8/30/21 Emerald Media - Duck Season | Football

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August 2021

RIGHTING THE SHIP

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Contents 4 13 6 15 11 RANKING OREGON’S OPPONENTS

PAC-12 FOOTBALL: EVERYTHING TO KNOW

PREVIEW OF OFFENSE

STEPHON JOHNSON JR. PAVES THE WAY

NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Duck Season 2021

DuckSeason, the Emerald’s quarterly sports magazine, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900.

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RANKING OREGON FOOTBALL’S OPPONENTS See which teams have the best shot at dethroning the defending Pac-12 champions in a ranking of the Ducks’ schedule.

BY AARON HEISEN • TWITTER @AARON_HEISEN The University of Oregon football team will kick off the new season on Sept. 4, as the Ducks begin their quest to three-peat as Pac-12 Champions. Unlike last season, when the Ducks run out of the tunnel, it will be to the cheers of Oregon fans returning to Autzen Stadium in full capacity for the first time since 2019.

After playing a condensed schedule in 2020, the Ducks will face a plethora of opponents that pose a threat to their potential return to the Pac-12 championship game.

12.

OREGON VS. STONY BROOK; SEPT. 18, 4:30 P.M.

Stony Brook is Oregon’s only opponent outside of the Football Bowl Subdivision, and the Seawolves won just one game last season. Starting quarterback Tyquell Fields will have a tough time dissecting the Ducks’ secondary.

11.

OREGON VS. ARIZONA; SEPT. 25, TIME TBA.

10.

OREGON VS. FRESNO STATE; SEPT. 4, 11 A.M.

Oregon will start its Pac-12 schedule off by hosting the Arizona Wildcats, who failed to win a game in 2020.

Last season, Arizona cycled through a trio of starters, struggling to find any consistency behind center. They were also outgained in net yards by every opponent.

Fresno State will be subjected to the return of the Ducks’ fans to Autzen Stadium, giving Oregon a significant boost.

The Bulldogs are coming off a season in which they went 3-3, dropping their final two games. Redshirt senior quarterback Jake Haener and a star-studded receiving core will give the sturdy Oregon secondary an early season test, but a manageable one no less.

9.

OREGON VS. UC BERKELEY; OCT. 15, 7:30 P.M.

The Bears are an experienced bunch, with two seniors —

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quarterback Chase Garbers and running back Christopher Brown Jr. — leading the way, along with an offensive line made up of five starting upperclassmen.

This might be the seniors best shot to take down the Ducks in Autzen.

8.

OREGON VS. WASHINGTON STATE; NOV. 13, TIME TBA

Washington State has consistently given the Ducks a run for their money. In 2020, sophomore quarterback Jayden de Laura put on a show. If de Laura replicates the performance he put together last season, the Cougars could pull off the upset.

7.

OREGON VS. OREGON STATE; NOV. 27, TIME TBA

6.

OREGON VS. STANFORD; OCT. 2, TIME TBA

Last season, the Oregon State Beavers stunned the Ducks on a last second goal-line touchdown to claim the win in Corvallis.

The Beavers dropped 548 total yards on the Ducks defense. That must change for the Ducks if they want to avoid a second upset in a row. A more experienced defense should have no problem matching up against the Beavers, especially with running back Jermar Jefferson no longer in the picture.

Oregon State is always motivated to play spoiler, but the Ducks are well equipped to end the season on a high note this time around.

The Cardinal have struggled in recent years, but they began to show some signs of life after two rebuilding seasons.

However, the Ducks dominated the Cardinal front seven last season, as they rushed for 278 yards.

Running backs C.J. Verdell and Travis Dye are returning for their senior season and should replicate the success they found against Stanford last season.

5.

OREGON VS. COLORADO; OCT. 3, TIME TBA

4.

OREGON VS. UCLA; OCT. 23, TIME TBA

3.

OREGON VS. UTAH; NOV. 20, TIME TBA

2.

OREGON VS. WASHINGTON; NOV. 6, TIME TBA

1.

OREGON VS. OHIO STATE; SEPT. 11, 9 A.M.

The Colorado football team is a physical bunch that will go right at the Oregon Ducks front seven with its talented running game.

Jarek Brossard was phenomenal in his first season as a Buff, leading the Pac-12 in total rush yards. The strategy for Colorado will be to punch it up the gut, but Oregon has the talent in its front seven to match the Buffaloes’ rushing attack.

