08/31/17 Emerald Media - Gameday Edition

GAMEDAY

IT STARTS WITH

DILLON MITCHELL IMPROVED HIS GAME mentally and physically this offseason after a disapointing freshman campaign. Now, he’s poised to fill the void at wide reciever.

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ON THE COVER

Dillon Mitchell catches the ball at practice on Wednesday, August, 30, 2017.

Photograph by Phillip Quinn PA G E 2

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GAMEDAY

PLAYERS TO WATCH BY: Gus Morris @JustGusMorris

Southern Utah Offense: QB As of August 30, Southern Utah had not released its depth chart for the season. Still, there are only two real options for the Thunderbirds at quarterback: senior Patrick Tyler or sophomore Aaron Zwahlen.

Tyler, a junior college transfer, has made the most of his time as a Thunderbird. He played in all 11 of Southern Utah’s games last season and started in ten. He threw for 2,296 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 63 yards and three touchdowns.

If Tyler isn’t under center on Saturday, the other option would be Zwahlen, who would be making his Southern Utah debut. Zwahlen left the University of Hawaii after two seasons. He appeared in only one game for the Rainbow Warriors and completed three passes for 32 yards in his stint there. But don’t be fooled by his numbers. Zwahlen was a four-star recruit and the 11th-best quarterback in the nation, according to ESPN, coming out of high school.

Oregon

Defense: Mike Needham, Sr.

Offense: Dillon Mitchell, So.

Needham returns for his senior year after leading the Thunderbirds in tackles last season. The 6-foot3, 225-pound linebacker will have a tough challenge going against Oregon’s much bigger offensive line.

But Needham wasn’t named to the Big Sky All-Conference team the past two seasons for nothing. His three sacks and five interceptions last season helped earn him Thunderbird defensive player of the year.

After battling an injury for most of last season, Mitchell is back and better than ever. He rediscovered his confidence over the summer after last season which didn’t go his way. Mitchell has loads of potential, and finally looks like he’s on his way to unlocking the rest of it. His impressive spring game performances over the past two years wowed fans and left many hopeful for what Mitchell could bring the Ducks in the future. Well, his time is now here: he was named one of Oregon’s three starting wide receivers this week. He’ll be one of quarterback Justin Herbert’s favorite, and most talented, targets this season.

Defense: new faces Oregon hired a new defensive coordinator to do one thing: fix the Ducks horrendous defense. Oregon ranked near the bottom of the FBS in terms of total defense and points allowed, so defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt went to work this spring and fall to find the guys he wants to usher in a new era of Oregon defense.

There are plenty of returners who will lead this new wave of Ducks. But in total, there are six true freshman, two of whom are starting, on Oregon’s two-deep depth chart.

Corner Thomas Graham Jr. and nose guard Jordon Scott will lead the freshmen charge against Southern Utah as they look to cement themselves as permanent fixtures in Oregon’s defense. Nose guard Austin Faoliu, safeties Nick Pickett and Billy Gibson and corner Deommodore Lenoir weren’t named starters, but making it on the two-deep depth chart is impressive enough. They’ll see a fair amount of playing time as Leavitt is sure to experiment a bit in this early season matchup.

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GAMEDAY

DEEP DIVE: SOUTHERN UTAH BY: Zak Laster @ZLast3445 PHOTO: Adam Eberhardt Oregon head coach Willie Taggart runs with players during a drill.

The Oregon Ducks kick off the Willie Taggart era at home against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on September 2.

For Willie Taggart, who coached at Western Kentucky, he’s played the role of coaching as David in these David versus Goliath games.

Now, as head coach of the Ducks, he gets to experience this type of game from a different perspective, knowing the Thunderbirds want to come in, shock the home fans and play spoiler in his debut game.

“We had a chip on our shoulder and something to prove because we felt like nobody gave us a chance,” Taggart said of his Western Kentucky teams.

Leading the charge against the Ducks will be Demario Warren, who begins his second season as head coach of the Thunderbirds, a Big Sky Conference school from Cedar City, Utah.

This will be the second consecutive season that the Thunderbirds open against a Pac-12 opponent on the road. Last season, they were shut out 24-0 against Utah, one of the four teams Oregon beat last season. The Thunderbirds finished last year with a 6-5 record.

a former four-star recruit who transferred from Hawaii. Upon his return from a two-year mission trip for the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints, Hawaii was going through a coaching change, and Zwahlen decided to leave the program.

