Depth Chart After Week 1 Of Spring

QB:

1st- Nate Costa RSO
1st- Justin Roper RSO
3rd- Darron Thomas FR
4th- Cody Kempt RSO
5th- Chris Harper FR
6th- Cade Cooper JR

Costa and Roper will have a real battle for the starting job in the fall when Costa is fully healthy. Costa and Roper will continue to stay at a tie for first string until Costa gets back healthy and is able to practice a full go. Both have improved on their passing ability but they still lack the inconsistency throwing the deep ball and the right wide receiver so far in the first week of practice. Thomas clearly has talent and is picking things up very quickly. There is a chance he could challenge Roper or Costa for the starting job come fall, but still has lots of work to do, most importantly learning the offense. Kempt is ahead of Harper simply because he knows the offense better and knows the language. Harper will challenge Kempt all spring for the 4th spot and will most likely take over that spot. Kempt will need to improve on his passing and his release and his quickness of his release to keep Harper from passing him. Harper is better than advertised regarding his QB skills coming out of HS, much better passer than thought of. However, he still needs to work on his throwing mechanics, release, and his understanding of the offense. Cooper seems to be still in the learning process of our offense and throwing off the rust.

RBs:

1st- Jeremiah Johnson SR
2nd- Andre Crenshaw JR
3rd- LaGarrett Blount JR
4th- Remene Alston SO
5th- LaMichael James FR

Johnson headed into Spring recovering from an ACL tear and has greatly impressed everyone with how far along he has come. He has bulked up and seems to be gaining his speed back very nicely. Crenshaw showed flashes last season of being able to be the 2nd back in the offense. He continues to show hes capable with his all around solid play. Blount has come right in and impressed coaches and fans with his big frame and brute strength. Will certainly challenge Johnson and Crenshaw for playing time as spring ends and fall camp enters. He still needs to learn more of the offense but that will come with time. Alston is the back who might have improved the most over the off season so far. He has slimmed down and then packed on more lean mean fighting machine muscle. Last year he looked a tad like a bowling ball type back, now he looks cut and uber athletic. Will give coaches a reason to find a way to somehow get him on the field for a few plays a game. James will most likely redshirt unless Bellotti and Coach Osborne aren't pleased with punt return and kick returners.

WRs:

1st- Jason Williams SR
2nd- Jeffery Maehl SO
3rd- Jamerre Holland SO
4th- Drew Davis SO
5th- Aaron Pflugrad SO
6th- Terrance Scott SR
7th- Ellis Krout JR
8th- Blake Cantu FR
9th- Garrett Embry FR

Williams clearly is the last recruit in our last big recruiting haul of recievers. He will be relied upon to provide leadership for our new wave of players at this position. Maehl showed in limited games he is a star waiting to be born on either side of the ball. With the lack of recruits signed at WR and the log jam in the defensive backfield he will be on offense. Reps and having good practices will be key for Maehl to continue his improvement. Holland has provided the speed Oregon will need to break teams zones. Reps and quality practices will be key for Holland the rest of spring. Davis looks like a total differnt player this season. Going into his second spring he appears as a vet that knows what to do. Pflugrad has shown he can catch anything near him. His lack of break away speed will keep him from starting as of right now, but his ability to catch the ball at all times and good route running will keep him seeing lots of snaps. Scott will be just as important as any above him with his speed and solid route running. Wont be expected to provide large numbers but being able to pose as a threat and make the plays when called upon will be key. Krout might be a candidate to redshirt or he will see large amounts of snaps. One of the incoming recruits will see action, so how he does in fall camp will play a large role. Embry and Cantu will battle Krout for the most likely last spot at playing time.

TEs:

1st- Ed Dickson JR
2nd- Malachi Lewis SO
3rd- Davis Paulson FR
4th- Sam Doman SO
5th- Zach Taylor JR
6th- Dion Jordan FR
7. Mychal Rivera FR

The tight end spot is one of the positions locked up for the most part. Dickson and Lewis will be hard to beat out as they have shown they can be players last season. Paulson has had a first good week and if continues to practice well Oregon might see Paulson getting reps here and there in games. Doman has added nice depth and seems to be athletic enough to show promise. Taylor, Jordan, and Rivera will most likely redshirt unless Taylor wins the starting long snapping position.

OTs:

Fenuki Tupou SR
Jacob Hucko SR
Bo Tran RSO
Mark Asper RSO
Charlie Carmichael RFR
Darrion Weems RFR
Carson York FR
Nic Cody FR

Tupou has his tackle spot locked up and is on the path of becoming one of the most dominate tackles in the Pac-10. Hucko is the leading candidate so far for the replacement of Schwartz, as he was our primary tackle that didn't start. Thran will challenge for the starting spot as expected but right now is a tad behind Hucko at the time. Asper, Carmichael, and Weems all are below everyone else at the moment but Weems most especially could work himself into the rotation if he can get into better shape. York and Cody might benefit from redshirting as freshmen but if injuries play a role they might see action.

OGs:

Mark Lewis SR
Jordan Holmes SO
CE Kaiser SO
Jon Teague SR

Lewis has the best shot at holding down one of the starting spots at guard. Jeff Kendall might be the other starter if Bellotti doesnt want to move Unger from Center. Kaiser is another option at Guard.

C's:

Max Unger SR
Jeff Kendall SR
Hamani Stevens FR

Unger is our next 1st rounder and a top OL in the country. For now he stays at center but if Kendall can show hes capable to hold the center position Unger can move to another position and solidify the line. Stevens wont see any playing time next season unless injuries play a part.

