11/19/20 Emerald Media - Gameday Edition

GAMEDAY 11.19.20

AFTER GROWING UP IN OREGON, SAFETY JORDAN HAPPLE FINALLY GETS HIS SHOT TO PLAY FOR THE DUCKS IN STORYBOOK ENDING

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AROUND THE

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Editor in Chief Ryan Nguyen

Managing Editor Francis O’Leary Copy Chief Sophia Edelblute-Capps Sports Editors Shane Hoffmann Gabriel Ornelas Charlie Gearing Reporters Chris Brouilette O’Nalisa Hall Daniel Friis Oscar Duyck Mojo Hill Bazil Sterling Photo Editor Maddie Knight Design Editor Kira Chan

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COVID-19 continues to interfere with the Pac-12 schedule: During its first week of competition, the Pac-12 was forced to cancel two games due to COVID-19. During week two, a similar situation happened with the cancellation of the UCLA-Utah and Arizona State-Cal matchups. Fortunately, UCLA was able to play Cal on Sunday.

Arizona State will miss another game during week three: The Sun Devils football program will miss their second straight game of the season after players and Head Coach Herm Edwards tested positive for COVID-19. The matchup against Colorado was set to take place Saturday, Nov. 21.

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ON THE COVER

Autzen Stadium is empty during the first game of the season. Oregon Ducks Football takes on Stanford University at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov 7, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

Ducks rally for a win over Washington State: The Ducks had a slow start to their matchup against the Cougars. During the second half, the Ducks clicked and took home a 43-29 victory over Washington State. Tyler Shough had 312 yards and four touchdowns and was helped by running back CJ Verdell, who rushed for 118 yards.

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UPON FURTHER REVIEW:

OREGON’S REDEMPTION IN PULLMAN BY: Shane Hoffmann @shane_hoffmann

(Bob Hubner/WSU Photos)

For the second week in a row, the Ducks won a game by double digits despite surrendering at least two more turnovers than their opposition.

Last Saturday, against Washington State, it was three turnovers, yet they won by 14 points — nearly unheard of.

During a Nov. 16 press conference, offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead said he considers explosive play margin — number of runs of at least 20 yards or passes of at least 30 yards — and turnover margin to be the two biggest statistical factors in determining outcomes.

The Ducks have far outperformed their competition in the former while sorely

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underperforming in the latter.

Here’s a deeper dive into those themes, as well as more takeaways from Oregon’s 43-29 win over Washington State in Pullman.

How about those turnovers?

Oregon’s five turnovers on the season have come from two distinct spots. One is sporadic reads from the first-year starting quarterback, Tyler Shough. Shough has made poor reads, especially early in games. Against Washington State, he threw an interception on a screen pass that was disrupted by the defense, a spot in

which Moorhead says the young quarterback needs to learn to throw the ball away and not “make a bad play worse.”

“The turnovers are something I guess you would refer to as a statistical outlier, that we’re on the minus end of that,” Moorhead said. “It’s something that we need to get resolved.”

Shough, also, rifles balls into tight windows across the middle. While it didn’t result in a turnover in week two, it could have. He threw one into double coverage across the middle early in the game, which glanced off the hands of multiple defenders before hitting the turf.

Despite the occasional miscues, Shough has

GAMEDAY fit into Moorhead’s offense with ease and is the only FBS quarterback to throw for at least 200 yards and run for at least 80 in his team’s first two games.

The other area of concern has been running back ball security. If you count the fumbled handoff between Shough and running back CJ Verdell as a Verdell fumble, then all three of the Ducks’ primary runners have fumbled this season.

Unlike the Shough plays, these turnovers aren’t schematic or a result of poor decision making. Rather, like Moorhead suggested, they’re anomalies or simply a sign of a need for increased ball protection.

Dynamic playcalling This year’s Oregon offense is undeniably different. It’s more unpredictable, more aggressive and more explosive.

In Pullman, the Ducks ran the run-pass option to perfection.

