The Oregon Ducks are anticipating many challenges Saturday in their first trip to the Los Angeles Coliseum since 2000.
There’s USC’s Pac-10-leading defense that allows just 90 yards per game on the ground and 281.6 total yards per contest.
There’s the Trojans’ 30-straight home victories dating back to 2001 and that impressive 52-3 record overall in its last 55 games. Then there’s a roster boasting as many blue-chip recruits as any team in the nation.
But the biggest challenge Saturday likely comes from USC’s pair of future NFL receivers in Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith who will test Oregon’s pair of redshirt freshman cornerbacks.
“It’s a huge jump,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. “It’s the biggest challenge facing our football program and our football team this week. Steve Smith, Dwayne Jarrett and several others behind them are as good as we’ll face individually. Collectively, they provide two of the best in college football.”
The pair already boasts stellar resumes having played on multiple big stages in their two years with the Trojans, including consecutive national championship games.
The 6-foot-5-inch Jarrett, a junior and 2005 unanimous All-American, sits atop the Pac-10 record books for career touchdown receptions (34) and is fourth on USC’s career receptions’ list with 182. He made the 61-yard catch-and-run on fourth down against Notre Dame that kept USC’s undefeated season alive and grabbed a team-high 10 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown in the Trojans’ loss to Texas in the National Championship game.
“I look at Dwayne Jarrett as Jaison Williams on our team,” said cornerback Walter Thurmond, who, along with Jairus Byrd has the task of slowing USC’s aerial assault.
There’s no drop-off in production on the other side with Smith, a senior who leads the Trojans this season with 42 receptions for 698 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Smith and Jarrett are two of their biggest weapons,” Bellotti said. “They are going to be the toughest matchup for us just because there are two of them. You can’t really double both. Our young corners and our defense are going to be tested.”
Indeed Byrd and Thurmond are aware of the great test in front of them.
“They’re not All-Americans for nothing,” Byrd said. “They’re going to make plays. We’ve just got to have a short-term memory and go about our business.”
“This is probably going to be one of the biggest challenges all year, and we’re looking forward to it 100 percent,” Thurmond said.
Despite being thrust into the starting spots after injuries to starter Jackie Bates and projected starter Terrell Ward, Thurmond and Byrd have helped the Ducks rank first in the conference against the pass, allowing just 142.1 yards per game – 36.6 yards fewer than the second-ranked Stanford Cardinal.
Bellotti has praised his young corners this season for “playing beyond their years.”
“I like our corners,” Bellotti said. “They’re courageous, they’re tough, they’ll make tackles.”
Thurmond is fifth on the team in total tackles and Byrd leads the team with four interceptions.
“We expected it,” Byrd said of the success. “We just go about our business. We know what we’re capable of. We don’t have to get the recognition. As long as we’re getting wins, we’re happy.”
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