Is John Boyett the Toughest Man Alive?

I was talking Duck football (my favorite thing in the world, after my wife, golf, and dark chocolate) with a buddy of mine today and the subject got around to John Boyett.

Boyett is a man, made of scrap iron and buffalo gristle, maybe the toughest Duck since (who?) Chad Cota? Dave Wilcox? Mo Morris? Reuben Droughns, who once finished a half playing on a broken leg? I remember John Neal saying you could drop Boyett out of airplane at 10,000 feet without a parachute and he'd land on his feet and walk away.

He's among the players I'd most like to interview. I'd ask him what he wants to do after football. Give toughness lessons to Chuck Norris? Be an Airborne Ranger? A Navy Seal? The Secret Service guy who guards the president? Boyett would probably catch the bullet in his teeth, spit it out, and double-fighting-crabby-Duck-bolo-punch the would-be assassin until he cried for his mama and agreed never to terrorize again.

Goducks.com lists Boyett as 5-10 198, out of Napa High School. He started as a redshirt freshman in 2009, finding the field when TJ Ward got hurt in the Boise State game, and went on to lead the team in tackles with 90, including 12 in the Rose Bowl. You knew he was going to be a great one when he ranged back late in the Utah game and picked off a pass to seal the win. Right place, right time, that's John Boyett.

He was first-team all state in high school, the Northern California player of the year as a quarterback, safety and running back, throwing for 1827 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior, with 1527 yards and 20 touchdowns rushing. John probably planned it that way; ending all his stats in 27, his Oregon jersey number plus an extra touchdown. His time as a quarterback has enhanced his superb instincts as a safety.

So far this season Boyett again leads the Ducks in tackles with 12, and the numbers are slightly down only because of early exits due to blowout wins, and the fact that Oregon's defense is so deep and talented there are fewer tackles to go around. Finishing a season with 80 tackles on this Duck team will be an accomplishment.

Boyett's steadiness and intelligent play provides a safety net for his backfield mates. Cliff Harris can gamble selectively and play the ball. Eddie Pleasant can seek and destroy, partly because Boyett is there to clean up mistakes. A tremendous open-field tackler and relentless in pursuit, number 20 brings a tenacity and enthusiasm to the field that few players have. He's a huge part of the character and identity of this defense, and a huge reason why they'll be nickname worthy by game six.