Midway through the first quarter with the ball on Washington State’s 26-yard line they elected to go for it on fourth-and-2. Shough motioned receiver Kris Hutson to the other side of the line just before he clapped his hands for the ball to be snapped. After receiving the ball, he faked the hand off to Verdell, who was then wrapped up by multiple Cougar defenders before he avoided the rush and dumped it off to Hutson for the first down.

That same drive, they ran it again, this time resulting in a DJ Johnson touchdown.

Early in the third quarter, facing a fourthand-1, Moorhead again called for the RPO. Expecting the fake handoff and dump off, the defense played slightly back on their heels and Verdell blasted it up the middle for a first.

Oregon is the only power five program averaging 250 yards on the air and 250 yards on the ground per game. The offense also leads the nation in third-down conversion percentage at 72.7%.

Duck fans can thank Moorhead for that.

Running backs out of the backfield As a junior in 2019, Verdell caught just 14 passes through the entirety of Oregon’s 14-game season. Through two games under Moorhead, Verdell has already caught seven, including a career-high five against Washington State.

The increase shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Running backs catching balls out of the backfield whether on screens, swing routes or wheel routes is a staple of previous Moorhead offenses.

Travis Dye, who had 16 receptions in 2019, broke loose for the Ducks in week two delivering two receiving touchdowns.

“When he has a skill set that [he] can run between the tackles like a running back and kind of catch the balls on the perimeter, it makes him a very valuable weapon,” Moorhead said.

“Coach Maestro has done an unbelievable job with that group, kind of getting the guys in place to run plays that match their skill set.”

Defensive shortcomings While Oregon’s offense is off to a hot start, defensive coordinator Andy Avalos and his defense are still getting up to speed.

As a unit last season, the Ducks allowed an average of 329 yards per game to opposing offenses. Two (Bob Hubner/WSU Photos) weeks into this season, they’re allowing 417.

Washington State’s offense is shifty, often rolling out three or four speed receivers on each down, even so, tackling has been an area of concern for the Ducks. On several occasions the front seven failed to wrap up running back Deon McIntosh, and on the perimeter Cougars receivers had plentiful opportunities to run after the catch.

“Needless to say, everybody in the country didn’t have a lot of opportunities to practice tackling in the offseason so we’ve got to make that ground up right now,” Avalos said. “And we will, the guys are excited to do that.”

Freshman Noah Sewell was a bright spot for the second week in a row. The linebacker added four more tackles, as well as racking up his first

career sack against WSU’s Jayden de Laura. He plays with bruising physicality while managing to avoid giving up any speed and technique in the process. He earned the opportunity to be a starter moving forward.

Coverage breakdowns If the Ducks hope to compete for a Pac-12 championship, they’ll need to shore up their pass coverage as well.

The Ducks may have lost pivotal players in the secondary due to opt-outs, but last year Avalos and his defense proved that they can be a difference-making unit that could keep Oregon in games by themselves. There’s no reason that can’t be the case again this year, but to do so will require increased development from young players as well as veteran players in new roles.

Senior cornerback Dede Lenoir has locked up his half of the field and Jamal Hill has proved capable in coverage at the nickel position.

On the flip side, Nick Pickett is getting picked on.

He was victimized several times in coverage

by Washington State’s smaller, speedier pass catchers. He was also called for two targeting calls: one that was eventually overturned and a second that will have him sidelined for the first half of the UCLA game.

“Obviously we’ve got to lower our strike zone when we’re tackling,” Avalos said. “We’ve had a few instances where we’ll have guys missing games.”

Against Stanford, the same happened to Verone McKinely III, who was sorely missed on the back end before his arrival in the second half.

“Here in the last couple of weeks we’ve had to move around a lot of safeties,” Avalos said. “At practice a lot of guys have gotten reps.”

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UCLA BRUINS LOOK FOR A BREAKTHROUGH DURING 2020 SEASON BY: O’nalisa Hall @onalisa__hall The UCLA Bruins kicked off their 2020 season with the hopes of beating Colorado.

