The anticipation in the air can only mean one thing: The onset of fall camp is upon us!
August 3 is the date circled on the calendars of Duck fans near and far, as that is the day fall camp officially opens at the University of Oregon. The month of practices that follow will not only give coaches, members of the media, and fans a sneak peek at the team for the upcoming season, but it will also serve as an opportunity to simultaneously answer and facilitate a litany of questions surrounding position battles and movement along the depth chart.
More importantly, it means we’re only one month away from the start of football season.
As we countdown the days, WFOD will preview each position group, providing an early snapshot of the depth chart, as well as handout a few superlatives to help set expectations for the season.
Today, WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives series concludes with the safeties.
Safety:
The Projected Depth Chart:
S: Mattrell McGraw (RSr.)/Nick Pickett (So.)/Steve Stephens (Fr.)/Bryan Addison (Fr.)
S: Ugo Amadi (Sr.)/Brady Breeze (RSo.)/Billy Gibson (So.)/Jevon Holland (Fr.)
The Duke: Ugo Amadi
Defensively for the Ducks, the focus for much of the offseason – and rightfully so – has been on the front seven, where veterans such as Troy Dye, Jalen Jelks, Justin Hollins, and La’Mar Winston, have been celebrated as both the collective faces of the Oregon defense, and the source for so much optimism heading into the upcoming season. Yet, beyond those stellar players and the rise of talented youngsters such as Thomas Graham and Jordon Scott, there is one player that hasn’t really gotten the recognition he deserves for the role he plays. That player is Ugo Amadi, and his role as big brother and stabilizing force in Oregon’s youthful and largely unproven secondary can’t be overstated. Amadi got his start at cornerback his freshman and sophomore seasons before making the switch to safety midway through last season due to injuries at the position. The move has proven to be rather fruitful, as Amadi’s skills in coverage and confidence in coming up and making plays near the line of scrimmage make him the player in the Oregon secondary with the best combination of versatility and experience. Like last season, and especially with the Ducks lacking numbers at corner, don’t be surprised to see Amadi frequently slide over to fill the role of nickel back in obvious passing situations.
The X-factor: Nick Pickett
A fine case could be made for redshirt sophomore Brady Breeze here, but we’re going with Nick Pickett instead. Despite battling through injury last season, and even into the spring, Pickett was a model for toughness, gritting his way to appearances in 11 games and finishing the year with 22 tackles and three passes broken up. Pickett even made three starts as a true freshman last season, though he largely split duties at the safety spot opposite of Amadi with Breeze and senior Mattrell McGraw. All three players return this fall to provide what should be tremendous competition for the starting job, but it’s what Pickett showed before his injury that has us believing he could be a difference-maker in the secondary in 2018. Prior to his injury, Pickett flashed confidence and aptitude, demonstrating a nose for the football and a knack for tattooing ball carriers who crossed his path. Now presumably healthy after using the offseason to rehabilitate, Pickett will look to return to form as he hopes to nail down a starting job.
The Upstart: Jevon Holland
Along with fellow 2018 enrollee Steve Stephens, Jevon Holland comes to Oregon as one of the highest-rated safety recruits in program history. Holland completed the 2018 recruiting cycle ranked as the nation’s 13th-best safety and as a four-star recruit per 247 Sports’ Composite Rankings, and arrives this fall with the intention to upend the projected depth chart. Whether or not he’s successful to that end remains to be seen, but there’s no question Holland has the skills and athletic ability to be a player who is difficult to keep off the field as a true freshman. At 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds, Holland combines physicality with speed and outstanding ball skills, which will not only earn him long looks at safety, but could also have him in the running to earn time at corner, where depth is an issue. Unlike some of the other players we’ve featured in this section throughout the series, real-life game reps are far less of a guarantee this season for Holland, but even with a crowded depth chart, his potential is such that it would come as no surprise to see the Pleasanton (Calif.) native lock down a spot in the secondary rotation.
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Quarterback Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Running Back Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Wide Receiver Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Tight End Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Offensive Line Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Defensive Line Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Linebacker Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Cornerback Preview
Love the safety group, especially now that Amadi is designated as a starter. But I think they, like the secondary and pretty much every other defensive position group, are still a year away from being considered to have depth and be in the discussion for the best in the Pac. The new red shirt rule is going to work wonders for developing experienced depth, but we have to patiently wait until next year for the payoff.
I’d agree with this. There’s very good starting-level talent in the secondary, but they need at least another recruiting cycle to get depth back to a place where you’re not holding your breath every time a guy gets shaken up. Good news for Ducks fans, this staff is absolutely crushing it on the recruiting trail…shouldn’t be long until those position groups are replenished.
And going to be very curious to see how they leverage the new redshirt rule with how they manage their roster. Certainly provides added flexibility over the course of the season.