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DEVON ALLEN IS COMING BACK.

After eight months off the field and the track, the Oregon wide receiver and hurdler is planning a return to sports with a new perspective.

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SEASON PREDICTIONS ➡ R YA N

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Overall Record: 13-2 (9-1 in Pac-12) Losses: Arizona State, Auburn Last Game: Auburn beats Oregon in the national championship game. Vernon Adams lives up to the hype and leads Oregon to a huge win in East Lansing during week two, but the Ducks fall flat against highly ranked Arizona State on the last Thursday of October in

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see either quarterback feel the pressure at Spartan Stadium. Nearing the end of the season, the Ducks draw Stanford on the road Nov. 14. The Cardinal have been somewhat written off after their 8-5 finish last year, which may be fine by them — Stanford bounces back this year. They’ll catch the Ducks in a trap game with USC looming the following Saturday.

Overall Record: 11-2 (9-1 Pac-12) Losses: Michigan State, Stanford Last Game: Oregon beats Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks get tested early with a rematch against No. 5 Michigan State, this time on the road. Neither Jeff Lockie nor Vernon Adams has ever faced a hostile crowd of this magnitude, so don’t be surprised to

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Overall Record: 12-2 (9-1 in Pac-12) Losses: Arizona State, Baylor Last Game: Baylor beats Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl Despite losing reigning Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, the Ducks pose tremendous depth at virtually every skill position that won’t go unnoticed. With this in mind, Oregon will battle either USC or

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front of a national audience. Oregon responds with November wins over ranked USC and Stanford before taking down UCLA in the Pac-12 Championship Game to earn a playoff bid. After a semifinal shootout victory over TCU, Oregon loses to Auburn in the national championship game, striking up similar memories of the 2010 season.

Arizona State in the Pac-12 title game before making a second-straight appearance to the College Football Playoff. Depending on their matchup in the semifinals, I don’t like Oregon’s chances of making it back to the title game. Look no further than their first road game at Michigan State to see how Oregon will fare this year.

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Overall Record: 11-3 (8-2 in Pac-12) Losses: Michigan State, Cal, Stanford Final Game: Oregon defeats Michigan State in the Rose Bowl. Neither Jeff Lockie nor Vernon Adams have played in an atmosphere like the one that will surround Spartan Stadium on Sept. 12, a recipe for disaster. After a highly anticipated matchup at Arizona State and before games against Stanford and USC, Cal lurks

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as a potential upset. Oregon gets the job done in two of the three marquee games, but overlooks a Cal team that could have one of the most potent offenses in the country. A turnover here and there will decide the close game. A deflated team will then lose again at Stanford before regrouping at home against USC and again in the Pac-12 Championship. In the Rose Bowl Game, the Ducks finish the season with some revenge against Michigan State.

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NEWFOUND CONFIDENCE AT TIGHT END ➡ WILL

DENNER, @WILL_DENNER

Johnny Mundt and Evan Baylis are growing increasingly confident. The Oregon tight end duo, each in their third fall camp, experienced success early in their collegiate careers. But Mundt and Baylis were somewhat lost in the mix last season after Pharaoh Brown emerged. This fall camp has been different. “When they’re confident in what they do, they can play harder, faster and more efficient,” tight ends coach Tom Osborne said. Last November, Brown’s football future, and even his ability to walk, were in question after a gruesome injury to his right leg against Utah. Baylis, who had totaled just one catch for 10 yards in the 2014 season when Brown went down, was suddenly thrust into the starting role. Late in the season, Baylis played his best game in a sixcatch, 73-yard performance against Florida State in the Rose Bowl. Mundt faced similar circumstances as a true freshman in 2013. Troubled tight end Colt Lyerla was held out of an early non-conference home game against Tennessee, and Mundt played his best game to date, totaling five catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