Through a fumbled punt return, an interception and potential first game jitters, the outcome of the game was not in favor of UCLA. They fought back in the second half but it wasn’t enough, causing a 48-42 loss to start their season.

Doubt came to many people’s mind and made them question if this was going to be the pattern of their season. The Bruins answered that doubt with a big 34-10 win over Cal last week. With a strong defense and connection throughout the offense, it will be interesting to see what they can do against the Ducks.

When practices started up again, many players were training at other positions to ensure that the program could withstand potential shortages due to COVID-19.

“We’re doing it a little bit more with the understanding we could lose certain players at certain positions,” Kelly said. “Within our positions, we know as a coaching staff there has to be extreme flexibility.”

After Kelly contracted COVID-19 in March, the Bruins program has taken precautions to help stop the spread of the virus; regular testing and following state guidelines are mandatory in order to proceed with a safe season.

“It’s something we all have to take very seriously,” Kelly said.

COVID-19 continues to be the center of attention, causing a cancellation of the UtahUCLA game this past Saturday. Despite this cancellation, the Bruins have a 1-1 record: a 34-10 victory over Cal and a 42-48 loss to Colorado.

A spotlight player to watch during their upcoming game against the Ducks is junior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Thompson-Robinson, a dynamic player for the Bruins, came off the 2019 season with 2,899

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yards of total offense and finished fourth in the Pac-12 conference in total offense/game (263.5). He threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another during Sunday’s game against Cal. Another play to keep our eyes on is redshirt senior running back Demetric Felton. Felton had 25 carries, three catches, and two kick returns during last week’s game; this is the most touches Felton has had in a game.

“This is everything I’ve wanted to do since I’ve stepped foot at UCLA,” Felton stated during a virtual press conference on Sunday. “It feels really good to finally be able to do that and help my teammates out.”

Although Kelly and the Bruins program are coming off a win, their opponents are too. Oregon is undefeated this season, with lopsided wins over Stanford and Washington State under its belt. With a strong defense in favor of the Ducks, UCLA’s offense must continue to produce. That being said, the Bruins also bring a competitive defensive line that will give the Ducks’ offense a run for their money. We got a glimpse of this during the UCLA-Cal game where the defense held them to one field goal in the first quarter and one touchdown during the second.

For the Ducks, there has been particular emphasis on the quarterback position throughout the abbreviated season. Previously a backup behind now-NFL quarterback Justin Herbert, redshirt junior Tyler Shough has earned the starting spot for the Ducks.

Throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdown passes during last week’s game, Shough has started off with a volume of production.

“I was just trying to do whatever the team needed,” Shough said. “Whatever it’s going to take, I’m willing to do for the team.

The UCLA Bruins will take on the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Autzen Stadium.

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Autzen Stadium is empty during the first game of the season. Oregon Ducks Football takes on Stanford University at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 7, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

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Growing up here, I saw the tradition here at Oregon and the history they’ve had and they’ve had a lot of success in my time. Ever since I was in high school I dreamed of being a Duck, and I’m just glad to be here now.”

JORDAN HAPPLE Safety

(Bob Hubner/WSU Photos)

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GAMEDAY

Jordan Happle

FULFILLS HIS DREAM OF PLAYING FOR THE DUCKS BY: Daniel Friis

On Dec. 16, 2017, Jordan Happle’s first career interception helped solidify a Boise State victory over Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. A little under three years later, Happle left the “Smurf Turf” in Boise, Idaho, to transfer to Oregon and end his senior season on a high note.

Andy Avalos, the Ducks defensive coordinator, coached Happle for two years as the defensive coordinator at Boise State. Avalos has seen Happle develop both as a person and player into what he is today.

“He’s tremendously smart. He can be the quarterback of the defense and he’s very humbled and excited to be here,” Avalos said. “Jordan is an unbelievable young man, and I’m very blessed to have him here.”