This gritty battle will fall heavily on the shoulders of players like Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell as the Ducks look to control the Colorado rushing attack.

The UCLA Bruins tested the defending Pac-12 champions last season in a high-scoring battle, despite an injury to starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Thompson-Robinson returns for his senior season as the Bruins have the most talented roster Chip Kelly’s hiring back in 2018. UCLA has as much offensive firepower as any team on the Ducks’ schedule.

This could be the year Kelly gets his first victory against his former team.

The Utes sport one of the most balanced rosters in the conference, with a sturdy defense and a high-powered offense. The key matchup in this affair will be Oregon’s running game against Utah’s front seven.

Linebacker Devin Lloyd is one of the best in the nation, but the Utes front seven will meet their match with Oregon’s stellar running back duo.

The No. 21 Huskies have unfinished business with the Ducks after forfeiting their spot in the Pac-12 championship game last season due to COVID-19 protocols.

The Huskies pose the biggest threat to the Ducks in the Pac-12 North. This early November showdown will give the victor an advantage in the race for a trip to the Pac-12 championship game.

After being cancelled due to COVID-19 last season, the Ducks are set to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. The battle will set the tone for the early season rankings, as each team tries to build its resume for the College Football Playoff committee.

Ohio State will enter the 2021 season in the midst of a two-way race for the starting quarterback position.

Redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud has a slight edge in the quarterback competition, but five-star recruit Quinn Ewers reclassified and will challenge him for playing time.

Apart from the quarterback controversy, the Buckeyes have no weaknesses on their roster, making them Oregon’s toughest opponent.

The teams merge to congratulate each other after the game. Oregon Ducks football takes on Iowa State for the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2021. (DL Young/

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A PEAK AT THE DUCKS OFFENSE HEADING INTO 2021 SEASON In Joe Moorhead’s second season as offensive coordinator, Oregon has the requisite talent for an offensive explosion.

BY DANIEL FRIIS • TWITTER @DANIELFRIIS10 As the Ducks return 10 of 11 starters from a year ago, the offensive chemistry could be scary in the squad’s second year under coordinator Joe Moorhead.

Here’s what he’s working with ahead of the new season.

Since Tyler Shough’s departure to Texas Tech, one of the biggest questions has been his replacement.

Still, all signs point to Anthony Brown as the starting quarterback on Sep. 4.

Both through practices and his limited snaps last year, Brown has shown the ability to hurt defenses in multiple ways.

He throws more for accuracy and touch than strength; but, with everything that he lacks in power, he makes up for in his pocket mobility and athleticism.

Brown is the most prepared to take over. His five years of collegiate experience significantly outweighs his competition and also makes him a natural leader for the rest of the offense. “[Brown] has thrown for nearly 6000 yards and 60 touchdowns and been in tons of different offenses,” Moorhead said.

“He’s a smart kid, very mature. And I think he always takes the opportunity to spread his wisdom to the young guys and they’re very receptive too.”

Three players are vying for Brown’s backup position. Two of them, Jay Butterfield and Robby Ashford, already have a year under Oregon’s system. The third, Ty Thompson, is a five-star freshman who’s quickly become a fan favorite in Eugene.

Brown’s lack of down-the-field shots leaves the door ajar for one of the program’s younger quarterbacks to perhaps sneak in as a starter.

Oregon’s offensive line had one start combined heading into 2020. Now, with an abbreviated season and offseason camp under its belt, the line is building strength and camaraderie by the day.

At the left tackle position, fifth-year senior George Moore will look to build upon an impressive 2020 campaign in which he didn’t allow a sack in 192 pass-blocking snaps. The highly recruited Kingsley Suamataia will back up and push for the starting job as well.

At left guard, AP Pac-12 All-Conference first team TJ Bass will likely start again. Freshman Marcus Harper and Logan Sagapolu could see time here as well after notable summer camps.

Alex Forsyth is coming off a career year where he earned Pac-12 All-Conference second team after filing in as a platoon player for most of 2019. He will start at center, with freshman Jonathan Denis likely set to back him up.

Eugene native Ryan Walk will hold down the right guard spot.

Last year, Walk finished first-team Pac-12 while not surrendering a single sack. Sagapolu should receive exposure here as well.

Finally, Steven Jones will hold down the right tackle position after a break-out 2020 season where he started every game.

“There’s a lot of pride in the way that they [the offensive line] work,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “They made it clear that they gotta push each other to be good. And, for that reason, we expect a lot out of them.”