“We’ve had to play three freshmen when they’ve maybe not been ready to go,” Osborne said. “...When they’re all young guys, they’re just babes out there.” Even without a fully healed Brown, Mundt and Baylis bring plenty of big-game experience to a position that sorely lacked it during the past few years. Mundt and Baylis are now exuding the confidence that allows them to be consistent in their assignments. Brown has taken huge steps in his recovery, most recently participating in non-contact drills during fall camp. But his return to the field is uncertain. Until Brown’s status changes, the starting spot comes down to Mundt versus Baylis. Though Mundt took meaningful snaps in 2013, he rarely saw the field as a sophomore. When Brown’s 2014 season ended prematurely, Baylis was named the starter, never relinquishing the job. Meanwhile, Mundt struggled in practice. “He’d go out and blow an assignment and get down on himself,” Osborne said. “Then he’d do something else wrong and start to spiral.” Mundt seemingly turned a corner in the spring, calling it the “best football I’ve played” at Oregon.

Osborne noticed Mundt’s improvement on the line of scrimmage as a blocker, something that hindered him in the past. So far, it appears Mundt hasn’t regressed in fall camp. “My confidence level is way up there,” Mundt said. “Everyday, I’m showing up, doing something right and learning from something else.” Baylis, on the other hand, is trying to build on a strong finish to last season. This fall camp is the first in which Baylis has been healthy, having been limited in the previous two with knee and leg injuries. “(Camp) allows me to get in good shape and get out there every day,” Baylis said. “The amount of reps you get in fall camp, it helps tremendously.” Osborne has not set a date on when he’ll name a starter. The backup between Mundt and Baylis, however, still figures to get meaningful playing time. “If you noticed last year when Pharaoh and Evan were healthy, we ran two tight ends a lot,” Osborne said. “We think we have two really good tight ends right now, so we might be in a twotight package more than we were a year ago.”

Tight end Johnny Mundt leaving a long day of practice.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY SAMUEL MARSHALL


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Royce Freeman stiff-arming an Oregon State defender in the 2014 match-up in Corvallis.

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As the Oregon football program’s high-octane offense took the nation by storm over the past 10 years, there was never a question as to who the faces of the program were. With quarterback Dennis Dixon (‘05-’07), running back LaMichael James (‘09-’11), Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota (‘13-’15) and head coach Chip Kelly (‘07-’12) mixed in, these men’s smiling mugs were the face of Oregon on a national level. Those four, among many others through the years, can be credited with the rebirth of Oregon athletics from a substandard Pac-12 school to a national title contender. Dixon showed the nation that unreal athleticism and success could come from a West Coast school other than USC. James proved that a lack of size can be overcome by speed and strength while Mariota was the college football player every parent wanted their child to emulate. All were different in their respective gifts, yet made similar by the uncommon trait of leadership and national-brandability. Now, as the Ducks are set to fly for the upcoming 2015 season, one of the biggest questions looming over the program is who will take those reins. Which player will take on that role of leadership and help guide the Ducks to the promise land of the College Football Playoffs? Of the obvious choices, the name that stands out most is defensive end DeForest Buckner. Widely considered a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, Buckner is as massive in size (6-foot-9, 290 pounds) as he is quiet in nature. “DeForest Buckner is the ‘X’ factor who just wrecks shop and makes some plays,� Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said. “DeFo has become a little bit more of a vocal leader than he’s been. When your best guy is one of your best practice players, that means a ton.� Although he’s not well known by fan bases across the country, every offensive coordinator who faces Oregon this year knows Buckner’s capabilities. While there’s no doubt that Buckner could fill the role left behind by Mariota, it’s purely a short-term answer and the Ducks are left with the same question come February. If given a choice to knight who would be Oregon’s newest national brand name, the answer is fairly simple. His jersey number is already for sale throughout every Duck Store in the state, but he couldn’t be more different from his predecessor. Athletically speaking, Freeman is everything Oregon should want as a representative of its program. He has the potential to win the Heisman Trophy and become a first-round draft pick in the NFL. Those are points that Oregon can sell. He was also Oregon’s offensive representative at the Pac-12 Media Days in Burbank, Calif., showing how much more personable and relatable he can be after his freshman campaign. While Oregon football is in no danger of becoming a mediocre football program within the next year or two, the Ducks must continue to capitalize on the newfound glory of the past decade. To keep the money flowing and the top-notch recruits coming, Oregon must stay a national brand. With Freeman carrying that banner, there’s no doubt the Ducks will keep flying high. P H OTOG R A P H F RO M THE E ME R A L D A RC H I VE S

