Chris Markey | UCLA Tailback
The last time UCLA tailback Chris Markey played the Ducks in 2004, he was a backup playing in place of injured starter Maurice Drew.
Markey ran for 131 yards and caught five passes for 84 yards en route to UCLA’s 34-26 victory at Autzen Stadium.
This time around, Markey is the Bruins’ starter, and he’s rushed for 492 total yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
Markey rushed for a total of 561 yards in 2005, and was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list as the nation’s top running back in the preseason this year.
He is currently third in the Pac-10 in rushing yards (98.4 yards per game) and averages 5.9 yards per rushing attempt.
But against Arizona last weekend, the Wildcats managed to limit Markey to 42 yards on 14 carries. Saturday, Markey faces an Oregon defense surrendering 178 yards per game.
The Bruins are hoping for a big game from Markey this weekend after losing starting quarterback Ben Olson, who injured his left knee last week against Arizona.
Despite his impressive rushing numbers this season, Markey, a 5-foot-11-inch, 204-pound junior, has scored only one touchdown so far. In his three years with the program he has scored just five touchdowns.
Still, if 2004’s performance was any indication, a big game might be in the cards for Markey at Autzen Stadium again this weekend.
– Stefanie Loh
J.D. Nelson | University of Oregon, Free Safety
Free safety J.D. Nelson has been one of the few constants in Oregon’s defensive backfield the past two seasons.
The senior from Mountain View, Calif. is the lone senior among the starting secondary who has seen a lot of turnover from the previous year.
“J.D. is a three-year starter, he’s
a big hitter, he gets the defense lined up, he’s fearless,” coach Mike Bellotti said. “I don’t know if you can measure what J.D. brings to the program.”
With three new starters in the secondary this year, Nelson has had to become more of a leader than in the past.
That’s a good thing, considering Nelson does a lot of his teaching by example. Some believe he’s the hardest hitter on the team and is showing the younger defensive backs that distributing punishing blows will make receivers a bit more tentative while attempting to make catches in the middle of the field.
Last time the Ducks faced UCLA in 2004, Nelson was one of Oregon’s few bright spots as he made 10 tackles against the Bruins in a 34-26 loss.
Though safeties generally are used in pass defense, Nelson’s ability to make crushing tackles allows defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti to play him closer to the line of scrimmage as a run-stopper.
– Jacob May