UC Davis, on the other hand, struggled mightily in the FCS last season. The Ducks’ air attack wasn’t as proficient with graduate transfer quarterback Vernon Adams at the helm previous year.
Advertisement
Prukop will have many of Adams’ favorite targets back this season including six of Oregon’s top receivers from last season led by junior Darren Carrington, who averaged 87 yards receiving per game a year ago. The responsibilities don’t end with the quarterback, though. The guard is the closest guy to the ball, he should be the first guy set. Two years ago while he was a sophomore for the Bobcats, Prukop completed 17 of 22 passes for 361 yards and four touchdowns against the Aggies while rushing for 148 yards and two more scores.
OR tight end Johnny Mundt scores a touchdown on a pass reception during the second quarter as UC Davis defensive back Zach Jones (44) follows, during an NCAA college football game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016.
OR senior QB Dakota Prukop impressed in Saturday’s 53-28 win over UC Davis, completing 21-of-30 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns.
The Offense had some pieces to work in, including three Freshman on of Offensive Line. “A lot of growth and development will take place here in the next couple of days and we’ll go from here”. Several misfits in the run game defensively. “I told the guys finishing second is never good, but we have something we can build off of”.
But then the Ducks took a step back and looked at the national scores from Saturday.
The Cougars followed up last year’s stunning loss to Portland State with a 45-42 defeat to Eastern Washington in Pullman, where visiting Big Sky teams feel right at home.
“We are ready to go out and hit someone else”, Prukop said. The question that pops up this time every year is: What will the Ducks be wearing? Same Virginia team that just lost to Richmond. VegasInsider.com listed UO as a 23.5-point favorite as of Sunday evening. “A bunch of people – players and coaches – that have been there”, Helfrich said. “Some of our veterans had easy mistakes that they can correct”.
He waited for those pesky nerves to show up as he prepared for his first game at Autzen Stadium.
Interestingly enough, Gould is a former Oregon Duck himself having played in 1987 and having also held a graduate assistant coaching spot during the 1990-1991 college football season.
Prukop’s development in the role has been natural, Helfrich said.
“It’s a dream come true, you know?”
Herbert is a true freshman from Sheldon whose rise from the bottom of the depth chart to No. 2 in two short months became the story of fall camp practices.
Dakota Prukop expected to be nervous Saturday.
Taylor Alie, a redshirt junior from Eugene, was awarded the scholarship last week.
“Not at this point”, Helfrich said. “All the things you kind of ask guys to earn that, he did”.
Freshmen fingerprints will be all over whatever success the quarterback and skill players have this season. Alie held on kicker Aidan Schneider’s two successful extra-point kicks. “We’ve yet to find anyone that can run with him or even close to him”, Yost said.
Advertisement
ABOUT THE D: The Ducks have installed a new 4-3 defense under new defensive coordinator Brady Hoke, the former head coach at MI. Freeman ran just 11 times, for 87 yards and two touchdowns, and Carrington caught seven balls for 117 yards. Defensive lineman Hunter Kampmoyer was the top offensive scout, while Taylor Alie was the defensive scout.
