Oregon could conceivably start a front seven made up entirely of seniors, including potential NFL first-round pick DeForest Buckner on the defensive line. – Ryan Thorburn
Editor's note: This is the seventh in a series previewing each of the opponents BYU, Utah and Utah State will face this season.
The matchup
Utah at Oregon, Sept. 26
Time, TV TBA
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
What can Oregon do for an encore after reaching the national championship game last year?
While quarterback Marcus Mariota has graduated to the NFL, the cupboard is far from bare and the Ducks, who open fall camp Monday, have their sights set yet again on making national waves and will be in a position to do so.
Oregon is ranked No. 5 in the preseason Amway Coaches poll and returns 14 starters, including six on offense, six on defense and both kickers. The Ducks are picked again to win the Pac-12 North in the league's preseason media poll.
The Utes' matchup with Oregon is the first of four league games for Utah against Pac-12 teams ranked in the top 16 of the preseason coaches poll. The Utes will play the Ducks, No. 16 Arizona State and No. 10 USC in a month's time.
The Deseret News caught up with Ryan Thorburn, who covers Oregon football for the Eugene Register-Guard, to discuss who's in line to replace Mariota and what the expectations are for Oregon after finishing as last year's national runner-up.
DN: Looking at Oregon’s top prospects to replace Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, what are the strengths and weaknesses of both Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams and Jeff Lockie?
RT: Adams is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who could prove to be the perfect bridge between Mariota and one of the young players the Ducks have recruited for the future. While at Eastern Washington, Adams shredded Oregon's rivals with a combined 886 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in games against Oregon State (2013) and Washington (2014). Adams, who is still working to finish his degree from EWU and enroll at UO, will only have three weeks of fall camp to impress the coaches before the opener. Lockie has already mastered the playbook and taken on a leadership role with this team after separating himself from the other quarterbacks in the program during the spring. But the redshirt junior's only game experience was in mop-up duty behind Mariota when the Ducks were usually trying to run out the clock.
DN: Whether it’s personnel losses or a tough stretch in the schedule, or perhaps something else altogether, what will be the biggest challenge standing between Oregon and returning to the College Football Playoff in 2015?
RT: Oregon's case for inclusion in the inaugural playoff was strengthened by the Michigan State victory last season. This year the Ducks have to play the rematch in East Lansing without Mariota. A loss to the Spartans would make for a more difficult climb in the weekly College Football Playoff rankings (last year the Ducks started out at No. 5 and were No. 2 over the final five weeks). Oregon should win the North Division handily again, but the survivor of the South Division may prove to be the favorite in the Pac-12 championship game.
DN: Beyond the quarterback position, who are some of the other players to watch on offense?
Running back Royce Freeman could emerge as a Heisman Trophy candidate, while backup Thomas Tyner is reportedly expected to miss the 2015 season following recent shoulder surgery. The Ducks get two important players back from ACL injuries — left tackle Tyler Johnstone and wide receiver Bralon Addison. Byron Marshall is back for his senior season after leading the team in rushing in 2013 and receiving in 2014.
DN: Who are the players to watch on defense and special teams?
RT: Oregon could conceivably start a front seven made up entirely of seniors, including potential NFL first-round pick DeForest Buckner on the defensive line. I can't wait to watch true freshman defensive lineman Canton Kaumatule to see if he's as good on Saturdays as he looked during the spring game. The Ducks have a long list of impressive linebackers, led by probable starters Tyson Coleman, Rodney Hardrick, Joe Walker and Christian French. Charles Nelson makes special teams fun to watch, whether he's making the tackle or taking a kick to the house.
DN: What major question marks does the team need to solve in fall camp?
RT: The coaches will have to determine if Adams or Lockie is the right quarterback to lead the team into the post-Mariota era. I'd expect both of them to play early in the season. Notre Dame graduate transfer Matt Hegarty will compete to replace All-American center Hroniss Grasu. Oregon's secondary loses three starters for the second consecutive season, but the program has a history of reloading and producing NFL players under defensive backs coach John Neal. The competition in the secondary should be heated with a lot of touted young guys in the mix for significant playing time.
Email: bjudd@deseretdigital.com; Twitter: @brandonljudd