Sports

Former Duck standouts seek new homes in NFL
By Ron Rambo

The top two offensive players from a high-powered Oregon Duck offensive squad last season were both selected in last Saturday’s NFL draft.

Running back Jonathan Stewart was selected 13th overall by the Carolina Panthers, providing much needed punch for a team that has failed to have a 1,000-yard rusher since 2003. Stewart, on the other hand, rushed for 2,891 yards over three years at Oregon despite starting only 25 games. The 5’10”, 233-pound Stewart will team with RB DeAngelo Williams next season, and Carolina hopes the duo will bring to an end their four-year streak of poor rushing offense.

Many other teams coveted Stewart, the second running back taken in the draft, including the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys. He capped off a fantastic season with the Ducks last season by rushing for a career-high 253 yards off 23 carries at the Sun Bowl against South Florida, and also found the end zone twice in the game as he helped carry Oregon to a 56-21 victory.

Stewart reminds many scouts of former longtime Dallas running back and future Hall-of-Famer Emmitt Smith with his deceptive speed, great vision and ability to shed tacklers easily. ESPN’s draft analyst Todd McShay also stated repeatedly over the course of this year’s off-season that Stewart “could end up having the best career out of any running back in this year’s draft.” If his comparison to Smith is any indication, he should be very good for a long time.

Former Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon was selected 156th overall in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers are known to select very athletic quarterbacks, having done so in the past with former University of Colorado QB/WR Kordell Stewart, and most recently with former Indiana QB-turned-WR Antwaan Randle El. Randle El was used best in trick-play formations with the Steelers during his tenure due to his versatility, and Dixon is likely to be used the same way.

Although he was unable to work out at this year’s scouting combine due to the ACL injury he suffered last season against the University of Arizona, teams liked the way he turned up his game as a senior at Oregon. He has been compared by most scouts as a poor-man’s Vince Young. Both share similar characteristics in their strong arms and ability to scramble for yardage when a play breaks down, but most importantly in their ability to win games. Oregon was 8-1 last season and ranked second in the BCS until he was injured against Arizona. Without Dixon in the lineup, Oregon’s offense suffered immensely and they lost three straight games.

Whether Dixon can have a similar impact as a quarterback in the NFL may not be seen for quite some time, as he currently sits third on the depth chart behind veteran Charlie Batch and Pro-Bowl starter Ben Roethlisberger. Having won a Super Bowl, it is doubtful that Roethlisberger will be relinquishing his starting job to Dixon anytime soon. Barring injury, it could be a long time before Dixon gets any NFL action outside of the preseason.