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Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) evades a tackle. Oregon Ducks football takes on Iowa State for the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2021. (DL Young/Emerald)

In the backfield, the CJ Verdell and Travis Dye duo is set to return for their fourth season.

Verdell has shown glimpses of NFL potential multiple times as a Duck, but the question surrounding Verdell isn’t one of effectiveness, rather availability as the three-year starter has suffered numerous injuries in his Oregon career.

Dye’s explosive skill set complements Verdell’s running abilities well. He was arguably the team’s offensive MVP last season, scoring five touchdowns on 6.9 yards per carry and a resounding 26.6 yards per reception.

With Cyrus Habibi-Likio transferring, the third running back spot is vacant. This is a prime opportunity for Trey Benson, Seven McGee and Byron Caldwell. Sean Dollars is expected to return from a leg injury during the season, and when he does, Oregon’s backfield could be lethal.

Johnny Johnson lll, Mycah Pittman and Jaylon Redd are expected to be the team’s starting wide receivers. Johnson III, the fifth year senior, will roll into the year as a member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list, which recognizes the nation’s best receivers.

Pittman had an opportunistic true freshman season in the green and yellow, but an injury plagued 2020. He still had his fair share of big plays, but this year, the expectations are much higher.

Redd is coming off yet another season of providing versatility and speed for the Ducks. He’ll line up both in the backfield and as a receiver but wherever he is, he’s a matchup nightmare for any defender.

Devon Williams, Kris Hutson and Josh Delgado will add variety in size and skillset.

An intriguing storyline at the receiver position has been the emergence of two true freshmen: Dont’e Thornton and Troy Franklin. Both have made it difficult on the veterans to retain their starting roles all throughout camp.

Despite there being no clear frontrunner for the tight end, it’s arguably Oregon’s deepest position. DJ Johnson took the position by storm last year after being converted from the defensive line, but an injury has kept him out for a bulk of training camp.

With the recent knee injury to Patrick Herbert, Spencer Webb could be the next man up. Webb has made big plays as a Duck, but he hasn’t seen much first-team time in games.

Not too far behind the three veterans are a pair of four-star freshmen: Terrance Ferguson and Moliki Matavao. Both have already made significant progress in the weight room and on the field since arriving in Eugene.

“It really benefited both of those guys to come early, go through spring ball and spend the entire summer here,” tight ends coach Bobby Williams said. “They’re gonna push for some playing time.”

With only a few weeks of practice and a shortened schedule last year, Moorhead didn’t have much time to implement a full offense. Now, with a full year to prepare and the re-emergence of spring and summer camps, the training wheels are ready to come off.

Duck Season 2021 |

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Head Coach Mario Cristobal hypes up the team going into the fourth quarter.

Oregon Ducks football takes on the UCLA Bruins at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 21, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

E C A L P O T N I G N I SLID There were no excuses.

The lack of discipline when it came to tackling; the miscommunications on the back end of Oregon’s young secondary; the uncharacteristic offensive droughts and costly turnovers.

Even in the midst of what was the most strenuous year in college athletics ever, nobody’s fingers pointed at anyone but themselves.

Following a slew of games that fell under the “too close for comfort” category and back-to-back losses for the first time since midway through the 2018 season, Oregon’s football players and staff took full responsibility for the on-field discontinuity during 2020-21.

“Last year, it wasn’t what we expected it to be, and now we understand what we did wrong,” starting safety Verone McKinley III said. “We corrected it. We looked at ourselves in the mirror and understand what we’re trying to do.”

The display, in many ways, was the first true sign that the culture head coach Mario Cristobal so often gives voice to is coming to fruition.

Accountability and discipline — staples of every great culture — were far from a given under the program’s previous coaches Mark Helfrich and 8

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Willie Taggart. “[The culture has] developed on and off the field,” senior receiver Johnny Johnson III –– who entered the program amidst the haze that was Taggart’s brief, disjointed stint in Eugene –– said.

He added: “Character and us being together and being disciplined in life in general or [in] the classroom. I think it’s changed a lot since my freshman year.”

Despite just a 4-3 record in 202021, the Ducks captured their second consecutive conference championship, albeit under abnormal circumstances.

But a successful team can only be as connected on the field as it is off of it. And, after an offseason of paranoia and isolation, the Ducks at times looked uncomfortable on the field last season — like in their Nov. 27 loss to Oregon State in which the Beavers confidently marched down the field in the waning moments, and bullied the Ducks in the trenches on the goaline; the very situation this team has built towards capitalizing upon.