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WRITING HIS OWN GAMEPLAN ➥ H AY D E N

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Magnetized on the top right-hand corner of a white General Electric refrigerator is an 8x11 sheet of laminated paper. Look a little closer and you’ll see the title: DEVON’S GOALS. Take an even closer look and you’ll find three self-explanatory categories spread across the paper from left to right: short term, this year and next five years. Oregon wide receiver and hurdler Devon Allen has been using this piece of laminated paper for the past eight years. When Devon was a ninth-grader in Phoenix, Louis Allen, his single father, had an idea. The idea was to devise a system to help his two children — both in middle school at the time — set short-term and long-term goals. Louis was always a list person and believed it would help them achieve more. The idea blossomed into a yearly family tradition where each member wrote out their yearly list of goals with a red dry erase marker that all sat sideby-side on the refrigerator door in the kitchen. The laminated papers allow them to erase accomplished goals when they’re finished and edit those that need adjusting. Devon did just that this year, erasing past goals and keeping an eye on those still ahead. Until the end of the 2014 football season, one of those goals was to win the inaugural College Football Playoff championship. He had to erase it. Needless to say, it was a year that called for a lot of red smudges and self-reflection for the already wellaccomplished dual athlete.

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“No one wants to get hurt, but sometimes when you get hurt and miss out on things, one of the advantages is it makes you appreciate it more when you get back out there again,” wide receivers coach Matt Lubick said. It’s been over eight months since Devon last saw a field or track in an Oregon uniform. On Jan. 1, Devon entered the Rose Bowl Game against Florida State with 684 yards, a team-high seven touchdowns and a national title in the NCAA and U.S. Outdoor 110-meter hurdles. He tore a ligament in his right knee on the opening kickoff. Those 20 yards in Pasadena would be the last he’d run in either sport for quite some time. “He amazed me and actually inspired me and his teammates with the way he handled it,” Lubick said. “He never, ever once had a bad day.” Fast forward to the first day after undergoing knee surgery. Devon’s lying in bed at home after a successful outpatient surgery and receives a text from Tim O’Neil, his high school track coach and family friend. He told him, “Hey, congratulations on your day one of recovery.” O’Neil, a former decathlete who also tore his ACL in college, acknowledged the hard work ahead for Devon. But he also believed in the type of kid Devon has become. He knew Devon was going to be just fine, if not stronger, as a person, athlete and student after going through the roughly year-long process. “Any time we are faced with some obstacle, it makes us stronger and we learn how to adapt and become better in other areas,” O’Neil said. “I’m sure that he’ll parlay that [injury] into a strength at some point. That’s what really elite athletes do.”

Devon, who is eyeing a return against Michigan State, can now see his old high school coach’s point. He is looking to reap the benefits of resting his body in the offseason and has worked on deficiencies in the meantime, something he hadn’t had the luxury of doing before the injury. “In any sport, injuries happen, so I feel like you got to learn from it and take the time while you’re not doing something to enjoy something else,” Devon said. “As an athlete, two-sport athlete especially, I was just doing sports 24/7. You have to look at the other things you’re doing in life. That’s what I did.” *** In June, Devon had a unique opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic to help build a basketball court for a roughly 1500-person Haitian community with 18 other Oregon student athletes through the non-profit O Heroes program. It wasn’t something Devon had initially planned on, considering the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships were still going that weekend. But this past summer, the two sides connected by chance with openings in Devon’s schedule. “It was one of those things that I never really thought about doing,” Devon said. “It was a crazy experience. It was hard work. But in the end, it was worth it.” When Devon landed in the country, he didn’t know what to expect. Neither did the other 18 athletes that boarded the plane. While laying the foundation for five hard days of work, Devon slept on foam pads in a local clinic next to a church that was surrounded by nets to fend off mosquitoes. He wasn’t in his comfort zone. He was simply dedicating his time to an experience that he may never be able to do again.

