Oregon is counting on Senior Leadership in 2010

When New Mexico visits Autzen Stadium in September, the Ducks will display one of the most experienced Oregon rosters in recent memory.  Currently the squad will be led by 23 seniors (including Jeremiah Masoli) during the 2010 season. With senior experience comes senior leadership, and these are the veterans that must set the pace for Oregon to make another run at a Pac-10 title in 2010.

1. Jeffrey Maehl – The 6-1′, 176 pound receiver leads this senior class with 29 career starts and accounted for 696 yards on 53 receptions in 2009.  Maehl along with D.J. Davis will be accountable for setting the pace of an otherwise young receiving corp.

2. Casey Matthews – Playing as the “quarterback” of the defense, the 6-2′, 237 pound linebacker has started 20 games for Nick Allioti.  Matthews recorded 81 tackles for the Ducks in 2009.

3. Jordan Holmes – With uncertainty at the quarterback position for 2010, look for Holmes to play a larger role in directing the offense. At 6-5, 294 pounds the center led Oregon with 55 pancake blocks in 2009.  Holmes has recorded 17 starts during his Oregon career.

4. Talmadge Jackson III – The senior defensive back has played in all 39 games since coming to Oregon.  Jackson will need to lead a young secondary, and ease the comfort ofEddie Pleasant’s move to safety.  Jackson recorded 50 tackles and 4 interceptions in 2009.

5. Kenny Rowe – Rowe started all 13 games in replacing the departed former-Duck Nick Reed in 2009. As a junior the defensive end led the conference with 11.5 sacks and recorded 43 tackles for the Oregon defense.

6. C.E. Kaiser – The 6-4, 283 pound lineman will be counted on to anchor the offensiveline along with Holmes, and Bo Thran in 2010.  Kaiser has started 22 games during his Oregon career and recorded 35 pancake blocks in 2009.

7. Brandon Bair – The lanky 6-7′, 266 pound tackle will look to team with Zac Clark in proving critics wrong in their analysis of Oregon at the defensive tackle position. Bair started all 13 games in 2009 and recorded 45 tackles.

8. Spencer Paysinger – Second in this class in terms of experience, the 6-3′, 232 pound linebacker has 26 career starts under his belt.  Paysinger recorded 81 tackles in 2009, and with the play of Matthews has made the Oregon linebacking corp one of the strongest in the conference.

9. Nathan Costa – In terms of knowledge of the system, Costa has been regarded as the best quarterback to lead the offense for several years.  The starting quarterback remains undecided, but Costa will be looked for leadership regardless of his playing status.  The 6-1, 200 pound senior recorded one start in a victory at UCLA in 2009.

10. Bo Thran – Another key component to an experience offensive line, Thran recorded 44 pancake blocks in 2009.  The 6-5, 289 pound senior has started 17 games during his Oregon career.

Notable key seniors for 2010:

D.J. Davis – Nine career starts at wide receiver and caught 23 receptions for 233 yardsand two touchdowns in 2009.

Marvin Johnson – The senior safety recorded 29 tackles in 2009 and will be counted on for significant playing time in 2010.

Malachi Lewis – The talented senior has appeared in 28 games during his Oregon career.

Bryson Littlejohn – During his first year in Eugene, Littlejohn recorded 9 tackles and one start at linebacker in 2009.  With the move of Pleasant, look for Littlejohn to receive plenty of playing time in 2010.

Zac Clark – The former junior college player currently is penciled to start opposite Bair at defensive tackle in 2010.

2010 Oregon Senior Class

Remene Alston Jr, Brandon Bair, Brian Butterfield, Zac Clark, Nate Costa, D.J. Davis, Sam Doman, Max Forer, Justin Fritz, Jordan Holmes, Tyrell Irvin, Talmade Jackson III, Marvin Johson, C.E. Kaiser, Malachi Lewis, Bryson Littlejohn, Jeffrey Maehl, Casey Matthews, Spencer Paysinger, Chad Peppars, Kenny Rowe, Bo Thran, Jeremiah Masoli (most likely to redshirt in 2010).

Roster provided by Goducks.com

~ by philip d. on June 3, 2010.