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GAMEDAY 11.24.21

THE

NO-NAME RIVALRY A trip to the Pac-12 Championship hangs in the balance as Ducks enter rivalry week.

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GAMEDAY

GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900. EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1395 University St., #302, Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 | dailyemerald.com

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Ducks wide reciever Johnny Johnson III (3) catches a touchdown pass. Oregon Ducks football takes on Oregon State for the Civil War game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 30, 2019. (DL Young/ Emerald) PA G E 2

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OREGON

OREGON ST. OREGON STATE OFFENSE

OREGON OFFENSE

Devon Williams No. 2 WR-X SO/TR

Zeriah Beason No. 18 WR FR

Johnny Johnson III

Trevon Bradford

No. 8

RS SR

Jaylon Redd No. 6 WR-H SR

Tyron Lindsey

No. 1

RS JR/TR

George Moore

Joshua Gray No. 67 LT RSFR

No. 3

No. 77

WR-Z

RS SR/TR

T.J. Bass No. 56 LG JR/TR

Jake Levengood

No. 70

RS SO

Alex Forsyth

No. 78

RS JR

Nathan Eldridge

No. 64

RS SR

Jackson Powers-Johnson No. 58

Nous Keobounnam

No. 69

RS SR

Steven Jones

No. 74

RS SO

Brandon Kipper No. 68 RT JR/TR

Terrance Ferguson

No. 19

TE-F

Teagan Quitoriano

Luke Musgrave No. 88 TE SO

Anthony Brown No. 13 QB GR/TR

Chance Nolan

No. 10

RS SO/TR

Travis Dye No. 26 RB JR

B.J. Baylor

No. 4

RS JR

OREGON STATE DEFENSE

Brandon Dorlus No. 3 DE SO

Simon Sandberg

No. 96

RS JR/TR

Popo Aumavae

No. 50

RS JR

Alexander Skelton

No. 97

RS JR

Keyon Ware-Hudson

No. 59

RS FR

James Rawls

No. 52

RS SO/TR

Kayvon Thibodeaux No. 5 JOKER SO

Addison Gumbs

No. 15

OLB

RS SO/TR

Jeffrey Bassa No. 33 WILL FR

Avery Roberts

No. 34

ILB

RS JR/TR

Noah Sewell No. 1 MIKE FR

Omar Speights No. 36 ILB SO

Mase Funa No. 47 OLB SO

Andrzej Hughes-Murray No. 2

DJ James No. 00 BCB SO

Rejzohn Wright No. 1 CB JR/TR

Jordan Happle No. 32 BS GR/TR

Jaydon Grant

No. 3

RS JR

Verone McKinley III

Kitan Oladapo

No. 28

RS SO

Mykael Wright No. 2 FCB SO

Alex Austin

No. 5

RS FR

Jamal Hill No. 19 STAR SO

Ron Hardge III

No. 21

JR/TR

No. 23

RS SO

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS Tom Snee

Moliki Matavao No. 8 TE-Y FR

OREGON DEFENSE

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No. 84

No. 38

PT/H

OLB

RS SR

OREGON STATE SPECIAL TEAMS RS SO

Luke Loecher

No. 38

PT/H

RS JR

Camden Lewis No. 49 PK/KO SO

Everett Hayes No. 35 PK/KO SO

Karsten Battles No. 63 LS JR

Dylan Black

No. 48

RS FR

Seven McGee No. 00 PR FR

Trevon Bradford

No. 8

RS SR

Mykael Wright No. 2 KR SO

Champ Flemings

No. 2

RS JR

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GAMEDAY

JOHNNY JOHNSON III, JAYLON REDD’S

TIME WITH OREGON COMES TO A CLOSE

Struck by injury, the final receivers of the pre-Mario Cristobal era saw their five-year careers come to an end this weekend.

BY: Shane Hoffmann @shane_hoffmann Lost amidst the worst defeat of the Mario Cristobal era — a 38-7 drubbing at the hands of No. 24 Utah, which extinguished Oregon’s pipe dream of a playoff run — was a pair of receivers. Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd’s careers met unceremonious ends this past weekend. Johnson injured his right foot in the second half against Washington State, and Redd didn’t travel with the team to Salt Lake City on Saturday. Both are out for the season and have played their final game in Oregon uniforms. Mark Helfrich recruits who played through the Willie Taggart season in 2017, the two experienced both a Rose Bowl victory and a lost COVID-19 year. The duo represents more than the latest casualties

