we play — there are a lot of guys who are banged up. Having that opportunity to get fresh and be fresh is really the challenge that we have as coaches of making sure our players are able to make it to this bowl game and able to play at full strength.”

Through 12 games this season, Nix has thrown for 3,388 yards on 271-for-379 passing (71.5%). He has thrown a career-high 27 touchdowns to just six interceptions.

Additionally, Nix has rushed for 504 yards on 84 carries for an average of 6.0 yards. His 14 rushing touchdowns are the most in the nation among quarterbacks.

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