Terrance Mitchell saw the ball coming his way and reacted.
“As I was playing in coverage, I seen the tight end coming across the middle,” Mitchell said. “And I seen Darron (Thomas) look at him, and I knew Darron was going to throw it to him. So I just jumped it.”
The true freshman from Sacramento, Calif., playing for the White team in Oregon’s spring game, wrestled the ball away from Green tight end David Paulson and took off. Escorted by four other White defenders, Mitchell made it into the end zone for a 46-yard interception return.
The play was just the sixth of the game and the first scoring play for the White team, which would go on to win 26-21.
“That big interception set the tone,” said White honorary head coach and former Oregon running back Ahmad Rashad in his postgame press conference.
“I’ve been dreaming about it all week, and it happened for me,” Mitchell said. “It was beautiful. Everything worked out.”
Mitchell’s interception and touchdown provided the major highlight for the defense in an offensively inclined scrimmage.
“He’s supposed to be in high school right now. He’s only 17 years old,” safety Eddie Pleasant said of the early enrollee. “I was happy that he got that pick.”
As with many aspects of the offense, the true state of the Oregon defense was inconclusive after the spring game. Some players — most notably presumed starting cornerback Talmadge Jackson III, who has been injured all spring — sat out. Other more established players had light days.
On an atmospheric level, the spring game provided the closest comparison to live action the Ducks will have before their Sept. 4 opener against New Mexico. The game was broadcast on ESPN2, and a record 25,211 fans came out to show support for their team in the battle against itself. That came as a welcome benefit to players like Pleasant, whose conversion from outside linebacker has gone smoothly in the spring. The junior from La Palma, Calif., recorded just one tackle during the game but worked at putting himself in the right places within the defense.
“I feel a little more comfortable, but I still got a lot of work to do,” he said. “I did all right for not knowing too much and this being my first spring (at the position).”
The Green offense ran 50 plays to the White’s 37, and accordingly the White defenders put up bigger numbers. Redshirt freshman linebacker Bo Lokombo had the busiest day, with five solo tackles (one for loss) and a breakup of a Darron Thomas pass.
“I felt pretty good. I felt comfortable,” Lokombo said, who is competing with Bryson Littlejohn and Josh Kaddu for a starting spot. “I had a couple missed tackles, but it was good (overall).”
Mitchell, Brian Jackson, Blake Thompson and Javes Lewis each had four tackles for the White team. Spencer Paysinger and Brian Butterfield had four tackles apiece to lead Green team members; Paysinger was also credited with a tackle for loss. Scott Grady and John Boyett each had three tackles for the Green team.
The official end of spring practice marks a return to normalcy for the players, who can finish up their spring-quarter classes and use the summer to prepare for the season. With Rose Bowl disappointment and a challenging offseason behind them, Sept. 4 can’t come soon enough.
“I’m just happy spring’s over, you know what I mean?” Pleasant said. “Now we can get ready for fall.”
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