This offseason, he nearly enrolled at Washington State, another school that had recruited him. However, his desire to find some place he could play immediately led him to Southern Utah. Zwahlen is competing during fall camp for the starting quarterback job against senior Patrick Tyler.

Both quarterbacks performed well in a scrimmage back on August 12. Tyler, who is the more mobile quarterback, went 8-for-12 for 101 yards and one touchdown.

He also had a 44-yard run that set up a short touchdown. Zwahlen, who is more of a pro style quarterback, went 18-for-21 for 184 yards and a touchdown.

This will be the first matchup between the two schools. Win or lose, the Thunderbirds will walk away with $500,000 for their trip to Autzen Stadium.

“They really came out, played hard and showed they can play with those guys,” Taggart said of Southern Utah’s games against Utah and BYU, two Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

When asked if anything stood out about the Thunderbirds, cooffensive coordinator’s Mario Cristobal and Marcus Arroyo each mentioned the football experience that the Thunderbirds have on their team, particularly the defense.

The Thunderbirds return 14 starters, including eight on defense.

Two senior defenders, outside linebacker Mike Needham and defensive tackle Robert Torgerson, were named to the Big Sky preseason All-Conference team.

Last season, Needham was second on the team with 75 tackles while Torgerson led the Thunderbirds with 12 tackles-for-loss.

“They show and present their challenges,” co-offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal said.

“They certainly want to stop the run, that’s their focus. They’re going to load the box, put people in gaps and outnumber you.”

At quarterback, the Ducks could see sophomore Aaron Zwahlen,

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GAMEDAY

A more confident Herbert leads the Ducks into week one

BY: Jack Butler @Butler917 PHOTO: Phillip Quinn and Ramsey Sullivan

Team Free’s quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs to avoid Team Brave’s defense Henry Mondeaux (92) and Rutger Reitmaier (94). The Oregon Ducks hold the annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, April 29, 2017.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes the ball to his teammate tight end Jacob Breeland (27). The Oregon Ducks Football Team holds practice at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday April 22, 2017.

Oregon head coach Willie Taggart told the tale at the start of fall camp. It’s about Justin Herbert, the Ducks shy sophomore starting quarterback.

Herbert, according to Taggart, was walking around Oregon’s facilities shirtless and brimming with confidence. A 180-degree turn from the Herbert of last season.

Even senior running back Royce Freeman told a tale of a this new, confident — and shirtless — Herbert.

“He’s walking around the facilities every day with his shirt off, eating meals with his shirt off,” he said, with a hint of humor in his tone. “I mean, we’re trying to beg him to just please put a shirt on.

But, you know, you do what you want when you’re poppin.”

Herbert, revealing his true, humble self, downplayed the shirtlessness aspect of his turnaround.

“I think maybe that story was over-exaggerated a little bit,” Herbert said.

Regardless of the legitimacy of the stories, the point was that Herbert needs to be, and is becoming, a leader and a better quarterback. Success and experience help build confidence, and Herbert gained both in 2016.

That could explain why he’s got a different swagger entering the 2017 season.

Herbert entered the 2016 season as freshman. He didn’t see much action in Oregon’s first five games as he served as backup to starter Dakota Prukop. His first start came in week six against the Washington Huskies, a team that would go on to play in the College Football Playoff and boast the Pac-12’s best defense. A significantly more difficult challenge to make a season debut than the upcoming FCS opponent Southern Utah.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking, but to get an opportunity like that, it was pretty special,” Herbert said.

The game didn’t start well for Herbert. He threw an interception on the first pass of his career.

It was behind Charles Nelson and into a Washington defender as the Huskies started their dominant day.

Taggart, who went back to assess last year’s film, wasn’t focused on what went wrong during that play. He wanted to know what happened next.

“It’s how he responds,” Taggart said. “I think that’s really important, watching the quarterback and how they respond to bad plays. … I think Justin did a pretty good job of that.”

A claim supported by the box score. His numbers were solid.

He only committed one turnover while going 21-of-34 for 179 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks scored 21 points in the game, higher than the Huskies average of allowing 17.7 points per game.

Entering 2017, Herbert has a year experience under his belt.

He knows how to prepare for a game, and he’s spent all offseason knowing he is the starter. It also helps that the first opponent isn’t a top-5 team.

“It’s quite a bit different,” Herbert said. “I think after a year of experience I just know how to prepare a bit better. Last year, first year of college football, you never really know how to prepare.”

Hard to dispute that this knowledge helps Herbert be more confident. He’s spent time working with receivers during the offseason building team chemistry.

