• Limited to non-contact activities during spring drills
• Could shoot up the depth chart if healthy in the fall
• Presumed starter in 2008 before a season-ending knee injury in fall camp
• Last appeared in a game in ‘06

PERSONAL — Born Nathaniel William Costa on May 15, 1988 in Turlock, Calif. Parents John and Shawn Costa. Family: Two brothers, one sister. High School (Coach): Hilmar (Frank Marques), 2006. Major: Sociology. Redshirt: 2007.

2009 — Transformed his starting debut into a success, completing nine of 17 passes for 82 yards in a 24-10 win at UCLA . . . Included was his first touchdown pass as a collegian, thanks to a 20-yard third-quarter scoring strike to Jeff Maehl . . . Contribution the following game at Washington included running for a two-point conversion as well as picking up 7 yards on a fake field goal for a first down . . . Experienced his most extensive playing time prior to his first start while entering the game against Washington State late in the second quarter and engineering 17 points in a resounding win . . . Completed seven of nine passes for 80 yards while rushing for 26 more and one touchdown . . . Stepped onto the field to take his first snap from center since 2006 when he quarterbacked the Ducks for the majority of the fourth quarter against California . . . Responded by completing four of seven passes for 35 yards vs. California, in addition to picking up three additional yards on the ground, to pace team to a 42-yard fourth-quarter field goal . . . Also completed a pass to kicker Morgan Flint for a successful two-point conversion against the Golden Bears . . . Has completed 20 of 33 passes for 197 yards and one score in 2009 . . . Span of 1,035 days between appearances ended when he took the field vs. Purdue as the team's holder on place kicks ... Had suffered a pair of season-ending knee injuries in successive years after playing in two games as a true freshman in 2006 . . . Owns a career completion percentage of 65.8 percent (25-38).

2008 — Was named the starting quarterback in fall camp before suffering torn knee ligaments less than two weeks before the season opener …Sidelined the entire year while rehabilitating from his second major surgery in as many years.
 
2007 — Set to redshirt behind Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon and senior Brady Leaf, he would have been UO’s go-to quarterback following Dixon’s injury, but suffered torn knee ligaments of his own during practice in October.

2006 — Brought out of his redshirt year in the eighth game of the year, completing all three of his pass attempts for 51 yards against Portland State … Also perfect in two tries at USC for 22 yards … Carried the football seven times for 39 yards, including 25 yards against the Trojans … Calmly marched Oregon downfield in his collegiate debut vs. the Vikings, capping a 98-yard drive with a touchdown … Also made the most of his lone possession in the L.A. Coliseum, with the offense coming up 3 yards shy of the end zone in the waning moments of the game.

HIGH SCHOOL — The PrepStar all-region selection was rated among the nation’s top 19 quarterbacks by Rivals.com, displaying a versatility as a dual-threat standout … Led the Trans Valley League in rushing as well as finishing second in passing and scoring (108), completing 161 of 276 passes (58 percent) for 2,252 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior while picking up an additional 1,709 yards (8.1 avg.) and 18 TDs on the ground … Tallied a season-best 265 yards running with the football vs. Escalon en route to 496 yards of total offense … Also credited with 329 passing yards against Bret Harte … The Central Valley player of the year and three-time all-state honoree led his team to the conference championship in 2005 as the Yellowjackets posted a 12-1 ledger.