Oregon Ducks Honors Candidates by the Numbers
Finalists for several major awards are due to be announced next week, so with that in mind, here’s a look at how Oregon’s top honors candidates stack up from a numbers standpoint through the first ten games.*
*All players listed have played ten games except for LaMichael James, who has played in nine
Name: LaMichael James, Sophomore Running Back
Candidate for: Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, All-America, All-Conference
2010 honors to date:
- Pac-10 All-Academic First Team
- One of 15 Players to Watch for the Walter Camp Player of the Year
- One of 16 Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award (outstanding player)
- One of 10 Semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award (nation’s top running back)
- Midseason All-America Selection by SI.com
- Walter Camp National Player of the Week (Stanford)
- CFPA National Running Back Performer of the Week (Portland State, Stanford)
- Pac-10 Player of the Week (offense – Stanford)
Numbers:
- 1,422 rushing yards – No. 1 NCAA, No. 3 UO single-season, No. 28 Pac-10 single-season
- 158.0 rushing yards per game – No. 1 NCAA, No. 1 UO single-season
- 12.0 points per game – No. 1 NCAA (tied)
- 18 touchdowns – No. 1 NCAA (tied), No. 1 UO single-season
- Three 200-yard games – No. 1 NCAA (tied)
- Seven 100-yard games – No. 2 NCAA (tied)
- 174.3 all-purpose yards per game – No. 3 NCAA
- Reached 1,000 yards in seventh game – No. 1 UO history
- 3 scrimmage plays of 70+ yards – No. 1 NCAA (tied)
- 6 scrimmage plays of 50+ yards – No. 1 NCAA (tied)
- 9 scrimmage plays of 40+ yards – No. 1 NCAA (tied)
- 13 rushes of 20+ yards – No. 3 NCAA (tied), No. 1 Pac-10
- 158.0 total offense yards per game – No. 94 NCAA, No. 10 Pac-10
Name: Cliff Harris, Sophomore Cornerback/Return Specialist
Candidate for: Jim Thorpe Award, All-America, All-Conference
2010 honors to date:
- One of 10 Semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award (outstanding defensive back)
- Midseason All-America Selection by SI.com (first-team cornerback, second-team punt returner)
- Three-time Pac-10 Player of the Week (special teams – Cal, New Mexico; defense – Stanford)
- Three-time CFPA National Punt Returner Performer of the Week (Cal, Washington State, New Mexico)
Numbers:
- 22.3 yards per punt return – No. 1 NCAA, No. 1 UO single-season
- Four touchdowns on punt returns – No. 1 NCAA, No. 1 UO single-season, No. 1 Pac-10 single-season (tied)
- Five non-offensive touchdowns – No. 1 NCAA, No. 1 UO single-season and career (tied)
- 1.50 passes defended per game – No. 3 NCAA, No. 1 Pac-10
- 0.50 interceptions per game – No. 10 NCAA (tied), No. 1 Pac-10
- 557 yards on punt returns – No. 1 Pac-10, UO single-season
- 77.0 all-purpose yards per game – No. 23 Pac-10
Name: Casey Matthews, Senior Linebacker
Candidate for: Butkus Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, All-America, All-Conference
2010 honors to date:
- One of 15 Semifinalists for the Butkus Award (nation’s best linebacker)
- One of Eight Semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy (defensive IMPACT player of the year)
Numbers:
- 0.30 fumbles recovered per game – No. 8 NCAA (tied), No. 1 Pac-10 (tied)
- 0.30 interceptions per game – No. 46 NCAA (tied), No. 4 Pac-10 (tied)
- 60 tackles – No. 22 Pac-10, leads UO
- 6.5 TFLs – tops among UO linebackers
- 30 consecutive starting assignments – tops among UO defense
Name: Darron Thomas, Sophomore Quarterback
Candidate for: Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, All-America, All-Conference
2010 honors to date:
- One of 16 Semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award (top quarterback)
- On the Watch List for the Manning Award (top quarterback, including bowl game)
Numbers:
- 23 passing touchdowns – No. 9 NCAA (tied), No. 2 Pac-10 (tied)
- 16.2 points responsible for per game – No. 11 NCAA (tied), No. 1 Pac-10
- 153.04 passing efficiency rating – No. 18 NCAA, No. 2 Pac-10
- 265.9 total offense yards per game – No. 21 NCAA (tied), No. 2 Pac-10
- 7 passing touchdowns vs. AP top 25 teams – No. 3 NCAA (tied), No. 2 Pac-10 (tied)
- 43.4 rushing yards per game – No. 14 Pac-10
- 10-0 record as a starter
- Has sat out 7 of 20 quarters after halftime
- 20 total passes attempted in the 4th quarter
Now the above players are by no means the only Ducks deserving of recognition, and I expect several others to garner accolades. What makes this group standout is that each one is formally being considered for a major national award.
– By Andy McNamara, Assistant Director Media Services, Football; University of Oregon Athletics Department.
Updated 11-18-2010
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