“Just being out there with the guys and having a year with them, and being more comfortable with them, has helped a bunch,” Herbert said.

Now Herbert is more confident and ready for the season. The Ducks hope he’ll start his second season with a pass completed to another Duck instead of the other team.

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COVER

GETTING HIS

BY: Gus Morris @JustGusMorris | PHOTO: Phillip Quinn After Oregon’s spring game back in April, now former-Duck Darren Carrington talked about then-freshman wide receiver Dillon Mitchell. The two had grown close over a tumultuous 4-8 season the past fall, a season where Mitchell played sparingly.

“He’s like my little brother,” Carrington said. “I try and show him everything so he can take over when I’m gone.”

At the time, Carrington still had one more year of collegiate eligibility. But his time at Oregon ended before expected. Just three months after the spring game, Oregon dismissed Carrington after he was arrested for a DUII in early July.

Like that, Oregon’s top receiver was gone, and with his dismissal, Mitchell became a candidate for major playing time at wideout.

Given his progression over the past year, that role would have become his eventually. But suddenly, Mitchell inherited it whether he was ready to or not.

Now, with a season under his belt and some newfound confidence, he’ll be tasked with helping lead a young and inexperienced wide receiver corps this season as Oregon looks to return to national prominence.

If you ask him, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mitchell, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, grew up a Duck fan. He remembers watching the flashy, no-huddle offense of the Chip Kelly era and the electrifying athletes that wore different uniform combinations every game.

Oregon won him over. He imagined himself as Josh Huff or De’Anthony Thomas, two of his favorite players,

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scoring game-winning touchdowns and competing for national championships.

That’s why, when football powerhouses like Ohio State, Alabama, Florida State and Notre Dame came knocking, Mitchell said no. His dream was to be a Duck.

“Oregon has been my favorite school since I was a young kid,” Mitchell said. “I watched them growing up. I chose my decision based off of going to my dream school.”

When he arrived at Oregon at the beginning of winter term in 2016, the Ducks already possessed a talented group of wide receivers and tight ends. It was assumed that while Mitchell was a highlytouted prospect, he’d have to wait for his opportunity on the field.

But Mitchell didn’t intend to wait around. He proved early on why he was such a sought-after recruit. Few players created the buzz that Mitchell did during Oregon’s 2016 spring practices.

Players and coaches raved about his speed, athleticism and maturity.

That all led up to his outstanding performance in Oregon’s 2016 spring game where Mitchell caught seven passes for 104 yards and scored two touchdowns. All this only several months after he arrived on campus.

“For him to be able to function in a situation like today, as far as knowing our offense, he had to do a ton of work on his own,” thenoffensive coordinator Matt Lubick said after the scrimmage. “He’s only been here for three months.”

If expectations had been high for Mitchell before he arrived at Oregon, that bar was

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I don’t know how to say this, but I took on a type of Conor McGregor personality,” DILLON MITCHELL

Oregon wide receiver Dillon Mitchell (13) practices at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. on August 30, 2017.

MIND RIGHT

Oregon wide receiver Dillon Mitchell (13) catches a ball during practice. The Oregon Ducks hold summer practice at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. on August 30, 2017.

set even higher given his spring game performance.

Unfortunately for Mitchell, Oregon was still deep at receiver and tight end. To make matters worse, he suffered a knee injury in fall camp and quickly fell out of the rotation.

His duties, in the six games he played in last season, revolved mainly around returning punts and kickoffs.

He finished the year with only two receptions for nine total yards. He also returned seven punts and three kickoffs for 75 total yards.

Living on his own for the first time in his life didn’t help, and only made the tough situation worse.

“I rushed myself a lot last year and that started to frustrate me and it

put me into — I wouldn’t say a deep depression — but I had to get my mind right,” Mitchell said at Oregon’s media day this year.

Mitchell admitted he was never comfortable last season and it was his confidence that suffered the most. Coming into college, he felt he could take any corner or safety he went against. But the role he saw for himself at Oregon never materialized his freshman year and his confidence disappeared.

So he went to work this summer to get it back. He hit the gym and described himself as a “madman” during his workouts. When he wasn’t at the gym, he was watching film or talking with family, two

outlets he credits for his newfound confidence.

He returned to fall camp this August practically a new person.

“I don’t know how to say this, but I took on a type of Conor McGregor personality,” Mitchell said. “I’m willing to go to combat for any of my teammates.”