Happle, originally from Portland, Oregon, attended Jesuit High School, where he achieved awards at wide receiver as well as safety, including the Metro League Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-league honors, both of which he won twice.

At Jesuit, Happle and head coach Ken Potter had built a close relationship. Potter recalls his most memorable moment coaching Happle.

“There was a play where he went up for a catch and fell on someone’s ankle in the end zone,” Potter said. “Our trainers had a look at it, and it was clear that it was broken. Jordan asked if there was any way the staff could just wrap up his ankle as tight as they could so he could play through it.

He’s a tough kid, and he’s going to bring a lot to that program at Oregon.”

In a 2015 interview with Bart Football Academy while Happle was still in high school, he revealed that Oregon was interested in him. When the interview asked Happle if he was interested in playing Pac-12 football, Happie answered, “Yeah, that’d be cool.”

“He talked about going to Oregon multiple times in high school,” Potter said. “Obviously he didn’t end up going to Oregon right out of high school, but he took a great scholarship to attend Boise State.”

Happle played safety at Boise State for his first three collegiate seasons. He won Academic AllMountain West three times from 2017-19.

Happle began his junior campaign at Boise State on fire, making 22 tackles in his first five games, but injuries cut his season short. Happle graduated before entering the transfer portal in the late summer.

Despite his long and successful career as a Bronco, Happle made it clear through his transfer announcement on Twitter in early October that he’s visioned himself wearing the green and yellow and representing his home state, “I will be going HOME to fulfill my dream of becoming an Oregon Duck.”

When Happle took the podium for the first time as a Duck, he affirmed that Oregon has always had a special place in his heart.

“Growing up here, I saw the tradition here at Oregon and the history they’ve had, and they’ve had a lot of success in my time,” Happle said.

“Ever since I was in high school I dreamed of being a Duck, and I’m just glad to be here now.”

Happle has had a fair share of playing time in his first two games as a Duck.

The suspension of Verone McKinley III for targeting allowed him to play key minutes against Washington State. Nick Pickett’s first half suspension for this week’s UCLA game will be another chance for Happle to prove himself.

As he learns the system week by week and gets used to playing with his new teammates, Happle’s playing time could see an exponential increase.

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WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN WEEK 3 OF PAC-12 FOOTBALL BY: Chris Brouilette

Stanford’s offense and the Ducks defense line up late in the fourth quarter. Oregon Ducks Football takes on Stanford University at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 7, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

The second week of the Pac-12 football season left most fans with more questions than answers.

Utah and Arizona State players and staff tested positive for COVID-19, which forced two more cancellations just a day prior to kickoff. Their respective opponents, UCLA and California, were rescheduled to play on Sunday in what capped off a strange, albeit entertaining, second week of West Coast football.

With such a bizarre beginning of the season, it’s impossible to predict what week three holds in store. Here’s a look at this Saturday’s slate.

Colorado (2-0) @ Arizona State (0-1) With multiple players and staff, including head coach Herm Edwards, testing positive for COVID-19 before Arizona State’s game last week, the Colorado @ Arizona State game has already been canceled. There is no word yet on if Colorado will face a different opponent in place of the Sun Devils.

UCLA (1-1) @ Oregon (2-0) (12 p.m.)

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After three first half turnovers against Washington State, Oregon’s turnover margin through two games sits at negative five. Despite this, the Ducks are 2-0 and the offense has outscored opponents by a combined 35 points.

The defense has looked shaky at times, especially the tackling, but Oregon has forced field goals when needed. The “bend, don’t break” style of defense might not be sustainable against UCLA’s explosive quarterback Dorian ThompsonRobinson.

UCLA head coach Chip Kelly returns to Autzen Stadium as an opponent for the second time since leaving the Ducks. The last matchup came in 2018 when Oregon blew out UCLA 42-21.

The Bruins are coming off a 34-10 upset win against California on Sunday where they allowed just 176 total yards, a vast improvement from their first contest of the season against Colorado, where they gave up 48 points and 525 total yards.

