Duck Feed: 2010 Preview - Tight End
2010 Preview - Tight End
Monday, March 22, 3:45 p.m. PDT
Spring Practice begins March 30 in Eugene, and as we count down the days until the formal kickoff of the 2010 season, Duck Feed will be offering up a look at what's on the horizon for Oregon Football. Today's topic: Tight End.
Other than quarterback, the only position on offense not fully stocked with returning starters is tight end, thanks to Ed Dickson’s certain ascendance to the NFL. Dickson, UO’s lone first-team all-conference selection from last year’s Pac-10 championship squad and one of only three Ducks to see the field for more than 1,000 plays in 2009 (Talmadge Jackson III and Casey Matthews were the others), won’t be easily replaced, but his absence is not reason for panic.
Tight Ends By Year
RS-SR Sam Doman
SR Malachi Lewis
RS-JR David Paulson
RS-JR Brandon Williams
RS-FR Clint Sager
RS-FR Brian Teague
FR Curtis White
David Paulson, a five-time starter as a sophomore, should have the inside track going into fall camp. A strong blocker with arguably the best hands on the team, Paulson’s above-average speed at the position is often overlooked. He led the team with an average of 15.4 yards per reception a year ago and the Ducks scored on 11 of the 12 drives in which he had a catch.
Paulson and fellow veteran Malachi Lewis can expect to be pressed by a dynamic duo from the most recent recruiting class. Transfer Brandon Williams (Merrionette Park, Ill./Eisenhower) joined the squad in January after a stint at Joliet Junior College where he was a JC All-American. While on the subject of All-Americans, five-star recruit and U.S. Army All-American Curtis White (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon) may be as physically ready to play as any true freshman in the Pac-10, making tight end one of the most intriguing position battles to watch heading into September.
During his press conference on signing day, head coach Chip Kelly quipped that while some athletes make an early jump from college to the pros, White, from a physical standpoint, could have left high school early for the FBS ranks.
Depth at tight end includes the versatile Sam Doman, who has also played quarterback and running back during his UO tenure, and a pair of redshirt freshmen in Clint Sager and Brian Teague, the team's offensive scout team player of the year last season.
Tuesday's topic: Wide Receiver.
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