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USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 8 — Jonathan Stewart
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: · No. 25 — Bucky Irving · No. 24 — TJ Ward · No. 23 — Tez Johnson · No. 22 — Troy Dye · No. 21 — Samie Parker · No. 20 — Patrick Chung · No. 19 — Kayvon Thibodeaux · No. 18 — Troy Franklin · No. 17 — Nick Reed · No. 16 — Jairus Byrd · No. 15 — Jeff Maehl · No. 14 — Walter Thurmond III · No. 13 — Bo Nix · No. 12 — Penei Sewell · No. 11 — DeForest Buckner · No. 10 — Joey Harrington · No. 9 — Dennis Dixon Today, let's continue with No. 8 —Jonathan Stewart Player Overview At a time when defensive recruits dominated the headlines for Oregon, Jonathan Stewart was the crown jewel of the offense. The Ducks landed him after a strenuous recruiting battle with other college football juggernauts, and he gave them serious return on investment. With multiple First-Team All-American selections in his three year run in Eugene, Stewart is one of the most decorated players in Ducks history. Jonathan Stewart's Career Stats 516 rushes, 2,891 yards, 31 TD Jonathan Stewart's Single Best Season 2007 — 13 Games, 280 rushes, 1,722 yards, 11 TD The star running back showed drastic improvement in each of his three seasons at Oregon, but the 2007 campaign was his magnum opus. He posted a collegiate career high in every major rushing and receiving statistic, while also earning First-Team All-American honors. To cap off the historic season, Stewart helped the Ducks win the Sun Bowl to complete one of the most impressive single seasons for any Duck in history. Jonathan Stewart's Historical Records Jonathan Stewart NFL Draft The 2007 season thrust Stewart into the national spotlight, which helped him secure an incredible draft slot as the Carolina Panthers selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Jonathan Stewart's NFL Success Stewart turned out to be a solid NFL player, but he never reached the heights he did with the Ducks. His career was plagued by injuries, he only eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark once. Jonathan Stewart's Lasting Legacy Besides a few blips on the radar last century, Oregon never had many elite running backs before Stewart. However, since his departure from the program, the team finds another star halfback seemingly every season. Stewart will forever be remembered as one of the key contributors in turning the Ducks into a prime destination for offensive stars as well. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 9 — Dennis Dixon
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 9 — the dynamic Dennis Dixon. Player Overview Dennis Dixon is one of those players that Oregon fans will always tend to love on a deeper level than others. His stats weren't eye-popping, and he didn't leave Eugene with his name etched in the record books, but he gave Duck fans an inspiring figure to cling to who took the nation by storm for a few quick months in the fall of 2007. Unfortunately, his lasting legacy in Eugene has more to do with what didn't happen, rather than what did. A leading Heisman candidate for much of the 2007 season, Dixon left behind numerous memorable moments prior to a true sports tragedy: a torn ACL that ended his tenure at Oregon and caused issues for the rest of his football career. At 8-1 with the No. 2 ranking in the nation, Dixon saw his Heisman hopes and Oregon's national championship dreams crumble on a fateful night in Tucson. Throughout his career, Dixon captured the support of fans immediately as he played some of the best football by a Ducks quarterback we've seen, and despite the heartbreaking finish, will always be known as an Oregon legend. Dennis Dixon Career Stats 40 games — 5,129 yards, 38 TD, 21 INT, 12 rush TD Dennis Dixon's Single Best Season 2007: 10 games, 172-for-254 passing (67.7%), 2,136 yards, 20 TD, 4 INT, 583 rush yards, 9 TD Before his injury, Dixon was on an absolute tear in 2007. He was far ahead of his time with his ability to throw the ball at a high level while also being a true dual-threat with his legs. A testament to the season he had despite playing in just 10 games, Dixon finished fifth in Heisman voting and was honored as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Dennis Dixon NFL Draft After declaring for the 2008 NFL Draft, Dixon was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round with the 156th pick overall. Dennis Dixon's NFL Success Dixon was never able to establish himself as a pro, appearing in just four games and bouncing around on several teams for training camp and preseason contests after three years with the Steelers. He was responsible for just two total touchdowns. Dennis Dixon's Lasting Oregon Legacy Ever the consummate person, teammate and player during his time at Oregon, Dixon left behind a trail of excellence on and off the field. Still pouring into the community once his time with the Ducks was finished, the former Oregon passer will always be remembered for the 2007 season and one of the biggest "what-ifs" in program history. Oregon has a storied history of excellent quarterbacks, especially in this century. While Dixon's numbers may not compare to those of the top tier of passers, the legacy he left behind will live on forever. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 10 — Joey Harrington
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 10 — Captain Comeback, Joey Harrington Player Overview Joey Harrington was the first player the Ducks marketed on a big-time level, signifying a change in the atmosphere of Oregon athletics. He didn't disappoint. Growing up in Portland, Harrington was always a Duck fan and had wanted to be the quarterback for the Oregon Ducks for most of his life, making him easy to root for. He was nicknamed "Captain Comeback" during his tenure with multiple fourth-quarter rallies. In his senior season, Harrington led the Ducks to their best-ever single season (at the time) with a 12-1 record and a win over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. Harrington was also Oregon's first-ever Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing fourth in the voting in 2001. Joey Harrington Career Stats 38 games, 445-for-813 passing (54.7 percent), 6,057 yards, 52 TD, 21 INT Joey Harrington's Single Best Season 2001: 11 games, 186-for-322 passing (57.8 percent), 2,415 yards (219.5 ypg), 21 TD, 5 INT, 4th in Heisman voting Joey Harrington's Historical Stats and Records Joey Harrington NFL Draft Harrington was picked as