While in reality the softspoken sophomore wide receiver and hot-headed Irish Mixed Martial Arts fighter have little in common, Mitchell said it’s the mentality of McGregor he’s trying to mirror.

“It’s more so like my hunger and my attitude coming into this season,” Mitchell said.

“Nothing like McGregor with the disrespect; that’s not me.”

Coaches and players alike have raved about the progress Mitchell made from spring to fall. Those who knew him last season say they’ve definitely seen a change.

“I think he’s kind of come out his shell,” sophomore quarterback Justin Herbert said.

“He’s more talkative and he’s just a great guy to be around.”

“I think he’s getting his confidence back,” sophomore wide-receiver Alex Ofodile said.

“Kinda getting his legs up under him. It’s good to see. When you’re confident, it makes a huge difference. I think him getting his confidence back in the biggest improvement I’ve seen.”

Even members of the coaching staff, who have only known Mitchell since they arrived in winter, have noticed a change.

“We’ve seen a lot more of that this training camp,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “He’s talking more, he’s smiling more, he’s laughing, and he’s making plays for us. I think he’s growing up and believing in himself and

knowing that this football team is going to lean on him.”

All signs point to Mitchell having a breakout season this year as Oregon’s season opener against Southern Utah approaches. But if Mitchell really wants to be the next Thomas or Huff, he’ll need to turn that confidence into results on the field.

That’s where wide receiver coach Michael Johnson comes in. Johnson’s coaching career spans over 20 years, with ten of those in the NFL. He’s coached some incredibly talented players over his career. If there’s anyone who can unlock Mitchell’s full potential, it’s Johnson.

“I’m kind of hard on Dillon Mitchell a little bit because I’m trying to get the most out of him,” Johnson said. “He’s a guy that has the ability to be one of your top one or two guys on your football team.”

High praise from a man who coached a prime Michael Vick, mentored Derrick Mason and helped develop Drew Brees.

The one hesitation with Mitchell is his inexperience.

Betting on a guy with two career collegiate receptions to shoulder the load as a receiver is a gamble.

“He’s young,” Johnson said.

“He’s still learning how to be that guy every single day.”

But Mitchell doesn’t think about that. He just wants to get back to playing the type of football he knows he’s capable of.

“I don’t really look at it as pressure because I’ve been playing football for so long,” Mitchell said. “Yeah it’s a great opportunity to showcase my skills, especially for the Oregon fans who have been waiting on me since spring of last year. So I’m just ready for this year.”

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DEPTH CHART BREAK DOWN BY: Jack Butler @Butler917 PHOTO: Phillip Quinn

The Oregon Ducks released their week one depth chart on Monday, just five days from the season opener against Southern Utah. It had no major surprises, but two notable omissions were safety Tyree Robinson and wide receiver Taj Griffin, who are both out with injuries.

The two-deep:

WR: Dillon Mitchell (So.), Malik Lovette (So.) OR Alex Ofodile (So.) WR: Charles Nelson (Sr.), Darrian McNeal (Fr.) WR: Johnny Johnson III (Fr.), Brenden Schooler (So.) OR Daewood Davis (Fr.) LT: Tyrell Crosby (Sr.), George Moore (So.) LG: Shane Lemieux (So.), Evan Voeller (Sr.) C: Jake Hanson (So.), Doug Brenner (Sr.) RG: Jake Pisarcik (Sr.), Jacob Capra (Fr.) RT: Calvin Throckmorton (So.), Brady Aiello (So.) TE: Jacob Breeland (So.), Ryan Bay (So.) OR Cam McCormick (Fr.) QB: Justin Herbert (So.), Taylor Alie (Sr.) OR Braxton Burmeister (Fr.) RB: Royce Freeman (Sr.), Tony Brooks-James (Jr.) OR Kani Benoit (Sr.) No surprises on the offensive side. The only offensive line position that was truly open was the right guard position which now belongs to Pisarcik, a senior with one career start. Otherwise, the rest of the line has significant starting experience.

The weapons on the outside feature young players, as expected. Johnson III is the only freshman on offense to break into a starting spot. Outside of Nelson, the entire receiving corp will be freshmen and sophomores, including the tight ends.

Brenden Schooler made the switch from safety to wide receiver during week one of fall camp. He could find lots of playing time given that the Ducks like to rotate wide receivers due to their up-tempo offense.