With the lack of offseason infrastructure, the resilient team Cristobal and his staff worked so hard to build began to show cracks.

“I know quite a few of my team-

mates, a lot of us took it pretty hard because we were away from our family for so long,” defensive tackle Popo Aumavae said. “We weren’t allowed to see anyone after the games.”

Now, to fully realize the next phase of Cristobal’s culture overhaul, the Ducks look to revamp and return to the level of play that produced a Rose Bowl win just two seasons ago.

Luckily for Cristobal and his program, they’ve had an entire offseason together –– something they sorely missed last season when several of the program’s cornerstone leaders opted out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve had time to bond and really understand the playbook, meet new coaches, really sit down and take time with them and have those meetings where there’s no separation,” McKinley III said.

In addition to the return of a formal training camp and strength program, the team has also spent time this offseason partaking in off-field bonding activities: everything from paintball, Topgolf and bowling to exploring the bountiful nature opportunities surrounding Eugene.

“Being a close-knit group like we are this year, I think that’s going to help us out a lot,” McKinley III said.

Full team events are increasingly

as the w ie v r a e r e h tion is in t la o is d n a ia o rogram. n p a n r a o s p a f e o s r f f a o e Ay rough a full h t t c e n n o c e r Ducks N BY

TER @ MANN • TWIT F F O H E N A H S

important as the staff looks to galvanize competitiveness and brotherhood amongst a growing group of players not from West Coast states — which has been the focus of Cristobal’s recruiting prowess since taking over.

“Having that family environment and being able to have conversations about things beyond just football really makes things different here,” McKinley III said. “Just having that aspect and building on it throughout the different recruiting classes, guys that have come before me, guys that have come after me, just really embracing them.”

With COVID-19 stunting much of the 2020 season, athletes were granted an extra year of eligibility by the

MAN SHANE_HOFF

NCAA. Six Ducks, including Johnson III, elected to return for their “super senior” years.

The advent allowed teams across the country to form atypical roster makeups, which allow experienced upperclassmen to impact and lead incoming freshmen they wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to meet.

Johnson III said he’s relishing the chance to lead a talented group of freshmen, most of whom enrolled early to soak up spring ball.

“It’s really awesome to have our players back and doing the things that we usually do in the offseason: our team events, our full team workouts,” Cristobal said. “Doing things that

have, over the course of the last three or four years, made us a really good football team.”

As Oregon exits training camp and a full 12-game regular season looms, the Ducks convey a mentality fraught with redemption as they look to right the ship after a disappointing conclusion to last season.

“Let’s establish our identity now,” McKinley III said. “Really, once we got back from the bowl game, we were like, ‘That can’t happen again. We’re not gonna let it happen again.’”

With the season opener around the corner, the Ducks are right where they want to be.

Together again.

The Oregon Ducks get ready to walk out. Oregon Ducks football takes on Iowa State for the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2021. (DL Young/Emerald)

Duck Season 2021 |

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OREGON RELOADS ON DEFENSE UNDER NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TIM DERUYTER

BY CHARLIE FOLKSTEAD • TWITTER @FOLKESTAD3 With Andy Avalos’ departure to Boise State for a head coaching gig, Oregon hired new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter from its Pac-12 North foe California.

This move not only showed Mario Cristobal’s ability to identify top coordinator talents –– as demonstrated by both the Avalos and Joe Moorhead hires –– but also the program’s ability to get new personnel in the door and hit the ground running.

Avalos’ replacement of Jim Leavitt in 2018 took the team from No. 81 to No. 48 in opponent points per game, while DeRuyter led a Cal defense that held the Ducks to 17 points in both of their last two meetings.

DeRuyter specializes in developing star linebackers, as he’s done with Von Miller at Texas A&M and Evan Weaver at Cal. He puts a heavy emphasis on turnovers, using a diverse array of attacks to confuse opposing quarterbacks.

“When you have guys that can run, you can job swap,” DeRuyter said. “We have outside linebackers that can drop into coverage or pressure. We have defensive linemen that can drop into coverage. We’ve got safeties that can blitz… that can make it difficult on an offense.”

As is the trend throughout the top levels of college football, expect the Ducks to use plentiful nickel (fifth defensive back) packages to cover more spread offenses.

