ESPN Pac-12 blogger Ted Miller released his Pac-12 All-Underrated Team today, and four Ducks made the cut. In this slow news week, we figured it was worth saying a few words about each of these players:
QB Darron Thomas (2,493 yards, 30 touchdowns, 6 interceptions):
The Darron Thomas backlash has to stop. Throughout the latter half of this season, especially after Bryan Bennett got a little bit of playing time, the Twitter world has been calling for DT’s head. During games, in particular, we could get messages like this. Or this, in an attempt to disqualify both Stanford games as coming through in the clutch. Please. In a way, it’s a good sign for this program that its most controversial figure is a quarterback who has thrown for 30 touchdowns in two consecutive seasons. But still, it’s time for Duck fans to embrace reality. Darron Thomas is an excellent quarterback, and an even better leader, and you’ll miss him when he’s gone.
OL Mark Asper (stalwart on the offensive line, winner of the Cliff Harris Memorial Award for best quote): 
As Miller noted, it’s kind of amazing that the Oregon offensive line can be so successful and not have a single player on the all-conference team. But Asper likely doesn’t care about any of that. He’s been his usual self on a youthful line that came together remarkably fast this year, keeping things together alongside fellow veterans Carson York and Darrion Weems. And, with Cliff Harris mostly absent this year, Asper has also taken his place as the media’s new go-to guy. He’s always good for a few witty one-liners, and also takes the time to thoughtfully answer just about every question. So thank you, Mark Asper, for helping us write our stories!
DL Taylor Hart (42 tackles, 3 for a loss, 2.5 sacks): 
One of the hardest workers on the Ducks, Hart helped make sure that departed senior Brandon Bair wasn’t too sorely missed this season. He also wins the award for “Provoker of Longest Chip Kelly Soliloquy” from when The Oregonian’s Ken Goe asked about him during the head coach’s teleconference a few years ago. Kelly went on for about two minutes straight, which in his case is a minor miracle (and also about 10,000 words, given his machine gun cadence).
LB Michael Clay (89 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions):
It’s a shame, really. If Clay hadn’t missed a total of three games due to injury, he probably would have made an all-conference team. Even with just 10 games on his resume this season, he ranked second on the team in tackles, and was clearly the primary “glue guy” on the defensive unit. The extended rest before the Rose Bowl should do him a lot of good, and he’ll be needed against Wisconsin’s loaded offense.