Oregon Football Practice Report: Oct. 22
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Walk-through
When Oregon’s 2014 football schedule was finalized, and the Ducks were tabbed to play California at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Byron Marshall knew he’d get the chance to play in front of friends and family from his nearby hometown of San Jose.
Little did Marshall know then, however, that after leading Oregon in rushing last season with 1,038 yards, he’d be returning home this week as the Ducks’ leading receiver through seven games in 2014. Entering Friday’s 7:15 p.m. PT kickoff (Fox Sports 1), Marshall has a team-high 34 receptions, for 388 yards and three touchdowns. (Devon Allen leads with 440 receiving yards and six touchdowns.)
Marshall still has plenty of skill out of the backfield; on 30 carries this season he’s run for 249 yards and a touchdown. His average of 8.3 yards per carry is the best on the team, among players with multiple rushing plays.
Had Marshall been the full-time running back to open this season, it’s not unreasonable to think he might be approaching another 1,000-yard campaign already at this point. But in an effort to get the best 11 players on the field most often, he’s practiced as a slot receiver as well as a running back, an unselfish move that cleared the way for Royce Freeman and Thomas Tyner to get the bulk of the rushes so far.
On Friday, Marshall said, some 40 friends and family will be in attendance to see him in his new role with the No. 6 Ducks (6-1 overall, 3-1 Pac-12). “I’m excited,” he said. “I wasn’t able to go home this past summer because of classes and obligations we had here. To finally be able to go back and play in front of everyone is going to be fun.”
Marshall is one of several Ducks making a homecoming to the Bay Area, including T.J. Daniel, Erick Dargan, Jeff Lockie, Chris Seisay and Tui Talia. They’ll play Friday at the new home of the San Francisco 49ers; Marshall said he has several friends who work at Levi’s Stadium, which also will host the Pac-12 championship game for at least the next three years. “They keep telling me I need to come see it (and that) it’s super nice,” Marshall said. “I’m excited to come see it and to get a chance to play in it, which is dope.”
Observations: Not much to offer today, since it was a walk-through of the plays the Ducks will run Friday against the Golden Bears. … The day did begin as usual with a 37-yard field goal attempt, which Mark Helfrich said was good (the netting that has goal posts printed on it hadn’t dropped down in time when the kick was made). … The equipment truck was being packed up today, and thus coaches planned to meet and identify the travel squad at some point.
