Looking to 2015: After historic run Oregon must replace key players

As the clock ran out on the first College Football Playoff championship game Monday night, it was hard to shake the feeling that Oregon squandered an excellent opportunity. The Ducks must replace several key players, including Marcus Mariota, in 2015.

Chris Johnson | Jan 13, 2015

Looking to 2015: After historic run Oregon must replace key players /

As the clock ran out on the first College Football Playoff championship game Monday night, it was hard to shake the feeling that Oregon squandered an excellent opportunity.

The Ducks had considerable momentum heading into the game and opened as a seven-point favorite after dismantling Florida State in the semifinals on Jan. 1. Quarterback Marcus Mariota is a strong candidate to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft and will likely be remembered as the best player in program history. The team featured a spate of pro talent on both sides of the ball, the product of several years worth of improved recruiting. Even though they were forced to weather a spate of injuries, the Ducks seemed poised to win their first title.

• GLICKSMAN: Oregon misses golden opportunity after loss to Ohio State

Ohio State's reign is only beginning after national title win over Oregon

Yet Oregon couldn’t physically match up against an Ohio State team anchored by underclassmen and led by a third-string quarterback. All of which raises the question: if the Ducks couldn’t win the championship this year, when will it happen?

That’s hard to say, but Oregon does appear in good position to continue to compete on the national stage for years to come. Over the last two decades, the Ducks have evolved from a middling Pac-12 program into a perennial juggernaut. With the financial backing of Nike co-founder CEO Phil Knight, Oregon developed a unique identity defined by speed, finesse, innovative coaching and flashy uniforms. The program attracted better players to Eugene, built first-class facilities and, by the end of the 2012 season, had become so successful that the NFL came calling for coach Chip Kelly.

name	position
Jake Fisher	Offensive lineman
Hamani Stevens	Offensive lineman
Hroniss Grasu	Offensive lineman
Keanon Lowe	Wide receiver
Tony Washington	Linebacker
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu	Cornerback
Troy Hill	Cornerback
Erick Dargan	Safety

The train didn’t stop rolling when Mark Helfrich was promoted to replace Kelly. After winning 11 games and failing to qualify for a BCS bowl in 2013, the Ducks went 12-1 in the regular season before destroying last year’s national champion and coming up short against arguably the top coach in the sport. Monday night's loss was a bitter end to a memorable season in which many expected the Ducks to hoist the inaugural College Football Playoff trophy. But the defeat doesn’t gloss over everything that Oregon did to reach this point -- the rise from obscurity that preceded the Ducks’ championship run.

• RICKMAN: Ohio State a heavy favorite to repeat in 2015

Late Monday night, Helfrich was asked how confident he was that Oregon would be back on this stage. “Extremely confident,” he said. “It’s really hard, but Oregon, the University of Oregon, is a place that obviously that can happen and has happened. Everything is in place from a support standpoint and facilities standpoint and infrastructure standpoint, talent, our coaching staff is outstanding, and the leadership is outstanding. That’s kind of all the ingredients.”

The biggest question moving forward is how Oregon will fare without Mariota, who is expected to turn pro but on Monday declined to reveal whether he had made up his mind yet. [UPDATE: Mariota announced Wednesday that he is entering the 2015 NFL draft]

The Ducks must also replace a number of key contributors on both sides of the ball, including defensive backs Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Erick Dargan and Troy Hill; linebacker Tony Washington and offensive linemen Jake Fisher and Hroniss Grasu. In addition, two defensive linemen who received all-conference recognition, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, could elect to turn pro. Filling all of those holes would be a huge challenge for any program.

Yet Oregon’s stretch of double digit-win seasons has naturally helped it accumulate more talent and depth. Dating to 2002, the Ducks have finished lower than 30th in Rivals.com’s team recruiting rankings only three times. Consider the scenario Oregon faces at the most important position on the field. Among the players poised to compete with backup Jeff Lockie to fill in for Mariota is Travis Waller, one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the class of 2015. The Ducks will also welcome in promising prospects at other positions of need, including defensive back (four-star Ugo Amadi) and defensive line (four-star Canton Kaumatule).