Jaylon Redd (6) waits for the play to begin. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Colorado Buffaloes 52-29 at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 30, 2021. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

in a year marred by injury. As they depart, so marks a changing of the guard at the receiver position. Johnson and Redd were supposed to spend their fifth and final seasons with the Ducks in the limelight, building their cases as NFL prospects. Instead, they spent it taking on run blocks and watching balls sail over their heads and out of their reach. You could see the frustration in the beleaguered receivers’ body language. The same offensive limitations pushed Mycah Pittman, formerly the offensive crown jewel of the 2019 recruiting class, out of the program and into the transfer portal. Johnson, a former three-star and Redd, a former four-star cornerback recruit, got stuck in the crossfire: an Oregon offense trying to reinvent itself

and establish an identity on the ground after losing Justin Herbert to the 2020 NFL Draft. After marginal roles as true freshmen during the 7-6 Taggart season, Johnson and Redd became the second and third options in 2018. Redd was a gadget player much of his career, but spent the latter half proving his chops as a complete receiver. Johnson had the package, but was impaired by drop issues. Then over the course of a year, he became the Ducks’ most sure-handed target, exploding for career highs in catches (57), yards (836) and touchdowns (seven) as a junior in 2019. Johnson leaves Oregon with 139 catches for 1,928 yards and 15 touchdowns — Redd with 131, 1,435 and 16. They’re No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, on Oregon’s all-time receptions list. The Ducks lost three starting receivers in a week. Without the pair of super-seniors, the 6-foot-5 Devon Williams should receive the brunt of the available targets. He leads the Ducks with 430 yards and three touchdowns and has shown the big-play ability that launched him into the nation’s top 40 recruits as a high school senior. It’s that exact blueprint the Ducks have looked to capitalize on in recent recruiting classes. Now, fans get a glimpse of the new normal at the position: tall, highly-touted speedsters. Freshmen Troy Franklin (6-foot-2) and Dont’e Thornton (6-foot-4) were both top 60 in the nation in last year’s class and, alongside Williams and Kris Hutson, comprise a suddenly gutted position group. The careers of the final pre-Cristobal tenure receivers ended abruptly, but Oregon’s receiving corps has as much raw talent and height as it ever has; perhaps next season the Ducks will figure out how to fully utilize it. Johnny Johnson III (3) watches as Oregon and Colorado players struggle to gain posession of the ball. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Colorado Buffaloes 52-29 at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 30, 2021. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

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GAMEDAY

STAYING FRESH:

OREGON’S OFFENSIVE LINE ROTATION

Mario Cristobal’s unorthodox strategy keeps Oregon’s biggest bodies prepared. BY: Charlie Folkestad @folkestad3 The Oregon offensive line readies for a snap. Oregon Ducks Football takes on the Trojans at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 2, 2019. (DL Young/Emerald)

Typically, a team will try to find its five best offensive linemen and get them as many snaps together as possible throughout the season. That’s not the case under Mario Cristobal. When everyone is healthy, Oregon usually plays with up to eight offensive linemen on any given Saturday. “I think we’ll play a lot of guys,” Cristobal said before the season. After a shaky performance versus Fresno State in week one, his stance didn’t waver. “We were playing the guys that we feel can play at a high level and guys that can execute what we’re trying to get done,” he said. “At the same time, it prepares us should there be an injury — should there be some type of issue where guys have to play different types of positions.” It goes without saying that Cristobal’s strategy worked in week two. Additionally, multiple injuries up front have left the Ducks shorthanded in key spots. Starting center Alex Forsyth missed four consecutive games in the heart of

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Oregon’s season. Ryan Walk, who had been starting at right guard, slid over to take snaps in Forsyth’s absence. Now, Walk is the one out for “another couple of weeks” after injuring his knee against Washington, per Cristobal on Monday. “The techniques that overlap gives us confidence that they’re repping the right stuff in the right spots,” Cristobal said. “So no, we don’t have a concern with [rotating offensive linemen].” T.J. Bass, who began the season starting at right guard, has 300 snaps at left tackle this year. He’s swapped positions with George Moore, who started at left tackle and has moved to right guard since. Younger players have also been thrown into the mix. Sophomore Dawson Jaramillo has played at every position except center, while freshman Jackson Powers-Johnson has played at all three interior spots. “It’s five men, one mind… But we’re not just riding with five guys,” offensive line coach Alex Mirabal said. “We’ve got to be able to create that depth.”