the No. 3 selection overall by the Detroit Lions in 2002. Joey Harrington's NFL Success Unfortunately, Harrington was drafted by the Lions when they were a complete dumpster fire of a franchise. They had the No. 3 pick for a reason, but things never got better. The Lions failed to build an offensive line to protect Harrington and the Oregon legend had to play with a new offensive coordinator for every single season of his professional career. He played four seasons with the Lions, one for Miami, and one for Atlanta. Joey Harrington's Lasting Oregon Legacy Harrington is still a fan favorite 25 years later and was inducted into the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. He was the first quarterback to lead the Ducks on the national stage and could have easily won a National Championship if the College Football Playoff existed back then, instead of the flawed system that was the BCS. Although he didn't win the Heisman, Harrington showed that a quarterback could be successful on that level for the Ducks and set the stage for Marcus Mariota a decade later. He also made the "O" sign a thing as he led the band into the fight song after every victory. Harrington was also the first Duck to be on the cover of EA Sports College Football '03. In short, he made being an Oregon Duck cool before anyone else. There have been a lot of great Oregon quarterbacks to come through Eugene over the past 25 years, but Harrington laid the groundwork for them to achieve the level of success that they did. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 11 — DeForest Buckner
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 11 — the dominant DeForest Buckner. Player Overview In one of the Oregon Ducks' most successful runs over the past 25 years, DeForest Buckner stood at the heart of it. He was one of the best defensive linemen to roll through Eugene and had a massive impact on a defense that was called on to hold its own alongside Marcus Mariota's historic offense. As a First-Team All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Buckner eventually became one of the best players in the country, and he backed that up at the NFL level. DeForest Buckner Career Stats 53 Games — 231 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 18.0 sacks, 10 PBU's, two forced fumbles DeForest Buckner's Single Best Season 2015: 13 Games — 83 total tackles, 17 TFL, 10.5 sacks, five PBUs While Buckner had a significant role in Oregon's run to the national championship game in 2014, it was his senior season in 2015 when he truly broke out and flourished the most. The 10.5 sacks were the fifth most in the nation, and his overall dominance boosted his draft stock to the point where he became an early first-rounder. DeForest Buckner's Historical Stats and Records DeForest Buckner NFL Draft DeForest Buckner capitalized on a monster senior season with the Ducks and went on to become a first-round draft pick, selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 7 overall pick in 2016, joining fellow Oregon player Arik Armstead, who went to the 49ers with the No. 17 overall pick in 2015. DeForest Buckner's NFL Success 141 Games — 605 tackles, 88 TFL, 67.5 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns Over the past decade, there have been few Pro Ducks more successful than Buckner. After spending his first four years with the San Francisco 49ers, Buckner signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts for $84 million. After dominating in the blue and white, Buckner signed a contract extension last season for another two years, $46 million. He is the ninth highest-paid defensive lineman in the NFL going into the 2025 season. DeForest Buckner's Lasting Oregon Legacy In all honesty, DeForest Buckner is going to be remembered at Oregon as a member of the Buckner-Arik Armstead tandem. The two formed one of the most dominant defensive line duos that the Ducks have seen in quite some time, and while Buckner had the superior stats at Oregon, both have gone on to flourish at the NFL level, together in San Francisco at the start. Buckner may not have the lasting star power of a Kayvon Thibodeaux or a T.J. Ward, but he was undoubtedly a dominant player in Eugene and will have his name live on with Duck fans for a long time. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 12 — Penei Sewell
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 12 — the massive offensive lineman Penei Sewell. Player Overview It could be argued that Penei Sewell is the best offensive lineman ever to put on a Duck uniform. He just played two seasons thanks to the 2020 pandemic, but for the 2018-19 seasons, there wasn't a better offensive tackle in the country. He won award after award and led an offensive line group that protected Justin Herbert to a 12-2 record and a 28-27 win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Penei Sewell Career Stats 21 games, allowed just one sack in 1,376 snaps Best Single Season 2019: 14 games Sewell's sophomore season saw the big 6-foot-6, 325-pounder come into his own and become one of the top O-linemen in the game. This is what Oregon envisioned when Sewell was recruited as the highest-rated lineman to commit to the Ducks. He went on to win the Outland Trophy as the best offensive lineman in the nation. Penei Sewell NFL Draft Sewell was the No. 7 overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft and was taken by the Detroit Lions. Penei Sewell NFL Success This was the second time in the last quarter century that the Lions selected a Duck in the first round and, Sewell was an overwhelming success. It turns out he was the first step towards Detroit's successful rebuild over the past few years, which has seen them go from league doormats to Super Bowl contenders. Sewell has been an absolute anchor on the Detroit offensive line, and if everything goes towards their current trajectory, he may have a Super Bowl ring sooner rather than later. Penei Sewell's Lasting Legacy It's hard to believe Sewell wasn't a Duck for very long ... just 21 games, but his legacy might be as big as his 6-foot-6 frame. He proved that elite offensive linemen don't have to go to the SEC in order to become a high NFL draft pick and succeed at the next level. Oregon can be a destination for players like him and still have the same accolades and recognition. There might have been a Josh Conerly, Jr., or a Iapani Laloulu, or even an Isaiah World if it wasn't for the large footprints left behind by Penei Sewell. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
