Stewart gets only chance at Husky Stadium

Jonathan Stewart is majoring in political science at Oregon, a realm of study he says could be helpful in someday helping him land a job as a state patrolman.

Stewart says the job appeals to him because he wants to help, and because "they get good pay."

Some would say Stewart is prepping for another career that might pay a little better, as an NFL running back.

But that's a topic the junior from Timberline High School in Lacey doesn't want to touch, even if he is likely to have the option to leave after this season and almost certainly be a high-round pick — Scouts Inc., lists Stewart as the No. 30 prospect in the country this week.

"I haven't given that too much thought," he said. "I'm going to leave that up to God. My concern is getting this season to where we need to be, and that's a national championship."

A more immediate concern is his only college appearance at Husky Stadium against Washington, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, though he downplays that, too.

"It's no different than any other game," he said. "The only difference is my mom doesn't have to drive three hours to see me play."

Staying relatively close to home was one reason Stewart ended up choosing Oregon.

Washington would have been happy to have him stay closer, but the Huskies were never really in the picture. Stewart's senior year of high school was the same season the Huskies were going 1-10 and firing coach Keith Gilbertson with three games left.

Tyrone Willingham tried to get in the hunt when he was hired in mid-December as the Huskies' coach, and Stewart professes admiration for Willingham. He has hinted in the past that had Willingham been UW's coach all along things might have turned out differently.

But that's another topic Stewart tries to avoid the way he does tacklers, saying, "That was years ago."

He's a full-blooded Duck now, using his blend of speed and a powerful 5-foot-11, 230-pound frame to turn in the best of his three seasons in Eugene. He ranks second in the Pac-10 in rushing with 689 yards, 114.8 per game and a conference-best 7 yards per carry.

He has done that on 99 carries, which while a pretty good number, is 76 fewer than the Pac-10 leader, Oregon State's Yvenson Bernard, who has 175 (Bernard has played seven games to Stewart's six).

"Oh my gosh, that's a lot of carries," Stewart said when asked if he might like to have that many. "It doesn't really matter to me, but it is something when it's said, it makes you wonder."

Stewart might be about to find out how guys like Bernard live, now that Oregon is without backup Jeremiah Johnson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury Saturday against Washington State. Johnson had 344 yards on 54 carries.

"Jonathan is going to have to pick up more of the load," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said Tuesday.

In past years, that might have sounded somewhat ominous as Stewart has been susceptible to injuries his first two years in Eugene.

But he has stayed healthy this season, giving credit in part to becoming a more patient runner. Or, as Bellotti says, "He's more intelligent about setting up blocks."

"That keeps me out of a lot of physical situations," said Stewart, who also leads the Pac-10 in kickoff returns, averaging 29.5 yards. "Being more patient helps you set up runs and where your blocking is and following after them, and not having to depend on brute strength and running people over."