GAMEDAY “Versatility is important for the current situation [on] our football team and...for their career going forward. They have to be able to bounce around and be versatile and play different positions.” MARIO CRISTOBAL Oregon football head coach

Handel’s Ice Cream 47554

Ducks’ offensive line prepares to make a move towards the goal line. Ducks football takes on the Washington State Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 13, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

Of linemen with more than 16 total reps, only Forsyth and right tackle Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu have stuck to one position. Even so, the latter split reps with Jaramillo last week. The future looks bright along the offensive line. Oregon has established itself as the premier destination for elite offensive line play in the last few years — particularly the 2019 Rose Bowl-winning unit, led by Penei Sewell. Rotation doesn’t only divide reps; it prepares guys for the next level. Cristobal specifically mentioned Sewell’s immediate ability to play right tackle in the NFL after being drafted sixth overall as a left tackle. “Versatility is important for the current situation [on] our football team and… for their career going forward,” Cristobal said. “They have to be able to bounce around and be versatile and play different positions.” The Ducks are slated to lose only one player from their rotation next season: senior George Moore. They currently have four offensive linemen committed from the high school class of 2022, including five-star tackle Kelvin Banks.

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GAMEDAY

OREGON VS. OREGON STATE:

A RECENT HISTORY Football may be back in session by the end of the year, after Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority say they are willing to make an exemption — although Autzen would seat nowhere near it’s usual capacity. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

BY: Dylan Conway @dconway_3

The Ducks bench celebrates a late fourth quarter stop. Oregon Ducks football takes on Oregon State for the Civil War game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on Nov. 30, 2019. (DL Young/Emerald)

In the midst of an abnormal 2020 college football season, No. 15 Oregon was trying to prove themselves to the playoff committee with a limited level of competition. Going into Corvallis at 3-0, the Ducks were expected to take care of the 1-2 Beavers. After being hot offensively for a majority of the contest, the game took a turn for the worst when Tyler Shough threw a pick inside the Ducks own 35 in the fourth quarter. The momentum never left the Beavers side as they went on to out score the Ducks 22-7 in the fourth quarter, going on to win the game 41-38. After the Ducks failed to execute a hook and ladder miracle play, the Beavers sideline erupted as the whole team sprinted into the center of their home turf with excitement. Across from the celebration, the Oregon athletes slowly walked to the sideline in disappointment. After the Ducks dominated the inter-state rivalry for most of the 2010’s, the matchup has become more competitive with the Beavers trending up the past five years. The rivalry this year holds more at stake than recent years, as the winner may decide the Pac-12 North champion. With the Beavers PA G E 8

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riding high off a big win against Arizona State, the Ducks need to be a different team than they were last week in Salt Lake City. The Ducks began a reign of dominance over the Beavers starting in 2008, winning eight straight rivalry games. In every one of those wins, the Ducks were ranked, ranging from No. 1 to No. 19. In 2008, Oregon State needed a win to secure a spot in the Rose Bowl, which would’ve been their first appearance in 44 years. The Ducks spoiled this prospect, destroying the Beavers 65-38 in Corvallis and setting a record for most points scored in the history of the rivalry. The following year, the game was labeled “War of the Roses” as it would be the first time in the matchup history the winner would clinch a spot to the Rose Bowl. The Ducks won 37-33 in a back and forth game, securing their first Rose Bowl appearance in 15 years. Another notable win in the Ducks’ lengthy winning streak was in 2010. Oregon was No. 2 in the nation going into the game, looking to clinch a spot in the Bowl Champion Series championship game. On the other side, Oregon State needed one more win to get bowl eligible and looked to take

away Oregon’s championship hopes. But the Ducks avoided the upset, winning 37-20. In 2016 the Beavers snapped the Ducks’ eightgame winning streak, which was the longest in the rivalry’s history. Oregon State outscored the Ducks 13-0 in the fourth quarter and took the game 34-24 as the crowd stormed the field in Corvallis. Since, the Ducks are 3-2 in their last five against the Beavers. This year’s Beavers have exceeded expectations, having a legitimate chance to win the Pac-12 North with a win over the Ducks. This season, Oregon State has made a living off their home games (6-0), while being a disappointment on the road (1-4). On the eve of another rivalry matchup, the Ducks are looking for a bounce back to land a trip to the Pac-12 championship game with a chance to get their revenge on Utah. Oregon State will try to pull off the improbable and win three straight to end the year and earn a trip to Las Vegas for the championship. With things trending up for Oregon State, and the Ducks looking to assert their dominance once again, it will be another memorable matchup between the in-state rivals.