If Kelly wishes to upset his former team, the defense will have to perform similarly and Thompson-Robinson has to take advantage of holes in Oregon’s secondary.

California (0-1) @ Oregon State (0-2) (12:30 p.m.)

With the loss to UCLA, it’s hard to get a gauge on the California Golden Bears. They looked poor, but considering it was their first game of the season against an unexpected opponent on the road at 9 a.m., they deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Oregon State, though 0-2, also deserves the benefit of the doubt after a controversial loss Saturday night — when they were stopped short of a go-ahead touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, the Beavers’ Jermar Jefferson looked like he had enough yards for a first down on the Huskies’ five yard-line, but the officials made a questionable spot of the ball that forced an Oregon State turnover. Washington went on to win 27-21.

It’s possible that Oregon State would have beaten the Huskies had the ball been properly spotted.

Still, a loss is a loss, and the Pac-12 stood by the referee’s decision.

As neither team can afford another loss if they hope to compete down the stretch, expect bounceback performances on each side, making for an entertaining and hard-fought contest.

GAMEDAY

WEEK 3 PAC-12 FOOTBALL GAMES COLORADO @ ARIZONA STATE 8 P.M. UCLA @ OREGON 8PM CALIFORNIA @ OREGON STATE 8 P.M. ARIZONA @ WASHINGTON 8 P.M. USC @ UTAH 7:30 P.M. WASHINGTON STATE @ STANFORD 8 P.M.

(Bob Hubner/WSU Photos)

Arizona (0-1) @ Washington (1-0) (5 p.m.)

Coming in as huge underdogs at home against USC, Arizona came up just short against the Trojans. Despite losing, the Wildcats gained momentum in their season opener by forcing USC down to the wire.

Quarterback Grant Gunnell was impressive with 286 yards and three touchdowns, one of which was a 75-yard bomb to Tayvian Cunningham.

Washington, meanwhile, established their identity under first-year head coach Jimmy Lake.

Running the ball on nearly 70% of their offensive snaps and dominating the time of possession, it’s clear the Huskies’ strategy will be to break down teams with the run game and a staunch defense.

This cross-conference matchup will be a test of both sides’ defenses and ball control.

USC (2-0) @ Utah (0-0) (7:30 p.m.)

Although the USC Trojans are undefeated, there is little reason to be confident in head coach Clay Helton’s program. Both wins have come at the heels of last-minute comebacks.

Quarterback Kedon Slovis and the offense seemed off for most of the game against Arizona, and they were unable to capitalize on multiple opportunities throughout the game, particularly in the second half. In their first five possessions to begin the second half, they punted, were held to a field goal, missed a field goal, turned it over on downs and then punted again.

They came through when it mattered though, scoring consecutively in the final minutes, the second being a go-ahead touchdown with 25 seconds remaining.

Utah has yet to play a game this season, but it’s hard to imagine USC as massive favorites against the defending Pac-12 South champions.

Kyle Whittingham and his squad are still struggling with COVID-19, so it’s unclear if the game will happen.

Even with the rough start to Utah’s season added to the fact they are replacing a bulk of their defense, their quarterback and their star running back, don’t count the Utes out in their debut.

Washington State (1-1) @ Stanford (0-2) (8 p.m.)

The late game Saturday night features two Pac-12 North teams with opposite trajectories.

On one hand, Washington State, under rookie coach Nick Rolovich and freshman quarterback Jayden de Laura, are an exciting team to watch that plays with undeniable electricity. The Cougars are already surpassing expectations for this season, even with last week’s loss to Oregon.

They held momentum for most of the first half and were leading at halftime, but they aren’t yet able to finish off a team with the caliber of Oregon.

Still, Rolovich has found something in de Laura.

The Hawaii native threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns, 252 of which were split between receivers Renard Bell and Travell Harris.

On the other side, the Stanford Cardinal are reeling after back-to-back losses.

Even with the return of starting quarterback Davis Mills, Stanford was outplayed all game last week against Colorado.

