College Football
Pac-10 preview: No. 3 Oregon Ducks

G. WAHL-STEPHENS / AP Kellen Clemens could soon find himself among the Pac-10's elite quarterbacks.

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

2003: 8-5 (5-3 in Pac-10).

Coach: Mike Bellotti (10th year, 75-34).

What's to like: Kellen Clemens is becoming one of the league's better QBs. TE Tim Day should be a weapon, and OL Adam Snyder is Oregon's first all-Pac-10 choice up front (first team) in 20 years. DT Haloti Ngata will demand double teams, and DE Devan Long is excellent on pass rush.

Up in the air: OL needs some reworking, WR Samie Parker leaves a big void, two LBs will be new starters, and secondary must emerge.

Impact newcomer: WR Cameron Colvin (6-2, 201) turned down heavyweights to come to Eugene, and Ducks think he might start.

Key performer: Oregon would like RB Terrance Whitehead (737 yards in '03) to mimic recent standouts Reuben Droughns and Maurice Morris.

Stud student: K Jared Siegel has already graduated, with a 3.57 GPA in business administration.

Bottom line: Ducks have gone 15-11 the past two years, losing both bowl games. An upswing appears imminent, hinging heavily on whether secondary will be Pac-10 quality. It should be.

Offense
Pos.	Player	Yr.	Comment
WR	Garren Strong	Fr.	Redshirted last season
WR	Demetrius Williams	Jr.	51 catches last season
LT	Nick Steitz	Sr.	25 career starts at three positions
LG	Enoka Lucas	So.	Can bench-press 445 pounds
C	Ian Reynoso	Jr.	Also can play guard
RG	Adam Snyder	Sr.	Outland Trophy candidate
RT	Robin Knebel	Sr.	Has played three positions
TE	Dan Kause	So.	Played in all 13 games as freshman
QB	Kellen Clemens	Jr.	Threw 18 TDs, nine picks
FB	Dante Rosario	So.	Should touch ball a lot this year
TB	Terrence Whitehead	Jr.	Averaged 3.9 yards a carry
K	Jared Siegel	Sr.	First-team Pac-10 as sophomore
Defense
Pos.	Player	Yr.	Comment
LE	Chris Solomona	Sr.	Has all the tools to be good
LT	Haloti Ngata	So.	One of most celebrated all-time recruits
RT	Robby Valenzuela	Sr.	303 pounds of dependability
RE	Devan Long	Sr.	Brother of ex-Coug Rien Long
WLB	Ramone Reed	Sr.	Overdue for problem-free season
MLB	Jerry Matson	Sr.	Ex-walk-on from Kamiak High School
SLB	Anthony Trucks	Jr.	Team's fastest linebacker
LC	Aaron Gipson	Jr.	Never got to redshirt
ROV	Marley Tucker	Sr.	Another Long Beach Poly product
FS	J.D. Nelson	So.	Son of ex-Stanford star Darrin Nelson
RC	Justin Phinisee	Jr.	Second-leading returning tackler
P	Paul Martinez	So.	Averaged only 37.0 last season

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More College Sports headlines...