Salem-News.com University Of Oregon Football articles

Oregon Football Fall Camp Notes Day #5

Don Pellum and the UO defense scored a narrow victory over the offense in a competition day that coincided with the first practice in full pads.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - Friday was a doubly entertaining way to cap the first five days of preseason camp, with Oregon not only in full pads for the first time but engaged in a competition day pitting offense vs. defense.

As can tend to happen this early in camp, the defense had a slight edge most of the way. And as can tend to happen in these competition days, the score narrowed late in practice, to the point that it was anybody’s day with a few reps left.

Oregon Football Fall Camp Notes Day #4

Early in the day, there was an entertaining period of one-on-one battles between receivers and defensive backs.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - Unlike NFL teams, there’s no preseason games for which college programs need to prepare as fall camp continues. But that doesn’t stop them from getting themselves game-ready.

Any time the Ducks break into 11-on-11, there’s a specific down-and-distance scenario in play. Today, the fourth day of camp, the UO football team worked on a goal-line situation in which the offense was backed up near its own end zone

Oregon Football Fall Camp Notes Day #3

One poor running back was the ball carrier on a tackle for loss that saw him end up under a pile made up of Buckner, Armstead and Tony Washington. That’s 832 pounds.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - The Ducks were in shells (helmets and shoulder pads) for the first time this preseason, the third overall day of camp.

The pads were popping, to use a cliché – but while Mark Helfrich was happy about some extra noise he heard today, it didn’t have to do with that.

Oregon Football Fall Camp Notes Day #2

A team period heavy on run plays featured a couple nice Kani Benoit runs, and a couple Armstead stops at the line.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - Monday’s first practice of preseason camp was quite clearly, in small but obvious ways, a first practice of preseason camp.

Conversely, Tuesday’s second practice could easily have been one from late August, or mid-October, or December – from the sidelines, it seemed that intense.

Oregon Football 2014 Preview: Defensive Backs Could Hold the Key to Ducks Success

Dior Mathis made a strong case to secure the other starting job with a fast start to spring drills.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - Despite the loss of three starters from the 2013 team, there are plenty of familiar faces dotting John Neal's meeting room.

In Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, the Ducks start with possibly the best cornerback in all of college football this year.

Oregon #4 in Pre-Season Coaches Poll; FSU #1

Oregon opens the season Aug. 30 at home against South Dakota.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - Under the new College Football Playoff format now in effect, every team in the country is playing for one of four coveted spots in the national semifinals to be hosted this season by the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.

Those spots will be earned through play on the field, when the 2014 season kicks off later this month. The Oregon football team stands a good chance of getting there, according to the preseason coaches’ poll released Thursday by USA Today.

Oregon Football 2014 Preview: Ducks Return Talented, Experienced Linebackers

The wild card here is Johnny Ragin III, who is in line to redshirt after transferring from Cal.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - The Ducks return a pool of talented, experienced linebackers, and that despite weathering some attrition this offseason.

Derrick Malone is the headliner after leading the team with 105 tackles last season, and middle linebacker Rodney Hardrick is Oregon’s third-leading returning tackler after 65 in 2013.

Oregon Senior Cornerback has College Football`s Attention

Earlier this week, Ekpre-Olomu was watch-listed for the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - Preseason accolades keep rolling in for Oregon senior Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who on Friday was named to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Ekpre-Olomu, projected as a possible first-round NFL draft pick before returning to school, was a semifinalist last season for the Thorpe Award, which is presented to the nation’s best defensive back. The award is presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Oregon Six Pack on Award Watch Lists

Get ALL your Oregon Ducks Sports Coverage Right Here on Salem-News.com Sports.

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - Two awards watch lists released Thursday listed a total of six Ducks, including two making second appearances on the series of 2014 preseason watch lists being released this week and next.

Senior center Hroniss Grasu was one of three UO linemen named to the Outland Trophy watch list on Thursday, two days after Grasu received similar mention from the Rimington Trophy.