While it is a blow to Oregon who won’t have necessarily the 1A/1B punch with Royce Freeman and Thomas Tyner this season, it will give another player a big opportunity to step up into the Oregon Ducks “Next Man Up” mantra, but who will it be?
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But by announcing 103 players Monday, the staff left room for additions after camp opens. Tyner suffered the injury on the opening kickoff when Washington’s Shaq Thompson hit him, forcing him to leave the game and causing him to not be able to return to action. Helfrich didn’t clarify when exactly Tyner might be added, but it won’t be during preseason camp. “His availability after that remains to be seen”.
Oregon’s second-leading rusher from the 2014 season will not be suiting up this fall.
“Being out there at the walk-through and seeing guys operate, seeing things click from a signal standpoint, our veterans did a great job (over the summer)”, Helfrich said.
Freshmen Tony Brooks-James and Taj Griffin were both highly touted recruits, and assistant coach Gary Campbell will have those boys ready to roll.
The Ducks will practice six days a week in preparation for the September 5 season opener against Eastern Washington.
“This offense, honestly, relies on a lot of versatile guys, and a lot of threats that the defense has to account for”, Freeman said.
Adams is expected to compete with junior Jeff Lockie for the starting quarterback position, replacing Heisman Trophy victor Marcus Mariota, who now plays for the Tennessee Titans in the NFL. He ran for 1,365 yards for the season.
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“We want to score the football”, Helfrich said.