GAMEDAY

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE OREGON STATE BEAVERS

The Ducks are due for a fight this week as their rival Beavers visit Autzen. BY: Charles Gearing @GearingCharlie Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) scores the second touchdown of the night. Ducks football takes on the Washington State Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 13, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) passes the ball down field to a teammate. Ducks football take on the Washington State Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 13, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

The field could hardly be seen through the fog in Reser Stadium. When you caught glimpses, it was hard to believe what was happening. The Beavers’ ground and pound, smash-mouth offense was too much for the inexperienced Oregon defense. The Beavers, led by then-running back Jermar Jefferson, grinded out 269 yards rushing en route to a 41-38 victory over the Ducks in 2020. Last year’s outing in Corvallis reminded Oregon of its imperfections. This year, the implications are different –– and much heavier. As head coach Jonathan Smith and the Beavers (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) ride into Autzen on Saturday, they’ll do so with a chance at taking the Ducks’ spot at the Pac-12 Championship game. The Beavers would like nothing more. And they have the weapons to pull it off. For the Oregon State offense, the mantra is simple: Run the football. Led by junior running back B.J. Baylor, the Beavers rush for a league-high 229 yards per game. Baylor leads the conference individually as well, posting an average of 109 yards per game. He also cracks the top five in rushing touchdowns, with 12

on the season. “They really are effective in what they do,” Oregon defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. “And [Baylor] is an excellent back and in that scheme, he’s powerful. He breaks tackles and he’s got the speed to take it off the top.” While the Beavers boast a formidable threat in the ground game, they don’t offer much by way of a passing attack. Quarterback Chance Nolan and the offense sit second to last in the conference in passing yards per game, averaging 204 per week. Given the Ducks’ running-stopping woes last week against Utah, the Beavers, one-dimensional as they are, have an opportunity to create a mismatch and pose a threat to the Oregon squad. Oregon State ranks in the middle of the Pac-12 in total defense, allowing an average of 377 yards per game. But the statistic alone does them little justice, especially when it comes to the secondary. Oregon State has 13 interceptions on the year, which ties for second in the conference. Defensive backs Jaydon Grant, Alex Austin and Rejzohn Wright, along with linebacker Omar

Speights, each have two picks on the year. “They’ve held opponents to an average of 12 points a game the last couple games and cut down the yards allowed in half as well,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said. “So they’re playing at a high level. They’re very disruptive.” If Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown continues to struggle with accuracy and decision making, he could be in for a long night on Saturday. The Beavers sit in the middle of the Pac-12 in run defense, and the Ducks will look to key on that. Despite struggling in last weekend’s meeting with Utah, Oregon’s offensive strength throughout the season has come from Travis Dye and ground game. Ducks offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead will likely rely on running backs Dye and Byron Cardwell to do the bulk of the work, while involving Dye in the passing game with screens and bubble passes. The Ducks will take the field in Autzen on Saturday as a 7-point favorite over the Beavers, but the in-state rival shouldn’t be overlooked. If the Ducks slip up, this opportunistic Oregon State squad will gladly take advantage and ride it all the way to the Pac-12 Championship game. W E D N E S D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 2 1

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GAMEDAY

LOSS TO UTAH ELIMINATES OREGON FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION Beat up Ducks need two wins to reach Rose Bowl. BY: Eric Berniker

Ducks wide receiver Kris Huston (14) tries to stiff arm a defender. Oregon Ducks football takes on Iowa State for the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2021. (DL Young/Emerald)

When the Ducks were routed by Utah 38-7 on Saturday night, it was the second time in his four seasons at Oregon that Mario Cristobal’s team has been eliminated from College Football Playoff contention in late November. In the 2019-2020 season, Oregon’s playoff hopes were crushed by Arizona State, but the season ended with an Oregon Rose Bowl victory over Jonathan Taylor and Wisconsin. Now with one week left in the regular season, the Ducks stand at a critical, but not terribly unfamiliar, juncture in their season as they take on their instate rival Beavers. Experts suggest Oregon is destined to play in the Holiday Bowl, a game between a top Pac-12 and an ACC team, so long as they do not qualify for a New Year’s Six Bowl Game. This would be the result if Oregon beats Oregon State, but falls again to Utah in the conference title game. There still is hope, however, for the fourth Oregon Rose Bowl in the last 10 years. The Ducks

Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) rolls out to run from a defender. Oregon Ducks football takes on Iowa State for the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 2, 2021. (DL Young/Emerald)

need to win out, plain and simple. A win against the Beavers Saturday would set up a rematch between Oregon and Utah for the Pac-12 title and give a bid to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, presumably to meet Michigan, who currently holds the No. 6 ranking nationally. Two years ago, it was Utah who Oregon defeated to advance to the Rose Bowl, a game in which Oregon star defensive end and No. 1 ranked NFL Draft prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux dominated with 2.5 sacks. The Oregon football team is battered and seemingly losing more players each week. On the offensive side of the ball the Ducks are without week two through five Heisman hopeful CJ Verdell (leg), two-way tight end DJ Johnson (undisclosed), leading receiver Johnny Johnson III (leg/foot) and starting slot receiver Jaylon Redd (undisclosed). The Ducks are also without right guard Ryan Walk and Mycah Pittman, who opted to enter the transfer portal. On the defensive side of the football, the Ducks

are in no better condition. Junior safety Bennett Williams (lower body) and safety Steve Stephens IV are sidelined with injuries. In the linebacker corps, Justin Flowe has been out all season with foot injury, as well as Dru Mathis (foot). Playing undermanned is nothing new to the Oregon Ducks. The one thing that has been consistent with their lineups this season is that anyone’s role can change. Although the possibility of a National Championship is no longer in sight, there is still a Rose, Holiday or Alamo Bowl to play in for the Ducks, any of which will be challenging and potentially rewarding for Cristobal’s undermanned team. “There is still a lot to play for,” Cristobal said following the loss. “Most of our goals are still ahead of us, and we have to get ready for them quickly.” For the Ducks, this is no time to feel sorry for themselves. The Ducks have overcome huge setbacks personnel wise and still lead the Pac-12 North with more important games ahead to play and grow from.

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GAMEDAY Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) collides with a player from Arizona. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)

KAYVON THIBODEAUX

NAMED FINALIST FOR THE BRONKO NAGURSKI AWARD BY: Gabriel Marvin

The game-wrecking pass rusher was selected as one of the nation’s top three defensive players.

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GAMEDAY Standout Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux has been named one of three finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, given to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. In doing so, he continues to receive the national recognition which his play has warranted. Thibodeaux is the second Duck to be nominated for the award and the first since Ducks legend Haloti Ngata in 2005. He was the Bronko Nagurski National Player of the Week after his stellar performance against UCLA in Week 7. Thibodeaux was also a twotime Pac-12 defensive player and defensive lineman of the week this year. Against UCLA, Thibodeaux became the first Duck since 2007 to record nine tackles with four tackles for loss – and at least two sacks in a game. Among the three finalists for the award are Alabama linebacker Will Anderson and defensive tackle Jordan Davis out of the University of Georgia. Coming out of high school, it came as a surprise to some that Thibodeaux committed to a school like Oregon — one mostly known for its production of high-speed offensive talents. He came to Oregon to change that perception. After his first few games his freshman year, it was clear to the Oregon coaching staff that Thibodeaux was going to be a force to reckon with throughout his career. At the beginning of the 2021 season, Thibodeaux wasn’t coy about putting himself in the national conversation for some of the highest honors in college football. “Me personally, I am trying to be in that

Heisman race and be in that Heisman conversation, so 20 sacks would be a blessing for me,” Thibodeaux said. Though his goal of 20 sacks was halted by injuries to begin the season, Thibodeaux is still putting up numbers that dominant edge-rushers long to achieve. The junior from South Central Los Angeles, California, has tallied 41 tackles to go along with six sacks and 10 tackles for loss on the year. Despite only having played 29 games in his collegiate career, he ranks 10th among Oregon’s all-time sack leaders. If those numbers don’t seem gaudy enough for the national praise he is receiving, his Pro Football Focus grades rank amongst a select few defensive players. According to PFF, he holds a pass-rush rating of 90.8, which puts him as the top rated edgerusher in the Pac-12 and top-10 nationally. He also maintains a defensive rating of 83.5, which is why many scouts see him as likely the top pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Draft experts have regarded Thibodeaux as the top target in this year’s draft mainly due to his other-worldly measurables that are hard to miss while watching his tape. Many compare his stature and style of play to the most recent defensive Rookie of the Year and former Nagurski Award recipient Chase Young. The award will be chosen from the players selected to the Football Writers Association of America All-America Team. It will be awarded at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet presented by LendingTree on Monday, Dec. 6 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Ducks defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) pounds his chest in celebration. Oregon Ducks football takes on Utah for the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Dec. 6, 2019. (DL Young/Emerald)

Ducks players Noah Sewell (1) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) prepare for action. The Oregon Ducks host Fresno State on Sep. 4, 2021, for game one of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/Emerald)

“ME PERSONALLY, I AM TRYING TO BE IN THAT HEISMAN RACE AND BE IN THAT HEISMAN CONVERSATION.” KAYVON THIBODEAUX Oregon defensive end

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