Bryan Bennett could see more time on offense, according to running backs coach Gary Campbell. The backup quarterback lined up on the field with starter Marcus Mariota for one brief play Saturday against Tennessee Tech. A penalty before the snap wiped out anything that could have happened, but fans leaving Autzen were still talking about the possibility of seeing No. 2 and No. 8 playing at the same time.
Following practice Monday, Campbell said Bennett had been “hounding him” to get him on Campbell’s running backs’ board — a wish Campbell granted today. Bennett was right in the mix of things, Campbell said, and if the board is any indication of playing time, fans might get their wish. Bennett had two rushing touchdowns Saturday, including a gutsy 6-yard scamper that ended with him flipped end over end by a defender.
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As the AP Poll revealed yesterday, five Pac-12 teams have cracked the Top 25. After upsetting Matt Barkley and the USC Trojans, the Stanford Cardinal jumped to No. 9 in the polls, replacing West Virginia who moved up to eight. No. 19 UCLA looked thorough in their win over 37-6 win over Houston, and No. 22 Arizona thrashed South Carolina State 56-0 in their last tuneup before traveling to Autzen to face the Ducks this Saturday. As we reported yesterday, Oregon inches into the top three. It’s the highest ranking the Ducks have had this early in a season in program history. USC fell to No. 9.
Other Pac-12 teams receiving votes included Oregon State and Utah.
Ahead of them sit the perennial SEC powerhouses Alabama and LSU, numbers one and two, respectively.
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Former Duck tight end Dante Rosario had a huge Sunday for the San Diego Chargers yesterday. The 6-foot-4 Rosario, who was taken in the 2007 draft by the Carolina Panthers, had 48 yards and three touchdowns on just four receptions. The three scores almost doubled his career TDs — he’s now at eight.
While at Oregon, coaches initially had a hard time finding a role for the athletic Dayton, Ore., native. After playing primarily linebacker in high school and the beginning of his career in Eugene, Rosario switched to fullback before finally fitting in as a tight end.