Urban Meyer's motivational mastery propels Ohio State to a national title

In addition, the Ducks will bring back a strong group that includes standout running backs Royce Freeman and Thomas Tyner, a deep receiving corps and multiple offensive linemen that received first-team reps as the unit battled injuries throughout the season. Whether those returning pieces can help Oregon reach the heights it did this season will depend in large part on the situation at quarterback. If the dropoff from Mariota to his replacement is significant enough, Oregon could struggle to maintain the identity -- explosive offense, opportunistic defense -- that has driven its recent run of success.

Depending on who decides to return, Oregon should be viewed as one of several contenders in the Pac-12. To win the conference for the fifth time in seven years, a presumed requirement to qualify for the second version of the College Football Playoff, the Ducks will need to fend off Stanford, USC, Arizona State, UCLA and Arizona, among other potential challengers. Even if Oregon isn’t considered one of the top candidates to reach the title game, expect the Ducks to turn in another strong season.

SI's Best Photos From Ohio State-Oregon

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones celebrates with the Buckeyes' mascot after his team's 42-20 win over Oregon in the National Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Jan. 12, 2015.

Ohio State wide receiver Kato Mitchell celebrates with his teammates after the Buckeyes' 42-20 win over Oregon.

Ohio State's Jeff Heuerman (5), Nick Vannett (81) and Marcus Baugh (85) whoop it up at the national title game.

Oregon Ducks players and coaches walk off the field as the confetti falls in the wake of their 42-20 defeat at the hands of Ohio State.

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer fist pumps during his team's 42-20 win over the Oregon Ducks.

An Ohio State receiver catches the ball behind the back of an Oregon Ducks cornerback at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott runs over two Oregon Ducks for one of his four touchdowns.

Ezekiel Elliott celebrates with teammate Corey Smith after one of his four touchdowns.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota tries to stiff arm Ohio State linebacker Michael Bennett (53).

Ohio State receiver Jalin Marshall evades an Oregon defender along the sideline.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones drops back to throw. Jones finished with 242 yards against the Oregon Ducks in the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith attempts a catch over Oregon cornerback Reggie Daniels.

Oregon was called for pass interference on this play in the end zone.

Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett goes to the ground after his touchdown catch in the first half.

Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell stops Oregon running back Thomas Tyner short of the goal line in the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Oregon wide receiver Charles Nelson rises for a catch between two Ohio State defenders.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones stumbles in his own end zone as the Oregon defense pursues him. Jones avoided a safety on the play.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones spun out of a tackle and bulled his way in for a touchdown on this play.

Replay officials took a close look to see if Byron Marshall let the ball go before he crossed the goal line on this play.

Byron Marshall could have cost his team a touchdown had he celebrated by dropping the ball too early.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones prepares to throw in the face of three Oregon defensive linemen. Jones completed 16 of his 23 passes during the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Ohio State lines up for a quarterback sneak at the one-yard line against the Oregon defense.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones leaps over two Oregon defenders. Jones ran for 38 yards on 21 carries in the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott ran for over 200 yards in all three games that Cardale Jones started at QB for the Buckeyes.

Ezekiel Elliott evades an Oregon defender -- something he did all night.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota tries to evade Ohio State defensive lineman Adolphus Washington. Mariota threw for 333 yards in the Ducks' loss.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones throws from his own end zone during the Buckeyes' 42-20 win.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota drops back to pass. Mariota combined for 372 yards in the air and on the ground.

Oregon wide receiver Keanon Lowe catches a touchdown pass for the first score in the National Championship game.

Keanon Lowe's touchdown gave the Ducks false hopes that this would be their night. Despite getting four Ohio State turnovers, Oregon scored only 20 points.

Oregon celebrates its first touchdown.

Oregon offensive lineman Hanitelli Louisi leads the Ducks on to the field for the National Championship game.

Ohio State Buckeyes players line up across the school's marching band before the start of the National Championship game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes marching band performs.

Ohio State players run out onto the field before the start of the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship game.

AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, hosted the first final of the new College Football Playoff.

The Ohio State marching band performs on the field during the first championship game.

Published Jan 13, 2015

CHRIS JOHNSON

Chris Johnson writes about college football, college basketball, recruiting and the NBA.