The Cardinal defense has been exploited on all levels, struggling to defend read option plays, then getting beat deep on play action.

With his back against the wall, head coach David Shaw desperately needs a win.

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CJ VERDELL ACHIEVES REDEMPTION AGAINST STANFORD TO START THE SEASON BY: Mojo Hill @mojohill22 (Bob Hubner/WSU Photos)

The jaws of players, coaches and fans dropped as the ball slipped from CJ Verdell’s hands with less than a minute to play. A sense of disbelief and frustration seeped through the crowd of yellow and green as Stanford triumphed over Oregon, 38-31, and no one felt worse about it than Verdell himself.

Ever since that devastating defeat against the Cardinal in 2018, during his freshman year, Verdell has been itching to face them again and satisfy his vengeance.

“Ever since that thing happened, two years ago, the fumble, that’s been on my mind,” he said. “I’ve been waiting to get this chance to play these guys back at home. It was definitely a satisfying feeling.”

Verdell and the Ducks experienced some low points, but his teammates and coaches have continuously pushed him to move forward.

“We always tell each other, move on to the next play,” he said. “You gotta flush it. You can’t dwell on a bad play and let it lead to more bad plays.”

Head coach Mario Cristobal, who was in his first year at Oregon when the fumble occurred, never lost sight of Verdell’s talents, despite the undeniable frustration the team felt from that loss.

“CJ rushing for over a hundred yards, sometimes we take that for granted, but — I guess the outside

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world does, we don’t,” he said. “We know CJ’s a great player and feel he’s one of the best in the country.”

Beyond Verdell’s redemption, the offense as a whole has taken on an entirely new look, featuring quarterback Tyler Shough and a new play-caller in offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead. Verdell feels comfortable with where he fits into that unit, and it has clearly benefited his performance through the first two games as he’s run for a total of 223 yards.

“I love how he likes to give running backs outer space,” Verdell said of Moorhead, “and just how he uses us, whether it be the running game or the passing game. So I think he’s definitely making us a lot more diverse.”

Verdell carried the momentum from his 105-yard rushing performance in the Stanford game into Saturday’s matchup against Washington State, where he topped that with 118 rushing yards.

The new-look offensive line also played a major factor in Oregon’s win over Washington State.

Verdell has been effusive in his praise for them.

“Man, those guys are great,” Verdell said. “I can’t say enough about those guys. They did an unbelievable job [on Saturday]. We just gotta keep pushing, because it’s only up from here.”

Despite a successful first two games, Verdell’s redemption tour is not over just yet. Last season, he often missed portions of second halves of games due to injuries, which contributed to him ending the year with six games with 11 or fewer carries.

It makes it all the more impressive that he’s still recorded the ninth-most rushing yards in Oregon Ducks history, right ahead of Jeremiah Johnson and behind Ricky Whittle.

With two games down, it’s clear that this offense is already clicking and gelling together, especially within the running backs room.

“We’re a great group,” Dye said. “We love each other’s success. That’s what I love about this group.

It’s never a selfish kind of thing. If CJ gets a good play, I’m right there next to him cheering him on, and vice versa with all of us.”

Verdell knows that Dye, as well as the rest of his teammates and all of his coaches, will continue to support him regardless of any mistakes or misplays he may have made in the past. With a team chemistry that emphasizes supporting each other and lifting each other up, the potential is limitless for Verdell and the Ducks’ offense.

GAMEDAY

ISAAC SLADE MATAUTIA: FROM BREAKOUT STAR TO ANCHOR OF THE DEFENSE BY: Oscar Duyck Eleven months ago, Isaac SladeMatautia played the game of his life.

The up-and-coming sophomore inside linebacker posted a career high eight tackles in the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin, helping Oregon top off a memorable season.

Today, Slade-Matautia is no longer the young breakout phenom. Rather, he is expected to be at the helm of the defense in the most trying and bizarre season in college football history.

