Oregon Ducks vs. Stanford Cardinal NFL Draft Prospect Watch
Jan 2, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks running back DeAnthony Thomas (6) carries the ball past Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Dezmen Southward (12) during the fourth quarter in the 2012 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE
One of the biggest games on the college football Saturday slate pits the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal are looking to play spoiler to the Ducks’ undefeated season, but they face an enormous task playing against one of the most prolific offensive attacks in the country on their home field in Oregon.
The Ducks are led by running back Kenjon Barner offensively, who’s been banged up in recent weeks. They will lean a little bit more on freshman signal caller Marcus Mariota, speed demon swiss army knife De’Anthony Thomas, and breakout receiver/tight end Colt Lyerla.
They will have a tough task facing off against the Stanford front seven, which may be as big and solid as any in college football. Here are our top pro prospects for each team:
Here is a preview of what those prospect pages look like for each team:
"24 Kenjon Barner, Running Back, Senior 5’11″ 195 pounds2011-12 NotesBarner the burner. This kid has speed to burn. I love that despite his small-ish size, he runs hard every play and he fights for every yard. When he gets into the open field, he is nearly impossible to track down. This is a guy who is averaging over six yards per carry three straight years as a backup to LaMichael James, and I don’t think he will declare in 2012 because he will have a shot to potentially be the featured back next season. In 2012 on limited carries and reps in the passing game, he has scored 13 total touchdowns offensively. When he gets to the next level, he’s going to have to prove that he can take a beating and will likely be part of a dual-backfield. Has had four games in 2011 with more than 100 yards rushing despite being the backup and has filled in admirably for LaMichael James in his absence. Very good receiving threat with a ton of speed and quickness, great vision with the football."