The University announced earlier this week that third-string quarterback Johnny DuRocher was granted a conditional release to transfer from the school.
DuRocher made no indication about his future plans.
He was listed third on Oregon’s depth chart at quarterback, behind Kellen Clemens and freshman Dennis Dixon and did not see any playing time in the team’s first two games.
“I respect Johnny’s decision and his desire to play,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said Tuesday. “I can’t guarantee to him that’s going to change (his status). I was very honest with him about our needs, and this is what he wanted to do, so that’s that.”
DuRocher’s departure leaves Oregon thin and inexperienced at the position.
“We have a true freshman and a redshirt freshman backing up our junior,” Bellotti said. “That in it of itself is a big concern.”
According to Bellotti, freshman Brady Leaf will step into third-string duties, as well as keeping his duties as the team’s scout team quarterback. Sophomore punter Drew Larson, who played quarterback in high school, might also be worked in as a scout team quarterback.
“It obviously puts us short, significantly short,” Bellotti said. “It’s very difficult timing for a team when you’re three games into the season and to lose a person that was your backup and your third team quarterback.”
DuRocher was a top prospect from Bethel High School in Washington state. He was ranked ninth on Washington’s all-time passing list with 6,781 yards and 67 touchdowns for his prep career.
“He was in the mix (for the backup position) but was beaten out,” Bellotti said. “He was closer in some ways to being our second quarterback, and I was optimistic that he could challenge not just for the backup role, but eventually for the starting role. It was a very competitive situation. I wish him well.”
No smell of victory for Idaho since 1950 Saturday’s tilt will mark the 59th meeting between the schools since the series originated in 1901. Only California, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington and Washington State have faced the Ducks more times than Idaho.
Oregon has won the past 22 games since the Vandals’ last victory in 1950, while Idaho’s only win in 34 tries in Eugene (there were two ties) occurred in 1925. The Ducks are 7-0 in games played vs. Idaho in Autzen Stadium.

In the Ducks’ last victory against Idaho, running back Onterrio Smith rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns to propel Oregon to a 58-21 win. The Ducks jumped out to a 34-7 advantage with less than a minute elapsed in the third quarter despite the Vandals accumulating more total yards of offense (404-403) by game’s end. Kicker Jared Siegel successfully converted all three field goal attempts, and quarterback Kellen Clemens came off the bench to misfire on his only pass in addition to succumbing to a quarterback sack for a 6-yard loss.
Outland Trophy candidate
Adam Snyder would probably like to concern himself with nothing more than the next practice or next opponent, but the senior lineman is already on the Outland Trophy watch list. The Outland Trophy is given annually to the best lineman in college football.
You would have to go back almost 40 years to find the last time the Ducks returned a first-team Pacific-8/10 all-conference offensive lineman.
Snyder started all 13 games last year, with his biggest moment coming when he was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week following Oregon’s 31-27 win over Michigan. That marked the first time a Pac-10 offensive lineman was afforded the honor since UCLA’s Jonathan Ogden in 1995, and the first such Oregon honoree since Gary Zimmerman in 1983.
Lucky seven
With touchdown passes in each of his first two games this season, quarterback Kellen Clemens has extended his streak of consecutive games of throwing at least one touchdown pass to seven. In comparison, Jason Fife had a streak of 12 straight in 2002, while Joey Harrington only managed a streak of eight games from 2000 to 2001.
What’s a missed PAT?
Jared Siegel has run his string of consecutive conversions to a school-record 95 successful kicks. The senior has only missed two attempts in 151 tries in his collegiate career, and only Mississippi senior Jonathan Nichols is currently riding a longer uninterrupted string, as he has made 101 in a row. Both Siegel and Nichols are a long way from the NCAA record of 161 made without a miss, set by Tennessee’s John Becksvoort (1991-94).
Nelson steps up his play
The pain from the departure of Ducks free safety Keith Lewis has been eased somewhat by the strong play of sophomore free safety J.D. Nelson.
Nelson — who is said to be the opposite of Lewis’ visible and vocal style of play — has asserted himself on the field. He posted a team-high 10 tackles vs. Indiana and then followed that performance up with eight stops against Oklahoma. Nelson is the son of former Stanford All-American and Minnesota Vikings running back Darrin Nelson.

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