Despite the commonly held perception among fans that Oregon football is getting overlooked by the media, a couple Ducks are basking in the national spotlight Monday.
Defensive end Dion Jordan@@http://www.uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/dion%2Ajordan@@ and redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota@@http://www.uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/marcus%2Amariota@@ have been named to semifinalist lists for the Butkus Award and Davey O’Brien Award, respectively. Per the release:
Jordan, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., is one of 12 semifinalists for the 28th annual Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s best linebacker. The former wide receiver and 2011 first-team All-Pac-12 defender is tied for the team lead with five sacks and leads the nation’s best Red Zone defensive unit, which has allowed only nine touchdowns in 29 visits inside the Ducks’ 20-yard line. Finalists for the Butkus Award will be revealed on Tuesday, Nov. 20, and the winner will be announced two weeks later on Dec. 4.
Just a redshirt freshman and the youngest player among 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award, Mariota has piloted the second-highest scoring offense in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 51.0 points per game. The Honolulu native ranks 21st in the FBS in passing efficiency rating (154.96) and last week at Arizona State became the first Pac-12 player with touchdowns passing, rushing and receiving in the same game since Cal’s Kyle Boller in 2002 vs. Michigan State. For the season, Mariota is 123 of 180 for 1,347 yards and 16 touchdowns against five interceptions. He has also rushed 53 times for 356 yards and two scores.
Ex-Duck Darron Thomas was a back-to-back semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien award. This year’s winner will be announced on Dec. 6.
It’s a trap? With woeful Colorado (1-6) next on the schedule for the Ducks, it’s hard for fans and media not to look ahead to Nov. 3 and a much-hyped showdown with Pac-12 South powerhouse USC.
Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204770343@@ answered several questions about the Trojans during practice Monday, acknowledging USC’s explosive offensive firepower.
“They’re dynamic,” Helfrich said. “Just look at some of those guys. … What was (USC quarterback Matt) Barkley, 19-of-20 and the one was a stone-cold drop? Unbelievable performance.”
Helfrich’s compliments were quickly bookended by respect for the Buffaloes, who Helfrich promises the Ducks are taking seriously.
From London, with love. Bend native Ashton Eaton will be among Oregon’s 2012 Olympians recognized during Saturday’s Oregon-Colorado football game. Eaton, who broke the world record in the decathlon at the 2012 Olympic Trials at Hayward Field, also claimed gold in London.
Heptathlete and 2012 Oregon grad Brianne Theisen will join Eaton at the halftime ceremony, along with women’s steeplechase finalist Bridget Franek and 800-meter semifinalist Geena Gall.
Five-time NCAA champion and ex-Duck Andrew Wheating, 10,000m competitor Dathan Ritzenhein, javelin competitors Cyrus Hostetler and Rachel Yurkovich and 1,500-meter competitor Ciaran O’Lionaird round out the group.@@nameschecked@@
The Olympians are eight of the state’s 26 who competed in the London Olympics.
Oregon-Colorado’s kick-off is slated for noon.