Defensive Line DeRuyter’s defenses historically feature less down linemen and more edge rushers standing at the line of scrimmage. This is where you’ll find Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has already been projected to be the No. 1 pick in the next NFL Draft.

Thibodeaux took the starting edge spot in the spring game, with Mase Funa starting on the weak side.

“We have [Thibodeaux and Funa]

where they can be interchangeable,” DeRuyter said. “When we get into our odd [front] stuff, we can have either one of ‘em playing to the field,” while the other “may be in the rush, may be in the drop.”

Junior Brandon Dorlus and fifth year senior Popo Aumavae seem to have claimed the starting down linemen spots. Dorlus and Kristian Williams may be poised for breakout seasons after solid spells last year, while sophomores Keyon Ware-Hudson and Jayson Jones may also factor in.

Linebackers Fourth year junior Adrian Jackson and sophomores Bradyn Swinson and Jake Shipley might also factor in on the edge. Jabrill McNeil, Terrell Tilmon and Brandon Buckner all join from the record-setting 2021 recruiting class as outside linebackers.

At inside linebacker, former starter Isaac Slade-Matautia transferred to SMU over the offseason, opening up room for a new crop of youngsters.

Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Noah Sewell headlines a star-studded inside linebacker corps for the Ducks in 2021. He’s joined by fellow five-star Justin Flowe –– who missed most of 2020 with a torn meniscus.

Four-star freshman and Oregon native Keith Brown and senior Dru Mathis will also get snaps on the inside.

Secondary Perhaps the biggest concerns surrounding this Ducks defense lie at cornerback and nickelback. While junior Mykael Wright has a firm grip on one starting corner spot, two starting openings remain.

(DL Young/Emerald)

Corner DJ James and nickel Jamal Hill were the most likely candidates to fill the roles after promising flashes in 2020, but the pair face indefinite suspensions for off-the-field misconduct, meaning Dontae Manning and Bennett Williams will likely start.

Williams has been working alongside Jordan Happle and Jeffrey Bassa in practice, presumably as the reformed nickel group. Freshmen Daymon “Scoop” David and Trikweze Bridges have also been impressive.

The biggest cornerstone of the defensive back room is safety Verone McKinley III, who is “most definitely” stepping into a leadership role.

“Me, KT, Noah Sewell, Mykael and big Dorlus,” McKinley III said. “Those are probably the main guys that are really the big leaders of this defense.”

McKinley and Co. will have their hands full in a week two matchup against Ohio State as they face potentially the best receiving corps in the country, but this is a defense that should dominate in Pac-12 play.

While the defense’s most important question of secondary depth is yet to be answered, Cristobal is confident.

“We don’t hand out a single thing that has any type of ranking,” Cristobal said. “The entire focus is on our process… Over here, we stack the reps more than we stack the days.”

Ducks safeties Bennett Williams (15) and Jamal Hill (19) celebrate an incomplete pass.

Oregon Ducks football takes on the UCLA Bruins at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 21, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

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PAC-12 FOOTBALL

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

AS THE SEASON APPROACHES

Highlighting the conference’s offseason storylines, including a new commissioner, Arizona State’s violations and more.

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)

BY DYLAN CONWAY • TWITTER @DCONWAY_3

With the 2021-22 college football season peaking over the horizon, it’s time to look back on the events that transpired over the offseason.

New commissioner In May, the Pac-12 named George Kliavkoff its new commissioner. Kliavkoff signed a five-year contract that began July 1, after a unanimous vote from all Pac-12 presidents and chancellors solidified the position.

Before his hiring, Kliavkoff served as the president of entertainment and sports at the MGM Resorts International, one of the largest sports and entertainment businesses in the world.

“George is a visionary leader with an extraordinary background as a pioneer in sports, entertainment and digital media executive, and we are delighted and honored that he has agreed to become our next Pac-12 commissioner,” UO president Michael Schill said.

Kliavkoff’s expertise and leadership are expected to aid his transition into the role of Pac-12 commissioner.

ASU under investigation One of Kliavkoff’s first tasks will be navigating a series of recent incidents revolving around the Arizona State football program, as the NCAA is currently investigating the Sun Devils for a slew of potential recruiting violations.

The investigation was kicked off after pages of screenshots, receipts, pictures and emails related to potential recruiting violations were leaked to the NCAA in May. The primary violation these documents support are a series of on-campus visits from high school prospects during the COVID-19 “dead period” that ended June 1. During this time the NCAA banned recruits from in-person visits to schools.

