Returning: Darron Thomas 6-3, 212 junior; Bryan Bennett 6-2, 183 redshirt freshman; Dustin Haines 6-2, 200 redshirt sophomore; Darryle Hawkins (qb/rb/wr) 6-4 192 redshirt sophomore (note: all class notations indicate the player's class in the upcoming season rather than the just-completed one).
Departing: Nate Costa
Incoming: Marcus Mariota 6-4, 195, St. Louis High, Honolulu, Hawaii; Jerrard Randall 6-2, 190 Chaminade Madonna Prep, Hollywood Florida.
In his first year starting Darron Thomas just completed one of the four best statistical seasons in Oregon history: 12-1 record, #3 in the country, 2881 yards passing, 61.5% completion percentage, 30 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 10 sacks, 150.97 quarterback rating.
If Thomas stays healthy and completes two more years as a Duck, he will own every career passing record in the media guide. He's already had the best year ever by a sophomore, by a wide margin.
In Kellen Clemens' first year as the full-time starter he was sacked 40 times. Dan Fouts sophomore year, he threw 24 picks. Bob Berry? 995 yards, 6 touchdowns, 7 ints. Joey Harrington? 10 tds, 3 interceptions, 1180 yards. Dennis Dixon? 777 yards, 6 tds, 3 ints. Bill Musgrave? Very solid sophomore year, with limited talent around him, 1836 yards, 59.4% completions, 13 tds, 8 ints. Chris Miller as a sophomore? Promising but not overwhelming, 1712 yds., 50.2%, 10 tds, 10 ints. Those guys all turned out to be pretty good quarterbacks.
Thomas' numbers for this season stack up pretty well to the numbers these greats produced in their senior years. Remember how much Dennis Dixon improved, that first summer under Chip Kelly?
If Thomas applies himself and stays healthy, he'll surpass them all.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course. We saw last winter how quickly a promising athlete's future can unravel with bad choices. In 2007 and 2008, the Ducks went through five quarterbacks. At one point in the 2008 campaign they were down to a glorified wildcat formation with under-prepared Chris Harper heaving cover-your-eyes grenades as a true freshman against upstart Boise State. That was painful.
Until the fourth quarter, and a skinny freshman from Texas came off the bench and tossed three touchdowns and over 200 yards, nearly pulling off a miracle comeback.
He wasn't quite ready for prime time then, and he had to survive a couple of scrapes since, and a rocky beginning in his first drive this fall, but Darron Thomas took over like he expected to be the man all along. Outperforming veteran Nate Costa in fall camp, he won the job, and then Oregon fans' confidence with a solid outing on the road against SEC traditional power Tennessee in Neyland Stadium, overcoming a 13-3 deficit, tossing touchdown passes to David Paulson and Lavasier Tuinei.
Now he's had a year running the offense, and faced big games, road games, conference title showdowns, national TV in primetime, rivalry games, and a national championship. He's faced every kind of pressure, every big situation, every blitz and defensive look. After a shaky start, he threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns against Auburn.
He has plenty of returning weapons, beginning with LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, Josh Huff, and Paulson and Tuinei. Tight end Brandon Williams may be for a bigger role, and the new recruiting class includes four fleet receivers, Devon Blackmon, Rahsaan Vaughn, Tacoi Sumler, and newly-committed B.J. Kelly. Thomas' productive performance in Glendale might signal a new role for him in the offense, with the confidence and ability to air it out and stretch defenses. Remember Dixon against Michigan in 2007? Thomas can't be the runner Dixon was, although he runs capably enough, but he may be an even better passer.
Behind him, Bryan Bennett is developing nicely, and made it through 2010 with his redshirt preserved. The four-star Crespi High product has a big time arm and athletic ability, but still needs to gain some weight and get stronger to improve his durability.
Hawkins is solid in the slash role, a gifted athlete who will probably contribute at receiver this year. In his third year of the program he already understands the offense well enough to contribute at running back, quarterback and receiver, taking snaps in all three places in last year's blowout wins over New Mexico and Portland State, totalling 18 carries for 93 yards for the year. The Omaha, Nebraska native was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing on three state champion basketball teams, winning a state title in track in the triple jump, second in long jump, third in the 110m high hurdles after an injury.
Bennett and the incoming freshman have great promise for the future, but if Oregon is to compete for a third straight PAC-12 title and a possible return to a BCS bowl, they have to keep Darron Thomas healthy for 13 games. Should the unthinkable happen they'd adjust, just like prior years, but Thomas' health and continued development is a key to their dreams of remaining among the elite in college football.
No comments:
Post a Comment