DEs:

1st- Nick Reed SR
2nd- Will Tukuafu JR
3rd- Kenny Rowe SO
4th- Brandon Bair SO
5th- Dominic Glover RFR
6th- John Laidet RFR
7th- Franz Dorsainvil SR

Reed and Tukuafu have the ends locked up going into spring and will be the same way unless a freak injury hits. Rowe is practicing at MLB as of right now but there hasn't been any official statement from the coaches he wont play end anymore. Bair and Glover have impressed the coaches in practice and Bair has shown flashes in games while Glover has made the coaches go nutz in his redshirt year. If Rowe moves to LB Bair and Glover should provide quality depth in pass rush situations next season. Laidet will be adjusting to the move as much isnt expected. Even seeing the field for Franz will be an accomplishment for him at this point, but the potential to be a nasty speed rush DE is there if he can learn quick enough.

DT's:

1st- Gabe Linehan SR
2nd- Ro'Shon Harris SR
3rd- Tony Cellotto SO
4th- Justin Thompson JR
5th- Michael Speed SR
6th- Simi Toenia JR
7th- Blake Ferras JR

Linehan has grabbed the starting spot he lost last season due to injury. Harris has become the big man that will be expected to clog up the middle with his huge size. Cellotto however is snapping at his heels to grab that starting spot. In passing situations Cellotto should see the field. Thompson is the wildcard to start once he gets here. Big body and athletic. Speed and Toenia havent shown enough to warrent starting spots but should be expected to provide depth. Ferras is another wildcard provided he gets in shape to see playing time.

MLB's

1st Casey Matthews SO
2nd Jon Bacon SR
3rd Brandon Hanna RFR
4th Kiko Alnso FR

Matthews and Bacon will be battling all spring for the starting spot. I gave the nod to Matthews because he is quicker to the ball. Bacon could move over the the Will if coaches feel a player doesnt show worthy of starting there. Hanna has impressed me so far in the practices this week. Hanna should be expected to see the field on special teams and if an injury should come, Hanna is capable of providing relief for the starter to get rest here and there.

WLBs:

Kevin Garrett JR
Terrance Pritchett RFR
DeWitt Stuckey FR

Garrett had a great Sun Bowl as he saw major action and provided enough warrant the rest of the season to be the starter coming into spring. So far he has held the title. Pritchett is oozing of talent and is quickly showing it in spring practice. This should be a nice little battle to follow through spring and into fall camp. Stuckey shouldn't see time at the Will but should see the field possibly on special teams.

SS's:

1st- Jerome Boyd SR
2nd- Spencer Paysinger SO
3rd- Ed Pleasant RFR
4th- Josh Kaddu FR

Boyd has this spot locked up heading into spring regardless of his injury. Paysinger and Pleasant needed the reps anyways so its not a loss for Boyd to be out. Paysinger is ahead right now due to his nose for the ball and his hard hitting. The gap between Paysinger and Pleasant isnt very big, as Eddy is right behind. Either guy could provide ample backup if needed. Kaddu shouldn't see the field unless any major injuries occur, and instead gain valuable time to bulk up and learn the defense.

FS's:

1st- TJ Ward JR
2nd- Marvin Johnson SO
3rd- John Boyett FR

What a problem to have, if your Coach Neal and Nick Allotti. All three players have shown in the first week they should be starters to replace the departed Harper from last year. I gave the nod to Ward simply due to experience in being at Oregon for three years. However all three guys could start so this should be one of the best positions to watch when it comes to practice. Should be a very fun and interesting battle for that spot as the season goes along. The two that don't start will most certainly start on special teams and also fight for the third safety when Oregon plays the 3-1-7 defense which happened alot last year.

Rov's

1st- Patrick Chung SR
2nd- Todd Doxey FR
3rd- Titus Jackson JR
4th- Javes Lewis FR

Chung returned for his senior year and rightfully so was rewarded with an "injury" and the chance to rest up for his senior year. I have no doubts if there was a game on Saturday Chung would be practicing. With Chung out Doxey has been given a chance to get a lot of reps and has made the most of it. Showing he needs to see field time it will be interesting to see where he plays and how much. Jackson has shown hes a great player to have for depth and when needed can make the solid play. Lewis is starting to impress me as I noticed alot of plays on Friday from him at the Rover spot. I didnt notice he was there until Friday.

CB's:

1st- Walter Thurmond III JR
2nd- Jarius Bryd JR
3rd- Willie Glasper JR
4th- Anthony Gildon SO
5th- Talmadge Jackson SO
6th- Chad Peppers SO
7th- William Wallace RFR
8th- Brian Butterfield SO
9th- Kenjon Barber FR
10th- Scott Grady FR

Our deepest group of out everyone. Most are all proven they can see the field and not make many mistakes. Thurmond and Bryd are both "First Day" NFL picks if they decide to leave as Juniors. Glasper is a starting caliber CB being forced to play Nickel due to talent above him. Nice problem to have. Gildon seemed to adjust slow to college ball last year but came on strong and has improved more and more as the week went on. Gildon would start for a few teams in the Pac-10 next season(Stanford, WSU, UW, and Zona) if he wasn't with Oregon. Jackson was given high praise from Neal during last season and like Gildon could play elsewhere now but due to great depth will be forced to watch more snaps than play. Peppers looks to have improved again this season and might be another guy to warrant playing time if he can continue his development. Wallace is where the major separation between the DBs hit. Scary. Another season of reps and practice will do wonders. Butterfield was said to be a guy by Neal who had a shot to earn a scholarship down the road. Don't believe he is on yet, but its hard to imagine him passing guys ahead of him. Grady and Barner both should sit out their first year at Oregon simply because of the talent ahead of them. However Bellotti made mention they both could see time as Return men.