These are the types of priceless experiences that an older, rejuvenated Devon will soon carry as a lead receiver for the Ducks in the coming months. Devon may never be able to claim the feat of winning the inaugural college football title game. But he will, however, live the rest of his life with the memory of building a safe haven for future generations of Haitian kids to enjoy. On paper, he has been out of commission for eight months. No football, no NCAA track championships. But from Devon’s perspective, 2015 has been a year he will never forget. Not because of the accolades that he has earned or the untimeliness of his injury, but because these testing months have given him a glimpse into life beyond sports, while simultaneously reigniting his passion for them. Waiting for Devon at home will be a little red smudge ready to be wiped away, a remnant of past successful years. Next to that red smudge though, there will also be one last goal, one that he’s been working towards since 2011, despite his injury. It reads: “Olympic Games!” Devon’s course may have veered in all types of directions since January, but the spirit of his plans remains unchanged. If all goes according to plan, Devon will be wearing the red, white and blue in August 2016, representing Team USA in Rio de Janeiro and will wipe one more goal off the board. “[These experiences] helped him grow,” Louis said. “We’ve always talked about big picture goals. He goes back to those goals that he has. There’s life after sports.” This December, the Allen household will gather back in their kitchen around Christmas time to catch up and update their lists. There will be some erasing. There will surely be some writing.

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SITTING DOWN WITH SEISAY ➡ R YA N

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With only one true starting defensive back returning for the Ducks this year, it’s no wonder that many analysts around the country predict this unit to be Oregon’s downfall defensively. Oregon must replace three senior starters from last year’s championship unit and although some returning players saw action, very few of them came in meaningful minutes. Redshirt sophomore Chris Seisay is expected to be Oregon’s top cornerback. He started in Oregon’s two playoff games last year, replacing the injured Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. Seisay sat down with the Emerald and spoke about his summer as well as how he entered his third camp with a completely different mindset from the previous ones.

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Ryan Kostecka: Let’s step away from football for a second. How was your summer? Chris Seisay: I enjoyed it. I took this urban farmer class and it was cool. Other than that though, I went home and had my birthday down there with all my friends and family, so it was cool seeing them. I had a little family party at home, so a lot of family members came over and, you know, we just had a really good time . K: Was it nice to see your old friends again when you went home? S: It was cool, but it’s nothing exciting because we do the same thing over and over again. We all just chill, stay inside and play some video games and hang out, nothing crazy or exciting. I did go paint balling though, and that was fun. The whole idea is to not get shot, so me and my brother were with each other the whole

time thinking we can’t get shot because it hurts too bad. K: From a football standpoint, what was your main focus coming into this year? S: It was all about getting healthy. During spring ball, I had a slipped disc so I was really just relaxing. The only way to heal that kind of injury is a lot of rest. So I was just resting and relaxing, doing what I could to get better. K: Being hurt, how did you still manage to improve your game in other aspects? S: When I wasn’t practicing, I was focusing on the huddle a lot more so I could still know all of the plays. There were a lot of mental reps I did over the spring and summer. When I went home [this summer], I conditioned my body a lot so I could be physically ready for camp and this year. But when I wasn’t able to do that, I was watching and studying a lot. K: Are you healthy now? S: I’m feeling good and I’m ready to go. Obviously we’ll see how it goes, but I should be back to full strength and ready to roll. K: After replacing Ifo in the two biggest games of the year last year, how does that change your mindset entering this year? S: It’s different now because I’m the starter. I’m the guy people are looking towards to help them play better, so there’s a lot more that comes with that responsibility. Even though I’m the starter now, I look at it as more of a challenge because I’m trying to keep my spot rather than have someone take it away.


