Welcome to the Fierce 40 series of my 2015 College Football Rankings, where I will be counting down the top 40 ranked teams in the NCAA. Today I will be analyzing the Oregon Ducks, 6 overall for the 2015 college football season.

I will be releasing one NCAA team preview per day, providing my analysis on each team in the top 40 rankings. There will be a focus on every key area of each college football team, thereby determining my overall ranking, with an emphasis on future NFL Draft prospects. Stay tuned.

Previous articles in the Fierce 40 college football rankings series can be found here.

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#6 Oregon Ducks

2014 Recap:

Thirteen wins is a magnificent year, but there are two losses on the record as well as a defeat in the title game against Ohio State 42-20. Couple this with their appearance against Auburn and Cam Newton a few years back, and that makes twice within five years Oregon had a shot at collecting a National Title.

Coaching:

Mark Helfrich is 24-4 since taking over for Chip Kelly after he left for the Philadelphia Eagles, and it seems like he is still on the hot seat in Oregon. Not everyone is convinced that the success is based upon what Helfrich has done and not just the residuals of what Kelly built. The defense ranked 87th nationally and will have to improve under Don Pellum. Scott Frost leads an offense that was third overall and fourth in scoring at 45.4 PPG.

Offensive Analysis

Quarterbacks/Running Backs:

Just how do you replace a Heisman Trophy winner? That is what faces Oregon this season and their answer is getting a graduate student responsible for throwing for over 10,000 career yards and 110 TD’s before he throws a pass as a Duck. Vernon Adams Jr. has been seen in the last few seasons as one of the best quarterbacks at the FCS level, and despite his size (5’11”), he has shown he can throw with the best at the college ranks. Backup Jeff Lockie has some experience and will have a year of eligibility after Adams leaves.

Royce Freeman should be the focal point and seems ready to bust out after 1,365 yards as a freshman. Kani Benoit will serve as the backup, as the Ducks seem like moving Byron Marshall to wide receiver will be a permanent transition.

Best Draft Prospect: Royce Freeman RB 1st Round 2017 (if he declares, part of the 2018 draft class).

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

We just mentioned Marshall, and having him at wide receiver works. Oregon just wants to find a way to get the ball in his hands on a consistent basis. Marshall led the Ducks with 74 catches and carried the ball 52 times last year out of the backfield. Getting Bralon Addison back after injury is key. Expect the Ducks to bring him along slowly before turning him loose near the end of the campaign. Dwayne Stanford should contribute about 50 catches, and Royce Freeman is a pretty good receiver in his own right. Evan Baylis is the tight end after the gruesome injury last season to Pharaoh Brown.

Best Draft Prospect: Byron Marshall WR 3rd Round 2016.

Offensive Line:

Only two starters are back, but many of the other pieces have experiences or started some games in the trenches. Vernon Adams is not the only notable transfer, as Matt Hegarty comes over from Notre Dame where he primarily played guard. Hegarty will be asked to replace center Hroniss Grasu who moved on to the NFL. Tyler Johnson is back at tackle and could be one of the most surprising lineman in the conference. Johnson is a very mobile lineman who has experience at nearly every position along the line. This isn’t the strongest unit we have seen at Oregon, but we don’t feel it will as be as detrimental as many feel it will.

Best Draft Prospect: Tyler Johnstone OT 4th Round 2016.

Defensive Analysis

Defensive Line:

DeForest Buckner struggled with his run defense at critical moments last season, and the glaring spotlight of the title game where Ezekiel Elliot of Ohio State carved up the defensive line sure didn’t help. Buckner made 13 tackles for loss using his quick first step and size to gain penetration. Over pursuit was a problem, as Buckner will need to pick and choose his spots and not become a liability in run defense. Alex Balducci is back inside, but he is nowhere near the presence of Aril Armstead. Armstead was a first round selection for San Francisco, but he seemed like more of a project rather than being drafted solely on stats and merit. Christian French does give the Ducks some experience along the edge when moving up from linebacker. French is primarily a linebacker in 3-4 sets, but when the Ducks have an extra body on the line French will be their guy, and he will play some end on occasion.

Best Draft Prospect: DeForest Buckner DE/DT 2nd Round 2016.

Linebackers:

We talked about Christian French above, and he is the lone newcomer to the linebacking corps. The linebackers had it’s share of sporadic play, although they improved in pass defense as the season progressed. Joe Walker is back and seems to be one of the leaders on defense. He will be joined by fellow starters Rodney Hardrick and Tyson Coleman.

Best Draft Prospect: Christian French LB 7th Round 2016..

Secondary:

The Ducks have a number of terrific athletes in the secondary, but they may be lacking true positions or the knowledge to be top flight starters right now. Reggie Daniels is a solid safety who with Joe Walker should help become the defensive leader. Charles Nelson is a starting receiver, but he will see some time in the secondary as well, being a two-way player for Oregon. Arrion Springs is a good looking cornerback who is like an extra linebacker. He seems to be very physical against the run and is still learning the nuances of corner.

Best Draft Prospect: Reggie Daniels S 6th Round 2017.

Special Teams

Aidan Schneider shared the kicking duties last season, but the sophomore looks as if he has won the job outright in the spring. Ian Wheeler is also a sophomore, and the seldom used punter is ready and available when called upon. He seemed to do an above-average job with directional punting a season ago. Bralon Addison and Byron Marshall should serve as capable return men.

Best Draft Prospect: N/A.

2015 Schedule

Michigan State is the big game, and the Spartans are aiming for revenge after Oregon prevailed 46-27 a year ago in a game closer than that score indicates. The September 26th game with Utah could set the tone for the year. If Oregon losses to Michigan State and Utah it could be rough sailing, and we could hear more about a coaching change. USC and Oregon State are at home to close out the season.

Draft Prospects & Outlook

Royce Freeman should set himself up as the star for a future draft class, DeForest Buckner made a wise move returning after questions about his run defense became apparent late in the season and against Ohio State. Tyler Johnson could be the player that sees the largest rise in his stock. Johnstone isn’t on many radars, but we feel he will have a strong season and move into the discussion among the better second tier tackles available.

NCAA & College Football Chat

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