Coming out of tiny Cottage Grove High School as an all-league running back and linebacker, Brent Haberly was a mere blip on the national recruiting radar.
Now, nearly four years later, Haberly is the energetic, towel-waving, starting linebacker and a major defensive ingredient for the No. 18 Oregon Ducks.
But what a ride it’s been for Haberly from virtually an unheard of walkon to a bonafide starter and one of Oregon’s most instinctive, reliable players.
“Haberly is like the classic overachiever,” said Blair Phillips, Haberly’s fellow starter at linebacker. “You don’t see too many big things from him on paper. You don’t see him running a 4.3 40 (yard dash), or benching 400-500 pounds, but he gets it done. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s a really solid player. It’s like having another coach on the field.”
Initially out of high school, just 20 minutes south of Eugene, many, including Haberly’s father Rick, encouraged Brent to explore the options of attending one of the many schools that expressed interest in him – schools like Western Oregon and Linfield.
Sure, those were places Haberly would likely excel and earn immediate playing time, but to be certain, there was only one place he truly felt comfortable, and that was in the green and yellow of the Oregon Ducks.
And who could blame him?
Haberly essentially grew up in Autzen Stadium where his parents have owned season tickets in section 34, row 18 for more than 25 years.
“He visited some other colleges, but he only did it because I made him,” said his father Rick, a minister in Cottage Grove. “I gave him what turns out to be bad advice. I said, ‘Go to a small school. You’ll start when you’re a freshman and you’ll be a big star. If you go to Oregon, you might get on special teams when you’re a fifth-year senior.’ He said, ‘I don’t care, at least I will get to wear the uniform and play on the field.’”
So from there, the ambitious Haberly made his way to Eugene and walked on to the football team in 2002.
“There were a lot of people that said, ‘Hey, you are going to go up there and get your tail handed to you,’” Haberly said. “Really, it’s just about staying with it, staying healthy.”
As expected, the road was filled with hurdles and, at times, he did get his tail handed to him.
At one point, he received a concussion, prompting one coach to ask him, “Are you going to quit, now?”
He didn’t.
“It was kind of a turning point,” Haberly said of the concussion. “I stuck with it. I fought through it.”
Haberly refused to go away and continued to persevere, always keeping his eye on the prize of one day starting for the team he’d so passionately adored as a youngster.
“Brent Haberly is one of those success stories,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. “Local kid makes good. He’s from Cottage Grove. He walked on, and earned a scholarship. More than that, he’s earned the respect of his teammates and played like an all-leaguer.”
Haberly, a 6-foot, 228-pounder, has done that by becoming a student of the game and one of Oregon’s best field generals, which has countered his lack of sheer size, strength and speed. He is often praised for his instincts and study in the film room.
“I really shadowed (former Oregon linebacker) Kevin Mitchell when he was here,” said Haberly, who recorded 63 total tackles as a 12-game starter last season. “He kind of showed me the ropes. He really helped me learn, not just the defense, but how to study film.”
Rick recalled Brent’s willingness to learn even at an early age. As a second grader, he played point guard, of all positions, on the fourth grade basketball team and knew exactly what every player’s job was on each play.
“When he made the decision to go (to Oregon), I told him the only way that he’s going to see the field was based on what he knew and not necessarily on his physical talent,” Rick said. “I’m extremely proud of him. I didn’t think he’d be able to make it at that level. So for him to make it at that level and be more than just a marginal player, I’m very proud of him.”
And every step of the way through his career – from the day they all cried after hearing the news he’d been put on scholarship to that surreal night in Arizona Stadium when their son scooped a fumble and returned it 34 yards for the game-winning touchdown – the Haberly family has been his biggest supporter.
Even his mother, Sue , drives up every Thursday with her grease board to break down film with him.
“She’s been around the game forever, but no one has sat down with her and told her what’s going on,” Haberly said. “She said something to me this offseason about coming up just so she can kind of make a little sense in the stands. She kind of gets the basics. It’s just nice to see mom once a week.”
For Sue, it’s mostly just another opportunity to be a part of her son’s amazing journey.
“I am just so proud of him because he didn’t ever want to be a quitter,” Sue said. “And I’ve always told him, if you believe, you can achieve.
Every time we see him running on the field after he comes out of that tunnel, we get choked up. We feel very honored, very blessed that he’s achieved that.”
Said his father, “Most people in life don’t get to realize their dreams. He’s 22-years-old, and he’s living his dream right now. This is all he ever wanted to do, and that’s awesome.”
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