The departure of fellow linebacker and mentor Troy Dye to the NFL — along with defensive players Thomas Graham Jr., Jevon Holland and Brady Breeze who decided to opt out this season — has created a leadership void that SladeMatautia must fill.

“Troy Dye left a humongous gap in our defense,” Slade-Matautia said. “You know all the things he did for Oregon, I felt like I had to be the guy to step into that position.”

As far as leadership styles are concerned, Dye and Slade-Matautia take different approaches. Dye was known for his boisterous personality Slade-Matautia is quieter. He lets his work, both on the practice field and during games, do the talking.

Defensive coordinator Andy Avalos had nothing but positive things to say about Slade-Matautia and his role on the defense.

“Isaac’s done a tremendous job,” Avalos said. “ Every single day being effective, helping run the defense from that position.

We’re very excited to see his opportunity to play that [leadership] position.”

Slade-Matautia’s unique talents provide a huge boost to Oregon. He is the only returning player in the FBS to record at least 60 tackles and double-digit pass break ups. In 2019 he led the team in pass breakups; he was the first Oregon

linebacker to do so since 2009.

Two games into this season, the performance of Slade-Matautia and the defense has been a mixed bag. Against both Stanford and Washington State, there have been times when the secondary has been burned by deep balls, a problem that has been compounded by Oregon’s failure to maintain a consistent pass rush.

Against Washington State, Cougars running back Deon McIntosh ran for 98 yards and a touchdown as he broke Oregon’s arm tackles. This performance is a far cry from the lockdown defense of the 2019 squad.

But when Oregon needed stops, SladeMatautia and the defense answered.

Slade-Matautia remains calm under pressure and takes responsibility for some of the defensive miscommunications that arise.

“Our communications were off from the linebackers to the secondary and the D front,” Slade-Matautia said after the Stanford game on Nov. 7. “We’re going to take it on us, the linebacker group, to get that better and make sure everyone’s on the same page.”

In a role reversal from last year, Slade-Matautia is the established star and freshman Noah Sewell has taken the role of breakout star. Sewell, the younger brother of

former Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell, has wowed Duck fans with his athleticism and bone-crushing hits.

“I’m just trying to soak it up like a sponge, learning from [Kayvon Thibodeaux], Isaac, all the vets on the defensive side,” Sewell said. “Just talking to them because those guys know how the game goes.”

In a COVID-19-marred college football landscape, having veteran leadership matters more than ever. As Oregon continues to fine tune its defense, expect Slade-Matautia to be leading the charge.

(Bob Hubner/WSU Photos) T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 2 0

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GAMEDAY

OPINION:

UO EMERGEs as a NIL leader BY: Bazil Sterling

BAZIL STERLING Ducks wide reciever Devon Williams (2) slips away from a defender. Oregon Ducks Football takes on Stanford University at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 7, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

Rule changes from the NCAA pertaining to student-athletes’ ability to deservedly profit from their own name, image and likeness are seemingly imminent and are set to revolutionize the landscape of collegiate athletics.

The University of Oregon ─ in partnership with branding experts from groups such as Nike, Facebook, Twitter, INFLCR and Cole Hann ─ aims to prepare UO athletes to successfully manage their individual brands. The initiative will support the academic and professional development of student-athletes in a rapidly changing climate. The UO School of Journalism and Communications, along with the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the UO Lundquist College of Business, will be significantly involved in the program, titled EMERGE. UO has successfully separated itself from the pack by creating this program. By preparing student-athletes for an unpredictable, yet necessary, shift in the axis of collegiate sports, every participant wins. Students-athletes will be rightfully provided with resources to manage their

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lucrative personal brands, and UO maintains a sense of control over its athletic department and athletes. Furthermore, the aforementioned entities, among others, will get involved in the ground level of NIL and its ramifications.

EMERGE additionally gifts UO with the opportunity to promote two of its most prestigious colleges, the Lundquist College of Business and the SOJC, while simultaneously aiding its current and future student-athletes in their various endeavors.

