Jonathan Stewart has been named the GoDucks.com Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of December 31 - January 6.
Jonathan Stewart, a junior from Lacey, Washington, set a Sun Bowl record with a career high 253 rushing yards in Oregon's 56-21 win over South Florida. Stewart added 2 touchdowns on the day; including a 71-yard run to give the Ducks a 18-14 lead at halftime. Aside from his 23 carries for 253 yards, he caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Justin Roper. Stewart's efforts not only propelled Oregon to the victory but his rushing performance was good enough for ninth-best ever in a bowl game.
On the season, Jonathan Stewart had 280 carries for 1722 yards with 11 touchdowns. His longest run of the season was on an 88-yard touchdown run against Fresno State.
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
