Ducks Transition To Summer Session
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Summer session began at the University of Oregon on Monday, and with it the next step in the UO football team’s progression toward the 2015 season.
The bulk of the incoming recruiting class is now on hand, joining veterans for weight-lifting, conditioning and player-run practices. With the coaching staff not involved in football activities, the program will depend on leaders like Jeff Lockie, Royce Freeman and DeForest Buckner to indoctrinate the newcomers and reinforce work habits with the veterans.
“This time of year, we really rely on our culture to get better,” UO coach Mark Helfrich said. “To have everybody get better – not just maintain, not just survive. Their leadership is what makes that happen.
“As we left them (at the end of spring term two weeks ago) I thought we were in a very good place.”
Oregon’s leaders have begun what Helfrich called an “indoctrination and inculturation” of the new faces. Nearly every member of the 2015 signing class is on hand at this point, along with graduate transfer Matt Hegarty, an offensive lineman from Notre Dame.
Hegarty started 11 games last season for the Irish at center, where the Ducks are looking to replace four-year starter and third-round NFL draft pick Hroniss Grasu. Helfrich said Hegarty will cross-train across the offensive line, as position coach Steve Greatwood asks of all of his linemen. But, given his background and the fact Hegarty has just one year of eligibility, “he’ll play a much higher percentage than he normally would” at his primary position.
“Playing that position for any period of time, you have a natural way about you, and we anticipate that being the case,” Helfrich said. “(Coaches) won’t know that until August, when we’re out there with them, but we’re excited about our short-term and long-term depth.”
That excitement was reinforced this week with the arrival of more 2015 recruits, joining the six who enrolled in the winter or spring. The class includes at least four freshmen slated for the offensive line – Drayton Carlberg could be a fifth, though he prefers to start on defense – and several exciting skill-position players.
The anticipated arrival of those skill players on offense – including the likes of Malik Lovette and Kirk Merritt – factored into the decision this spring to try 2014 all-purpose back Charles Nelson at cornerback. Helfrich said coaches are still discussing where Nelson could play in 2015.
“If it was up to Charles, he’d play every snap. … He’s like the kid on the playground that wants to do everything,” Helfrich said. “He’s the kid at the all-comers meet who does every event and ends up with 700 blue ribbons.”
The Ducks didn’t yet have their entire 2015 recruiting class on hand as of early this week, nor graduate transfer Vernon Adams, a quarterback from Eastern Washington. But Helfrich indicated Tuesday the program expects to see every one of its recruits qualify and enroll, for the sixth straight year.
“We don’t anticipate any hiccups on the guys who have been mentioned (in media reports), who signed letters of intent or otherwise,” Helfrich said. “We don’t anticipate any issues with that. Other than that, no comments.”
Helfrich also was reticent Tuesday regarding the status of tight end Pharaoh Brown, offensive lineman Tyler Johnstone and receiver Devon Allen, who missed games due to injury in 2014, and receiver Darren Carrington, who was suspended for the season finale and faced the potential for further penalty.
For now, the focus internally is on the newcomers who are on hand, and their introduction to the program during the summer session.
“The chemistry starts now, and that’s a huge thing,” Helfrich said. “It’s immeasurable how much that affects out performance on the field, and off the field.”