The three primary areas of the EMERGE program are designed to educate student-athletes on topics ranging from personal branding to financial literacy.

Other universities are sure to follow UO’s program in the near future, as those without similar programs will miss key opportunities to create mutually beneficial relationships with their athletes.

EMERGE will serve as precedent for other universities who must adapt to a novel environment that allows student-athletes to receive long-overdue financial compensation

for their efforts on and off the playing field. The likely positive impact of EMERGE will attract additional prominent athletes to Eugene, as long as the program displays genuine compassion for its athletes.

NCAA rule changes regarding NIL could provide top-athletes, particularly gridiron stars, with sevenfigure earning opportunities. Oregon has only one franchise representing one of the four major sports leagues: the Portland Trail Blazers. The financial opportunities for UO athletes should rival those available to student-athletes in more crowded markets. UO football is easily the most successful football program in a state that does not feature an NFL franchise.

UO has managed to separate itself from its competition and simultaneously prioritize the needs of its student-athletes through the implementation of the EMERGE program. Ideally, EMERGE will only improve relationships between UO and its athletic population, setting a necessary precedent for the rest of the nation.

OREGON

UCLA

OREGON OFFENSE

UCLA OFFENSE

CJ Verdell No. 7 RB So.

Chase Cota

Travis Dye No. 26 RB Jr. Hunter Kampmoyer

No. 23

WR

Jr.

Kyle Phillips

No. 2

WR

So.

Jaylen Erwin

No. 15

WR

Sr.

Mycah Pittman No. 4 WR So.

Sean Rhyan

No. 74

LT

So.

Jaylon Redd No. 30 WR Sr.

Jon Gaines II

No. 57

LG

So.

Josh Delgado No. 83 WR So.

Sam Marrazzo No. 64 OC Jr.

Johnny Johnson III

Sr.

Duke Clemens No. 62 RG So.

George Moore No. 77 LT Sr.

Alec Anderson No. 70 RT So.

T.J. Bass No. 7 LG Jr.

Mike Martinez No. 88 TE So.

Alex Forsynth No. 78 C Jr.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson No. 1

Malaesala Aumavavae-Laulu No. 17 RG Jr.

Demetric Felton No. 10 RB Sr.

No. 48

No. 3

TE

WR

Sr.

QB

Jr.

Steven Jones No. 74 RT So.

UCLA DEFENSE

OREGON DEFENSE Kayvon Thibodeaux No. 5 DE So.

Datona Jackson No. 58 DE Sr.

Jordon Scott No. 3 NT Sr.

Tyler Manoa No. 50 NT Jr.

Austin Faoliu No. 99 DT Sr.

Osa Odighizuwa No. 92 DE Sr.

Mase Funa No. 37 STUD So.

Mitchell Agude No. 45 OLB Sr.

Isaac Slade-Matautia

Jr.

Leni Toailoa No. 26 ILB Sr.

Justin Flowe No. 10 WILL Fr.

Bo Calvert No. 33 ILB So.

Dru Mathis No. 54 MLB Sr.

Damien Sellers No. 00 OLB Fr.

Jamal Hill No. 19 Nickel So.

Obi Eboh No. 22 CB Gr.

Mykael Wright No. 2 FCB So.

Stephan Blaylock

Verone McKinley

No. 23

Free Safety

So.

Quentin Lake No. 37 FS Jr.

Nick Pickett

No. 6

Boudnary Safety Sr.

Jay Shaw No. 1 CB Jr.

Deommodore Lenoir

No. 0

Boundary Cornerback Sr.

No. 41

WILL

No. 4

SS

Jr.

UCLA SPECIAL TEAMS

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS Camden Lewis No. 49 LS Jr.

Jack Landherr IV

Tom Snee No. 38 P So.

Nicholas Barr-Mira No. 2 P Fr.

Travis Dye

No. 26

Punt Return

So.

Nicholas Barr-Mira

Karsten Battles

No. 363

Long Snapper

Jr.

No. 51

LS

No. 2

T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 2 0

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