Quarterback Marcus Mariota elected to return to Oregon this season after being considered locks to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft in May. Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
EUGENE, Ore. — With a couple of players who likely turned down multi-million dollar contracts from the NFL back at Oregon, the Ducks once again figure to be in contention for the national championship.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota and cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, both two-time, all-Pac-12 Conference selections, each elected to return to Oregon this season after being considered locks to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft in May. With the team leaders on both sides of the ball returning, Oregon opened the season ranked No. 4 in the coaches poll and if they can finish with that ranking from the College Football Playoff committee, the Ducks will be in the hunt for the national title.
“I think college football is great and every single week matters,” coach Mark Helfrich said. “I think it will be a good test for that committee. It will be interesting to watch as that unfolds. Hopefully, we’re doing out part to be in the mix.”
Oregon reached the 2011 BCS National Championship Game before losing to Auburn. Last year, the Ducks were in the hunt for the national title after an 8-0 start, but lost two of their final four games in the regular season.
Oregon brings back eight returning starters on offense led by Mariota, who set a school record last year with 4,380 yards of total offense. He is fully healthy after a partially-torn MCL limited him during Oregon’s late-season fade last year.
“Injuries happen,” Mariota said. “We’re not going to let my knee be an excuse for what happened last season. All we can do is learn from it and get better.”
The Ducks have a good chance to keep Mariota healthy with all four starting linemen returning. Left tackly Tyler Johnstone, returning from a torn ACL in the Alamo Bowl, suffered another season-ending injury in fall camp. Junior wide receiver Bralon Addison is questionable to return this year after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in April, but starting receiver Keanon Lowe is back along with running back Byron Marshall.
Ekpre-Olomu is one of five starters returning on defense, but the only one in the secondary. Linebackers Derrick Malone, Rodney Hardrick, and Tony Washington are back along with lineman DeForest Buckner.
Oregon will be tested early when No. 8 Michigan State visits Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6. The Ducks also host No. 11 Stanford, which beat Oregon the last two seasons, and must travel to seventh-ranked UCLA.
Oregon does get a break in scheduling because the two conference foes it does not play this year are USC and Arizona State, both ranked in the first coaches poll.
NOTES:
–LB Rahim Cassell, who had 32 tackles and a sack while playing all 13 games as a sophomore, was dismissed from the team after getting a DUI following the spring game.
–LB Tyrell Robinson, who played in nine games as a true freshman and had 12 tackles, transferred to Fresno State.
–LB Oshay Dunmore transferred to Illinois State after his freshman year when he had nine tackles in 11 games.
–LT Tyler Johnstone, who suffered a torn ACL in the Alamo Bowl, was cleared to play but after one week of practice, suffered a season-ending knee injury. Johnstone had started 26 consecutive games.
