We'll Miss You, But We'll Be Fine Without You: An Update on Some Former Ducks Who Flew the Nest

Justin Roper, QB

Transferred to Montana Grizzlies of the FCS Big Sky conference (4-2, 3-1 Big Sky) in 2009. The Grizzlies, tied for second with Eastern Washington behind league-leading Montana State, play at Portland State Saturday night. Roper has thrown for a 69.7% completion rate, 952 yards and 6 touchdowns, including 28-42 in a 47-28 victory over Idaho State last weekend. Twice named Big Sky Player of the Week. Named the starter after Andrew Selle suffered an arm injury.

With Selle starting the Grizzlies lost in the FCS championship game last season. A concussion in last year's Portland State game sidelined Roper for three games. He told Steve Brandon of the Portland Tribune of this year's rematch, "It would be nice to play them and remember it this year."

Aaron Pflugrad, wide receiver

Third on the team in receptions with 19 catches for 216 yards as a slot receiver for 3-3 Arizona State (1-2 PAC-10). Missed the Sun Devils game with Washington with turf toe, may be ready for ASU's game next week against Cal.

Chris Harper, quarterback/running back/receiver

Harper has 5 catches for 50 yards, one touchdown as a backup wide receiver for Kansas State (4-1, 1-1 Big 12). His one touchdown came in mopup duty in a 48-13 loss to Nebraska. Harper transferred to KU to be closer to home and get a chance to play quarterback. He sat out 2009 per transfer rules after getting playing time as a freshman at Oregon. This is his first year as a full time receiver and so far he has been lost in the shuffle, accumulating no stats in the team's third game against Iowa State, carrying once on a reverse for minus three yards against Central Florida.

Had he stayed at Oregon, Harper's size and versatility might have gotten him multiple touches in a dual running back/receiver role in the Duck offense, but unhappy players are best gone.

Jeremiah Masoli

Oregon's trouble-prone former starting quarterback is now the undisputed starter at Ole Miss (3-2, 1-1 SEC), who travel to Alabama on Saturday, then Arkansas, then home against Auburn on October 30. Welcome to the SEC, kid. Masoli is 57-93, 60.6%, for 823 yards, 6 tds and 5 ints so far, while running for 262 yards. The Rebels have back-to-back wins over Fresno State and Kentucky. but the emerging star in Oxford is not Masoli but running back Brandon Bolden, who has 76 carries for 518 yards and is the featured part of the offense. The laptop aficionado has just 12 and 17 passing attempts in the Rebel's last two games, while Bolden rambled for 228 yards against Fresno State.

Would-be Ducks who got away:

Marcus Lattimore has 459 yards and 8 touchdowns as the feature back for South Carolina, which upset Alabama last weekend. The other USC is 5-1 and ranked 12th in the country.

Terrelle Pryor is 6-0 as the quarterback for The Ohio State University, rated number one in the country. The Buckeyes travel to Camp Randall to face 5-1 Wisconsin in a key Big Ten showdown Saturday. Pryor, one the leading Heisman candidates in most short lists, has 1349 yards passing and 15 tds, with just 5 interceptions, while rushing for 354 yds, a 6.2 yd average, and 3 tds.