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QB WR OL QB WR CB LB OL DL DL TE RB WR LB TE OL RB TE WR DL LS DL LB WR LB OL DL DB DL DB OL OL K WR LB K RB LB LB TE OL RB QB OL LB LB OL LB OL LB DB RB DL LS OL RB QB TE S DL K

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201 190 275 185 185 185 196 295 298 310 250 210 195 218 221 305 185 250 200 290 215 290 240 195 235 310 250 205 275 205 294 315 185 180 224 201 230 250 220 215 290 175 205 288 245 245 295 230 290 235 185 180 268 230 295 180 194 240 195 295 180

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Jonathan Kenion DL Sean Killpatrick DB Jordan Kurahara DL Jarret LaCoste RB Fotu Leiato DB Shane Lemieux OL Jeff Lockie QB Haniteli Lousi OL Malik Lovette WR Chayce Maday WR Morgan Mahalak QB Blake Maimone P Austin Maloata DL Michael Manns DB Rex Manu DL Matt Mariota LB Byron Marshall WR Danny Mattingly LB Jake McCreath TE De’Quan McDowell LB Matt McFadden OL Mattrell McGraw DB Devin Melendez LS Kirk Merritt WR Davis Miyashiro-Saipaia OL Henry Mondeaux DL Johnny Mundt TE Charles Nelson DB Alex Ofodile WR Zach Okun OL Khalil Oliver DB Matt Pierson OL Jake Pisarcik OL Torrodney Prevot LB Johnny Ragin III LB Tyler Reid DB Tyree Robinson S Lane Roseberry RB Jake Ryan DB Aidan Schneider K Zac Schuller WR Chris Seisay CB Jason Sloan DL Arrion Springs DB Dwayne Stanford WR Spencer Stark DL Jihree Stewart CB Taylor Stinson TE Brigham Stoehr OL Jimmie Swain LB Tui Talia DL Chris Tewhill WR Calvin Throckmorton OL Thomas Tyner RB Evan Voeller OL Joe Walker LB Jim Weber OL Ian Wheeler P Juwaan Williams S Matt Wogan K

6-2 5-11 6-8 5-11 6-1 6-6 6-2 6-5 5-11 5-11 6-3 6-6 6-1 5-11 6-3 6-2 5-10 6-5 6-3 6-1 6-4 5-10 6-2 5-11 6-2 6-5 6-4 5-8 6-3 6-4 6-0 6-6 6-2 6-3 6-3 5-8 6-4 6-1 5-11 6-4 5-10 6-1 6-3 5-11 6-5 6-2 6-0 6-5 6-0 6-2 6-5 5-8 6-6 5-11 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-2

275 205 250 200 200 302 205 310 205 180 205 213 300 180 315 248 200 245 245 203 315 185 205 205 300 290 245 170 200 310 200 285 300 220 225 170 205 233 185 235 180 190 225 205 205 275 182 235 274 235 285 180 290 215 290 240 270 205 190 210

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Soph. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Soph. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Soph. Fr. Fr. Soph. Jr. Soph. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Fr. Soph. Jr. Jr. Soph. Sr. Soph. Soph. Soph. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Soph. Soph. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Soph. Sr. Fr. Soph. Soph. Jr.

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ON THE O-LINE ➡ JACK

HEFFERNAN, @JACKTHEFFERNAN

Doug Brenner and Jake Pisarcik stood on a deck and watched as the rays from a midJuly sun adorned Triangle Lake in Western Oregon. The Oregon offensive linemen were enjoying this year’s annual trip to offensive line coach Steve Greatwood’s lake house. While basking in the moment, however, the two redshirt sophomores came to a realization. “We were like, ‘Dang, dude. This is our third time being at the lake,’” Brenner said. “It flies by, feels like I’ve been here for a year.” After losing three starters — Hamani Stevens, Jake Fisher and, most notably, Hroniss Grasu — from 2014, Oregon’s offensive line suddenly, if only for a moment, lost some of its identity. This forced some of the group to step into new leadership roles. “I learned a lot from them,” redshirt senior lineman Matt Pierson said. “I talked to Hroniss last spring and he taught me the finer points of the offense.” It was no secret that Grasu, a third-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2015 NFL Draft, was Oregon’s elder statesman on the offensive line. One of the major questions surrounding the team this offseason was who would be the “next man up,” the next

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Lineman Doug Brenner is one of the new leaders on the offensive line.