DE: Henry Mondeaux (Sr.), Elijah George (Sr.) NG: Jordon Scott (Fr.), Austin Faoliu (Fr.) DE: Jalen Jelks (Jr.), Drayton Carlberg (So.) Two freshman at the nose guard position is not shocking. The Ducks lack depth along the defensive line, especially at the nose guard. Scott made an impact in the spring and extended his quality play into fall camp. At 333-pounds, the freshman can move quickly for his size.

Mondeaux, who was recently named a team captain, is the most experienced player on the line.

Clemson transfer Scott Pagano is still recovering from foot surgery he had over the offseason.

OLB: Justin Hollins (Jr.), Jonah Moi (Sr.) MLB: Troy Dye (So.), Jimmie Swain (Sr.) MLB: Kaulana Apelu (Jr.) OR A.J. Hotchkins (Sr.) OLB: Fotu T. Leiato II (Jr.) OR La’Mar Winston Jr. (So.)

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Hollins will be the Ducks pass-rush specialist, but according to outside linebackers coach Raymon Woodie, he needs to improve setting the edge in the run game.

Don’t be surprised if this unit, with the exception of Troy Dye, sees constant rotation.

CB: Thomas Graham Jr. (Fr.) OR Ugochukwu Amadi (Jr.) S: Khalil Oliver (Jr.), Juwaan Williams (Sr.) S: Mattrell McGraw (Jr.), Nick Pickett (Fr.) OR Billy Gibson (Fr.) CB: Arrion Springs (Sr.), Deommodor Lenior (Fr.) OR Ty Griffin (Sr.) This experienced group takes a hit with the absence of Robinson.

However, it is a good sign for the Ducks’ defense that freshman Graham Jr. is challenging an experienced Amadi. Lenior was a highly touted recruit in high school and could see action this season in nickel or dime formations.

Oregon wide receiver Charles Nelson (6) locks eyes with the ball as it approaches.

The Oregon Ducks hold summer practice at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. on August 30, 2017.

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GAMEDAY

The No. 24 Oregon Ducks play the UC Davis Aggies for the season opener at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 3, 2016.

TROY DYE looks to lead the Ducks’ defense BY: Shawn Medow @ShawnMedow | PHOTO: Adam Eberhardt In Oregon’s 2016 season opener, as a freshman linebacker, Troy Dye broke onto the collegiate scene with his 11 tackle and one sack performance in Oregon’s win 53-28 UC Davis.

Now he has emerged as a leader on the Ducks’ defense, shifting from outside linebacker to inside linebacker under new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt.

“I just have to step into the role,” Dye said. “I have to be a big time leader. I have to try and lead the defense, be the face of the defense and try to go from there.”

Dye says that he never felt like a freshman on the field last year, which has led to his natural development as a leader.

“Whether you’re a freshman or a senior,” Dye said. “You have to fill into the spot and play college football because at the end of the day, everyone is trying to win the national championship.”

Dye’s transition to inside linebacker is a logical change after his breakout freshman season. His aggressiveness and quickness on the opposition’s

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snaps were seldom matched by the offenses’ abilities to react. However, he still has work to do.

“He’s getting better, you know it’s a process,” Leavitt said. “I don’t know what they did with him last year for sure, but he obviously made a lot of plays so they did some good things with him.

Going to inside is just a little different form but he’s doing a pretty good job with it.”

That shift inside does not intimidate Dye. Working with Leavitt has helped him, and Dye’s confidence in himself doesn’t hurt either.

“It’s not too big of a change, it’s just a different way I’ve got to play,” Dye said. “I’m used to playing in space, now I’m in the box more. That’s just the only really big change is just coming from being in space into the box. After I kind of got that down it came easy to me, came a little bit natural so I just go with the flow.”

Last season, Oregon’s defense ranked 116th out of 127 in the FBS in total defense. Something that might have lacked was communication on the field, which head coach Willie Taggart says has progressed.

Communication is key to improving the defense.

“As long as we communicate,” defensive lineman Elijah George said. “We’re going to show some people some good things.”

That communication all comes back to Leavitt, who will not only run the defense, but be in charge of the linebackers specifically.

“He gives you the little tricks and trades and all the terminology, you hear it on a daily basis,” Dye said. “So you understand it more than being with a position coach who isn’t the guy who’s running the whole defense and running the playbook.”

Once the defense steps on the field, Leavitt loses much of the control that he has over them in practice. That’s when Dye and other defensive leaders have to step up, which is something he is not worried about.

“I’m a vocal dude in the first place so being vocal’s not a problem,” Dye said. “You have to be the quarterback of the defense when you’re playing linebacker, so I understood that, I took that role and I embraced it and I ran with it.”

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