Jonathan Stewart has been named the GoDucks.com Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of October 15-21.
RB Jonathan Stewart, a junior from Lacey, Washington, propelled an explosive Duck's offense that set a school record with 465 rushing yards in the Duck's 55-34 victory over Washington on Saturday in Seattle. Stewart gave the Ducks the second best rushing performance in Oregon history, running for a career high 251 yards and two touchdowns. With backup Jeremiah Johnson out for the season with an injury, Stewart easily took control and finished with an astounding 7.8 yard average on 32 attempts.
Stewart became the first back to rush for 200 yards since Onterrio Smith set a school record against Washington State in 2001 with 285 yards on the ground.
The Stewart File
OREGON ? Few players in school history ever have
combined the strength and speed as the returning starter, who enters his junior
year less than 900 yards shy of approaching the Ducks’ career top- 10 lists in
both rushing (1,169 yards) and all-purpose yards (2,408 yards). Posted a power
clean lift of 402 lbs. during the winter of 2007 that was bettered only by NFL lineman
Haloti Ngata (407 lbs.) among all-time Oregon
football players. Also bench pressed 410 lbs. in 2006 that surpassed all
running backs in school history, while his 4.34 hand time clocking ranks fourth
all-time among the school’s running backs. The 13-game career starter enters
2007 among the nominees for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the
outstanding collegiate football player in the country. Already ranks ninth on
school’s career list for kickoff return yards (1,050 yds.), while his 30.0-yard
average stands second in Oregon annals and the school’s best in more than 55
years. Packs the power that has been detrimental to him at times as his refusal
to be brought down easily has made him susceptible to unnecessary punishment
from would-be tacklers. But has learned to be more prudent in his decisions,
electing to complement his power game with a finesse to avoid defenders rather
than always challenge them head on. With two years of experience under his
belt, has gained more confidence in his own abilities as he appeared more
comfortable in the open field during spring workouts, yet still possesses the
drive that pushes him to get better. Has also improved his ability as a
receiver as well as his ball security, recording only four fumbles in 2006 while
handling the football a team-high 226 times. Combined to lift a team-high 1,342
lbs. from three lifts (power, squat and bench press) during winter workouts
(5.86 times his body weight), with his 555-lb. squat ranking fifth all-time
among running backs and the best mark in nine years.
2006
? Oregon’s
rushing leader completed the year fifth in the Pac- 10 (46th nationally),
second in all-purpose yardage (136.2 avg. - 17th in the country) and tops in
kickoff returns (6th in the nation). Fell only 19 yards shy of becoming the
program’s 11th different 1,000-yard runner as he finished fourth on the
school’s one-season all-purpose yards chart (1,771 yards). The 12-game starter
ran for a collegiate-best 168 yards in the season opener against Stanford in three
quarters, following that up with four more games over the century mark. (Oregon
was 5-0 when Stewart eclipsed the 100-yard rushing benchmark). Battling
lingering ankle injuries for most of the season, accounted for back-to-back
100-yard rushing efforts vs. Oklahoma
and Arizona
State,
and tallied four efforts over 200 all-purpose yards. Accumulated a career-high
222 all-purpose yards vs. the Cardinal, and added 221 yards while rushing for
three touchdowns in the finale at Oregon
State.
The second-team all-conference choice was recognized as the Ducks’ offensive
player of the week for his efforts against Stanford and Washington. The squad’s
fifth-leading receiver of the year caught 20 passes for 144 yards, including a
leaping 7-yard touchdown reception at USC. Accumulating 247 yards in kickoff
returns over the course of his last two games, averaged 43.3 yards on three
kickoff returns in the regular-season finale at Oregon
State.
2007-08 GoDucks.com Student Athletes of the Week
