Football Practice Report: Dec. 14

Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Helmets and shorts

Fully three weeks had passed since Oregon's regular-season finale by the time the Ducks returned to practice Friday afternoon.

For freshman offensive lineman Penei Sewell, however, it had been more than two months — two months and one day, to be precise — since he'd donned a jersey and helmet with the Ducks. It was understandable, then, to see Sewell dancing along to the song "Pick It Up," by Famous Dex, as the UO football team went through pre-practice warmups Friday.

"Being out there playing the sport I love, I'm just thankful," Sewell said after the workout, Oregon's first formal practice for its Redbox Bowl appearance against Michigan State on Dec. 31 (noon, FOX). "Thankful to the staff for getting me ready and preparing me for this moment, and thankful to the Lord most of all."

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Sewell was Oregon's starting left tackle for the first six games of this season, the first UO true freshman to start a season opener on the line since Lee Gundy in 1997. He helped the Ducks get off to a 5-1 start and set a new, physical tone offensively — until an ankle injury in the overtime defeat of Washington derailed his season.

Sewell watched from the sidelines as Oregon endured a rough stretch of three losses in four games following his injury. There were times, he said, when he was so down that being around his teammates while unable to help was almost unbearable.

But now, he's back. And his contributions prior to the injury weren't forgotten, as both USA Today and 247Sports named Sewell a freshman all-American despite playing only half the season.

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"Dream come true," Sewell said. "When I came in, that was one of my goals. I got to call home and tell them, and that was really exciting."

Sewell said Friday's practice reminded him of his first workout with the Ducks in the fall, given his excitement level. His ankle "was feeling good and everything," though Oregon's staff didn't just go ahead and re-insert Sewell with the first-team offense Friday.

His return to action will be methodical, Sewell said. And given everything he's gone through the last two months, that's OK with him.

"I told them, you don't have to hold me back too much," Sewell said. "But they know what's best for me, and I've just got to listen."

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Practice highlights: Travis Dye exploded through the line for a couple of long runs in the first 11-on-11 period, and CJ Verdell had a big run as well. Braxton Burmeister dropped down sidearm to get a pass around an onrushing defender and out to slot receiver Justin Collins. … In the second 11-on-11 period, the last of the day, Burmeister hit Johnny Johnson III on a rollout, and Justin Herbert ripped a completion in to Brenden Schooler. Tyler Shough had to burn a ball into the ground to avoid a sack by La'Mar Winston Jr. …

In the 7-on-7 period, Shough tried to hit Schooler on a deep ball but Deommodore Lenoir tipped it away and Jevon Holland snagged it for an interception. Moments later, Herbert tried to hit Schooler on a short route by Thomas Graham Jr. anticipated the play and jumped in front of the receiver for another interception. … Burmeister completed a couple balls to Bryan Addison, one of them a nice deep ball to Addison's outside shoulder down the sideline. … Herbert and Schooler evened the score with Graham later in the drill, when the corner wasn't as quick to anticipate the route and a pass was completed.

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Other observations: Herbert and Breeland looked like they had good timing together, the way they seemed so in sync throughout the 2017 season. … There were two special teams periods, the first for the punt team and the second for punt return. … D.J. Johnson, the outside linebacker who sat out this season under transfer rules but could participate in the bowl, was in a travel squad jersey rather than a scout-team jersey.