College Football

Oregon Football: 5 players to watch in 2017 spring game

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:50 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Fansided, Zach Bigalke/FanSided via Saturday Blitz

After a 4-8 campaign, Oregon football looks to generate a turnaround in 2017. Which players should you watch at this year's spring game?

The Ducks have been a mainstay in the Pac-12 race for much of the past decade. 2016 was not one of those years, as Oregon failed to reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2004. For a school that historically has been a middleweight at best in the conference, its recent run of success has heightened expectations to the point where one losing season cost Mark Helfrich his job as head coach.

Enter Willie Taggart, the former Western Kentucky and South Florida coach who takes over in Eugene. Taggart helped turn around fortunes at USF, going from two to four to eight to ten wins over his four years with the Bulls. He will try to expedite the turnaround at Oregon, especially given that he starts with a much stronger talent base.

As the Ducks enter their first spring practice since the 1970s led by someone from outside the Rich Brooks/Mike Bellotti coaching chain, let's look at bit at that talent pool. Click through to learn more about five players to keep an eye on when Oregon plays its spring game at Autzen Stadium on April 29.

Nov 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert (10) gets a pass off before being hit by Utah Utes defensive tackle Pasoni Tasini (59) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Oregon won 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Herbert

QB, Oregon

Entering last year, Oregon thought FCS transfer Dakota Prukop was the short-term answer at quarterback. Instead, they might have instead stumbled upon the long-term answer at the position when Mark Helfrich inserted freshman Justin Herbert as the starter against Washington.

Though Herbert went just 2-5 as a starter in 2016, he showed flashes of brilliance and finished the year with the same quarterback efficiency rating as Heisman winner Lamar Jackson.

Highly-touted recruit Braxton Burmeister is enrolled in time for spring practices, but the starting job is still Herbert's to lose. Though he is not as fast as either past Ducks quarterbacks or Taggart's former USF quarterback Quinton Flowers, Herbert is still capable of keeping the chains moving with his legs.

If Herbert can avoid a sophomore slump and build upon a freshman campaign that was impressive in every way but the win column, Oregon should once again feature another high-octane offense.

Oct 21, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) carries the ball against California Golden Bears wide receiver Melquise Stovall (1) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Royce Freeman

RB, Oregon

In 2014 and 2015, Royce Freeman was among the top running backs in the nation. Over his first two years as a Duck, he racked up 19 touchdowns per season. As a sophomore, Freeman piled up nearly 2200 yards from scrimmage. He entered 2016 as a major Heisman candidate, but a series of injuries sapped his effectiveness and his Heisman hopes.

As his productivity was slashed in half, Freeman's absences proved to be a major factor in Oregon's downturn.

Realizing that his junior year had diminished his draft stock, and expressing excitement about playing for Taggart, Freeman returned for his senior season in Eugene. It will be interesting to see how much he is utilized in the spring game as Taggart and his staff try to keep Freeman as healthy as possible for the games that count come fall.

Look to see if the star tailback displays the speed and vision or if he plays tentatively.

Nov 7, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby (73) blocks California Golden Bears defensive end Cameron Saffle (51) as Oregon Ducks quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) throws an interception in the first quarter at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrell Crosby

OT, Oregon

Freeman certainly couldn't be blamed for all of his woes as Oregon's streak of 1000-yard rushers ended. Tyrell Crosby was supposed to man the left side of the Oregon offensive line in 2016.

Instead, he missed nine games as he fought through nagging foot injuries that had first materialized in the summer. Losing the left tackle had a snowball effect, as the running game was unable to capture its usual effectiveness and the Duck quarterbacks were sacked more than twice per game.

Crosby's return will help anchor an offensive line that has a lot more depth after the injuries of 2016. It will be interesting to see how much Taggart and the Ducks staff play Crosby throughout spring practices and especially during the spring game.

The key is striking a balance between gaining reps in a new scheme and preventing a recurrence of the injury that sidelined one of Oregon's key linemen. If Crosby can stay healthy, the Ducks should immediately improve their line play.

Nov 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is pressured by Oregon Ducks linebacker Troy Dye (35) during a NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Troy Dye

LB, Oregon

As a true freshman last year, Troy Dye received a baptism by fire. He emerged on the other side of the season as the best player among Oregon's linebackers. The youngster was everywhere on the field, immediately developing into a disruptive force.

Dye led all Ducks with 91 tackles (including 12 solo tackles for loss) and 6.5 sacks. He also notched an interception and blocked a field goal on special teams. And he offers prototypical size for the sort of scheme that is about to be installed.

In hiring defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt away from Colorado, the hope is that he can maximize the talents of players like Dye. After going away from a 3-4 scheme under 4-3 stalwart Brady Hoke, Leavitt will reintroduce the 3-4 to a team whose recruiting better fits that system.

Last year, Dye was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise disappointing defense. Now he will need to step up not just his production but also take on a veteran role.

Nov 26, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks safety Brenden Schooler (43) tackles Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Timmy Hernandez (18) at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Brenden Schooler

S, Oregon

Like Dye, Brenden Schooler was also given an immediate role on defense as a freshman. And like Dye, he was one of the few bright spots on defense during an otherwise disappointing year. Schooler was the only player on the Ducks with more than one interception, finishing his first year with four. He ranked third on the team in total tackles, serving as a last line of defense on an Oregon secondary that was 113th nationally in passing yards allowed.

This is the first year that Schooler will get to participate in spring practices with the Ducks, as he only received a scholarship offer last june. The big question is how Schooler will be employed on the field by Leavitt.

Schooler is sound positionally and covers ground by reading the angles properly and getting a jump on his opponent. That could help Leavitt focus on improving the rest of the secondary in this first season of rebuilding in Eugene.

More from Saturday Blitz

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

College Football

Oregon Ducks

Pacific-12