It’s the time of year where high school seniors begin to think about prom, and then, when the night is over, thoughts of graduation seep into their minds.
That is, except for a select group of Oregon football players who decided to get a jump on their competition.
Quarterback Johnny DuRocher, wide receiver Jordan Carey, defensive tackle Dustin Holmes and defensive end Victor Filipe all finished their high school careers early.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” DuRocher said. “The first couple weeks are stressful. It kind of goes with how you’re playing. If you’re playing good, then everything is good. If you struggle, then you go home and kind of worry about it.”
Carey is already out with an injury he suffered during the first week of practice, and will most likely be kept out of the rest of spring workouts.
DuRocher and Filipe both got their feet wet quickly when the Ducks held their first scrimmage Saturday.
DuRocher, who hails from Graham, Wash., was just 1-of-2 for eight yards, his lone completion to Tony Salazar. Filipe got a 9-yard sack during DuRocher’s first series, downing the quarterback at the 38-yard line.
“I just have a long way to go mentally,” said Filipe, a Salt Lake City native. “Physically, I’ve been able to handle (the move up).”
The biggest change for the two doesn’t come from the field. Enrolling in classes, is, well, a big difference from their days in high school.
Like most freshmen getting their first taste of college, an
adjustment in studying is also in the works for the football players.
“I really haven’t experienced college life too much because I’ve been too busy in meetings,” DuRocher said. “I’ve just been keeping my nose in the books and stuff, but once football is over, I’ll probably be able to see college life a little bit more.
“You’ve just got to put in more work than in high school. You do your reading, and you’re good to go. You don’t have Mom and Dad looking over your shoulder telling you to do homework.”

Scrimmage this,

scrimmage that
There were no clear winners from Oregon’s scrimmage Saturday. Ryan Shaw, said head coach Mike Bellotti, is still the front-runner for the starting running back spot, although there is no official word.
The same goes for just about every unfilled spot, including the wide receiver position opposite Samie Parker.

“The running backs, I was pleased,” Bellotti said. “Terrence Whitehead and Chris Vincent did some things, but I don’t think it was enough. In my mind, Ryan Shaw is still a solid guy. We’re going to look at more opportunities for each of them in full contact drills.”
Bellotti said the Ducks will focus more on execution of plays this week leading up to the team’s second scrimmage Friday. They will then have a third scrimmage the following Friday before the spring game on May 3.

Meanwhile,

in Beaver land…
Oregon State also held a scrimmage over the weekend, although it didn’t have the same tone
as Oregon’s.
In head coach Mike Riley’s first spring scrimmage of his second stint at the helm of the Beavers, the look was much different than the regular season. Starting quarterback Derek Anderson and starting running back Steven Jackson were both held out of the workout.
“I wanted to see our quarterbacks and how they reacted,” Riley said. “We need another guy or two to step up at that position (behind Anderson). We need to find other running backs other than Steven Jackson.”