Sources said Arizona State consistently hosted recruits for in-person campus visits during this period. The documents include pictures of recruits visiting, as well as information regarding how the trips were paid for.

Sources said there were at least 30 visits from recruits over

the span of months. These illegal visits happened so frequently that coaches began calling them “official visit weekends.”

ASU staff members became divided, as some have agreed to speak with the NCAA regarding the issue. The spotlight will remain on the Sun Devils going into the season; the investigation is set to continue into the fall.

Conference favorites and marquee matchups For the third consecutive season, Oregon is favored to win the Pac-12. The Las Vegas Sportsbook gave the Ducks a 28% chance to win the title for the third straight season.

USC, Utah and Washington are close behind Oregon in odds to win the conference.

The stigma surrounding the Pac-12 is that it doesn’t produce consistent high-level contenders. The conference will have the opportunity to reverse this thinking with the nonconference slate this season.

Come September, the Pac-12 will play several marquee games. In the first two weeks of the season, Pac-12 teams will face off against various Power Five schools including Ohio State, Michigan, Texas A&M, TCU, LSU and Kansas State.

Stanford and USC also have matchups scheduled with Notre Dame later in the season.

Kliavkoff is vocal about changing the culture surrounding Pac-12 football and said, “We will make all of our footballrelated decisions with the combined goals of optimizing CFP invitations and winning national championships.”

With a total of 10 games against non-Pac-12 teams that finished in the top 25 last year, the Pac-12 will have the opportunity to make a statement while playing against established programs across the country.

New forfeiture policy On Aug. 12, the Pac-12 modified it’s forfeiture policy in regards to COVID-19. Football teams that can’t play games due to COVID-19 protocols will be at risk of losing the game by way of forfeit. The Pac-12 hopes this rule will hold players accountable off the field.

Duck Season 2021 |

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Duck Season 2021

STEPHON JOHNSON JR. PAVES THE WAY FOR THE OREGON-TEXAS RECRUITING PIPELINE Oregon commit Stephon Johnson Jr. led the way for Oregon, in the most recent recruiting explosion in the Lone Star state.

BY DANIEL VIGIL • TWITTER @DANNYVIGIL

(Courtesy of Ste phe n

Oregon’s recruiting prowess has made leaps and bounds under head coach Mario Cristobal. The program currently ranks No. 1 in the Pac-12 and No. 5 in the nation in recruiting, due in major part to Cristobal’s expansion beyond the West Coast, most recently opening the door into Texas.

With four recruits already verbally committed to the Ducks’ 2022 class, the Texas-Eugene pipeline is alive and well. Cristobal has the March 31st commitment of three-star wide receiver Stephon “Boogie” Johnson Jr. to thank for the recent recruiting explosion in the Lone Star state.

The 6-foot, 175-pound receiver was ranked the No. 65 receiver in the nation, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. Johnson Jr. had 14 total offers before ultimately choosing Oregon over programs such as USC, Arkansas

Johnson Sr.)

(Courtesy of Stephen Johnson Sr.)

and Arizona State. Johnson Jr. was the first wideout to verbally commit to the 2022 class. His commitment became a building block for luring other Texas players out to Eugene, Oregon.

During his time in Eugene for Oregon football’s Saturday Night Live camp in the beginning of August, Johnson Jr. spoke to the media in depth about the importance of Oregon’s focus on Texas high school football athletes.

“There is a lot of hidden gems out in Texas. A lot of West Coast schools don’t come that deep into Texas,” Johnson Jr. said. “I’m glad Oregon is starting to change the narrative, and a lot of Texas kids want to come out here and change the culture.”

That statement holds true.

Since Johnson Jr.’s commitment, three more dynamic Texas recruits verbally committed to Oregon. The

players include four-star wide receiver Nicholas Anderson, three-star offensive tackle Cameron Williams and fivestar offensive tackle Kelvin Banks.

Just a half hour after Johnson Jr.’s decision back in March, former teammate and friend Banks Tweeted about a potential reunion as teammates at the college level, continuing the intrigue of Oregon landing more Texas athletes.

Just a couple months later, in July, the Under Armour All-American committed to the Ducks.

At the end of the 2021 season, Oregon will lose two key members of its receiving core in Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd. Johnson Jr’s impact on the team could start as soon as he arrives in Eugene.

With the additions, Oregon looks to continue its success and keep its reputation in Texas.

Duck Season 2021 |

15

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Duck Season 2021