When asked about Stanford’s Kevin Hogan on Tuesday, Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich revealed how ready he is to prepare for a new Cardinal quarterback.
“He can go any time as far as we’re concerned,” Helfrich said.
His colleague, Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal, gave a similar statement after the Ducks’ 44-28 win Saturday.
“He’s 100 years old.” Neal said. “He’s still there. God Almighty.”
This Saturday, Hogan will face Oregon for the fourth time as a starting quarterback. He’s the owner of a 2-1 record against the Ducks, and although the stat sheet won’t indicate it, has mostly dominated Oregon’s defense.
However, Hogan won’t be the scariest threat for Oregon’s defense on Saturday. That honor undoubtedly goes to the guy he’s handed the ball off to this year, Christian McCaffrey. As a sophomore, McCaffrey has emerged as arguably the most versatile threat in all of college football.
He’s averaging 246.1 all-purpose yards per game and is on pace to break the NCAA record for most all-purpose yards in a season. How he’s done that? By averaging 6.1 yards per carry, 11.6 yards per catch and 28.8 yards per kick return.
It comes as no surprise that Stanford started an official Heisman campaign for him Tuesday. Helfrich would like to have no part of him.
“I think he should take the week off,”Helfrich jokingly said. “Keep him healthy for the stretch run.”
McCaffrey is coming off a game last week in which he ran the ball 23 times for 147 yards while also throwing a touchdown pass.
.@CMccaffrey5 28-yard touchdown PASS to Austin Hooper. 👀 He can do it all! #GoStanford#BeatCUpic.twitter.com/9VvhtGAWJ1
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) November 7, 2015
In the latest College Football Playoff rankings, Stanford was listed at No. 7, and one of the main reasons is because of what the sophomore continues to do when he steps on the football field each week.
Oregon hasn’t faced anyone like him. Utah’s Devontae Booker comes close, but still, Booker is not having a season quite like McCaffrey is having.
No one is.
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise
