2015 in Review: Linebackers
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Reviewing Oregon’s 2015 season and looking ahead to spring drills.
DEPTH CHART
OLB: Christian French, Sr.; Torrodney Prevot, Jr.; Eddie Heard, RSo.; Matt Mariota, Fr.; Paris Bostick, So.
ILB: Rodney Hardrick, Sr.; Jimmie Swain, So.; Danny Mattingly, So.; Kaulana Apelu, Fr.
ILB: Joe Walker, Sr.; Johnny Ragin III, Jr.; De'Quan McDowell, Jr.; Jake Froehlich, Fr.; Blake Rugraff, Fr.
OLB: Tyson Coleman, Sr.; Ivan Faulhaber, So.; Cody Carriger, Jr.; Jonah Moi, Jr.; Justin Hunter, Fr. ; Justin Hollins, So.
Starters: The presence of four senior starters wasn’t enough to help the Ducks avoid a step back on defense in 2015. Joe Walker led the team with 87 tackles, and he missed in a Civil War that was more dramatic than expected. Rodney Hardrick wrapped up his third year as a starter with 81 tackles, using his unparalleled knowledge of the defense to overcome a body racked by injuries over the years. Tyson Coleman had 12 tackles for loss including 4.5 sacks, totals that don’t include his pressure of Stanford’s Kevin Hogan on an incomplete two-point attempt that preserved Oregon’s win on The Farm. On the other side, Christian French was enjoying a breakout year before suffering a season-ending injury at Arizona State.
Reserves: After French’s injury, Torrodney Prevot took over that spot and continued to excel primarily as a pass rusher. Eddie Heard earned more playing time too, providing depth along with Ivan Faulhaber and Cody Carriger. On the inside, Johnny Ragin III, Jimmie Swain and Danny Mattingly spelled the starters when necessary, though none separated himself so much that it’s easy to project the 2016 lineup. De'Quan McDowell and Kaulana Apelu were “starters” with the defensive scout team, but each played in 2015 on special teams, primarily kickoff coverage. Transfer Paris Bostick began the year as an inside linebacker, moved to safety and then ended up at outside linebacker, as he sought the right fit in the UO defense.
Redshirts: Two of the most intriguing redshirts of the 2015 season were outside linebackers: Justin Hollins and Jonah Moi. Hollins played as a true freshman but was injured last spring and didn’t play in 2015. He’s a rangy, athletic player who would have challenged for a starting job had he been healthy last season. Moi is one of those guys you want to see first off the bus – he’s looks the part of a big, intimidating linebacker, and he was a playmaker on the scout team as well. Matt Mariota, Jake Froehlich, Blake Rugraff and Justin Hunter shared reps on the scout team.
SPRING PROJECTION
OLB: Torrodney Prevot, Sr.; Justin Hollins, RSo.; Jonah Moi, RJr.; Eddie Heard, Jr.; Ivan Faulhaber, Jr.; Cody Carriger, Sr.; Matt Mariota, RFr.; Paris Bostick, Jr.; Justin Hunter, RFr.
ILB: A.J. Hotchkins, Jr.; Danny Mattingly, Jr.; Kaulana Apelu, So.; Darrian Franklin, Fr.
ILB: Johnny Ragin III, Sr.; Jimmie Swain, Jr.; De'Quan McDowell, Sr.; Jake Froehlich, RFr.; Blake Rugraff, RFr.
What to watch: This could be the most interesting position group to watch come spring. The move to new coordinator Brady Hoke’s 4-3 defense figures to cause some shuffling of positions; some of those outside linebackers are big enough to drop down and play defensive end, so take the above with a grain of salt. The addition of JC linebacker A.J. Hotchkins, a teammate of Moi’s in junior college, gives the Ducks a potential impact transfer in the middle. Hotchkins led his JC team in tackles each the last two seasons, compiling 200 total.
And then there’s the return of former coordinator Don Pellum to overseeing linebackers as his sole function. From Chris Vandiver to Kevin Mitchell to Jerry Matson to Blair Phillips to Spencer Paysinger to Michael Clay, productive inside linebackers were a staple of Pellum’s time as a position coach from 2000-13. Now that he can focus full-time on that job again, good things could be in store for this next generation of UO linebackers.