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Grasu? The answer came quickly in the form of fifth-year senior left tackle Tyler Johnstone. After staring 26 consecutive games for the Ducks, Johnstone tore his ACL in last year’s fall camp. One year later, he and other upperclassmen such as Pisarcik, Pierson, Brenner and Cameron Hunt have fostered a looser atmosphere. “Hroniss, he’s a more laid-back guy. He’d kind of joke around a little bit, but was a little serious when he needed to be,” Hunt said. “We’re just a really goofy group.” Earlier this year, the group created a mobile group chat that included incoming freshmen. They largely used it to set times to hang out. “I think that helped out a lot,” Pierson said. “When I was a true freshman, it could be intimidating to approach a fifth-year senior.” “(Johnstone) has been really taking control of the younger guys and trying to help them out,” Hunt said. “They came in ahead of the curve of where we were as freshmen.” This summer, in addition to meeting at Johnstone’s house, the offensive line also went to a retreat in Ashland, camped in

Florence, frequently floated the Willamette River on inner tubes and stayed at Greatwood’s lakehouse “This was the best summer we’ve ever had in our lives,” Brenner said. “We utilized every minute of off time that we had.” The laid-back attitude manifested itself at Triangle Lake in mid-July. While on the lake, Johnstone and Pisarcik were circling each other on Sea-Doos. At one point, Pisarcik stopped to take a break, but Johnstone did not see him. The two vehicles collided. Fortunately, however, one jumped off while the other dove underneath, avoiding any injuries. Later that day, the linemen joked that the two were intentionally trying to run each other over. “At first it was a little scary, but afterwards we were kind of laughing about it,” Hunt said. Now, the group hopes the camaraderie established off the field will translate onto it. “Sliding left as a center, you know that that right guard or right tackle is going to do their job and you trust them,” Hunt said. “You know they’re good guys and that you need to trust them.”

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Oregon football will hold its final scrimmage of the fall camp on Thursday before taking a day off on Friday. After that, Saturday will be the only day the Ducks will practice before beginning preparations for Eastern Washington next Monday. During that time, Oregon coaches will finalize a depth chart, which will be somewhat determined by tomorrow’s scrimmage. Head coach Mark Helfrich met with the media Wednesday to discuss some of the most pressing issues in regards to the depth chart: On the team’s overall progress in the third week of camp: We’re getting into more situational stuff. I like where our communication is from that standpoint. Guys are becoming more aware of not just, “What’s my job? What does this word mean?,” but, “Hey, what’s the down and distance? What’s the field position?” On how much the scrimmage will impact the quarterback battle: Clean execution, just running the show without the coaches out there. If you have a true freshman receiver lined up wrong or somebody in the wrong place, can they run that part of it, and then just do their deal. It’s a little more tailored to [each of the team’s quarterbacks’] strengths as far as their play selection. I haven’t really thought of [making a decision] in terms of keeping anybody guessing. When and if it happens, it won’t be a secret. On whether or not redshirt decisions have been more difficult this year: We have more quality depth, or at least I think we do. The defensive line is a place where I like where our depth is headed. Those guys [are] just growing up and maturing. That’s a place where we’ll have some tough

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decisions. Everything else is just kind of normal. There’s always a couple of guys that are slamdunk redshirts and there’s always a couple guys that you go, “Man, in five, six, seven weeks, what’s he going to look like?” Those are the hard ones. On which specific players have made for the toughest decisions: The easiest one is a guy who just got here in Jonah Moi. You can see where he is headed: a big, fast, athletic guy that just doesn’t know what he’s doing yet. That’s not his fault, necessarily. Especially the young guys, you get through all of the install, all of the stuff that’s on their shoulders. Now that’s off and they’re playing freely, the rate that that happens kind of determines their fate. On how much of the depth chart is already complete: For the most part [we know] who’s going to play the lion’s share of where. We have a bunch of guys that’ll rotate in on a few spots, which is a good thing. There’s still a ton up for grabs on special teams. We have a lot of guys that can contribute in special teams, not necessarily true freshman, but redshirts and a few of the first year guys. We’ll definitely have that on full display tomorrow.

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