Beavers Best (Modern Era)

Much like I did with the Ducks last week, here is my list of top 3 Beavers at each of the offensive skill positions (my era, from about 1997-present day). These rankings are not based off NFL careers; instead they reflect who I would want on my team if I was constructing it for next season.

Quarterback

1. Derek Anderson 2001-2004 – DA put up video game type numbers over the course of his Oregon State career, passing for over 4,000 yards as a junior. While DA never lead the Beavers to a top tier bowl game, and often threw untimely interceptions early in his career, his progression throughout this three years as a starter has cemented him at one on my list.
2. Jonathan Smith 1997- 2001 - Smith will be remembered for taking the reins against Washington as a freshman in 1998, passing for over 400 yards that night at Husky Stadium. Smith was small in stature, and lacked the monster arm and the quick feet that so many college quarterbacks have today. However, Smith led the Beavers to their best season ever, going 11-1 in 2000, beating Notre Dame in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.
3. Matt Moore 2005-2006 – Moore took a beating from Beavers fans throughout his junior season, and rightfully so. After the 2005 disaster Moore lead the Beavers to their first 10 win season under Riley in 2006. Though Moore never put up gaudy numbers, he managed the game as a senior, landing the Beavers in the top 25 come seasons end.

Running Back

1. Steven Jackson 2001-2003 – This is a no brainer for me. Aside from Reggie Bush, Jackson was the most complete running back the Pac-10 has put out over the last decade. Jackson was a true threat to score anytime he touched the ball. His career was capped off with a 5 TD performance in his hometown of Las Vegas, as the Beavers rebounded from a disappointing 2003 campaign, beating New Mexico handily in the Las Vegas Bowl.
2. Ken Simonton 1998-2001 – Simonton ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, putting him second all time in the Pac-10 rushing record books. Kenny will always be remembered by Beaver fans for his 1998 Civil War touchdown run, which brought fans flooding down onto the field (for the 2^nd time that game!). Simonton brought Beaver football back to respectability, and will never have to buy another drink whenever he visits Corvallis.
3. Jaquizz Rodgers 2008- present – I badly wanted to put Yve Bernard on this list, but what Quiz did last year was special. Rodgers became the first ever true freshman to claim Pac- 10 player of the year honors, after tearing up USC’s NFL defense on that memorable September night this past fall. This native Texan should break all of Simonton’s records, and go down as one of the Pac-10 greats.

Wide Receiver

1. Mike Hass 2001-2005 – It didn’t take long for me to figure out who deserved the #1 spot on this list! Hass owns nearly every Beaver receiving record, and won the Biletnikoff award as a senior, with 1,532 receiving yards that season. Hass was not the fastest or most flashy receiver, but I don’t recall ever seeing a ball he didn’t catch. Three straight 1,000 plus yard seasons is just something you don’t see in college football anymore.
2. James Newson 2001-2005 – I thought about putting Sammie at #2, but there was something about Newson’s game that I really enjoyed. Much like Sammie, James was the emotional leader of his teams and was one of the toughest competitors I have ever watched. I still remember him keeping his balance after getting tripped up in the 2004 Insight.com Bowl, and them sprinting to the pay dirt. Newson and Hass formed one of the best one two punches in the conferences history.
3. Sammie Stroughter 2004-2008 – If this was an all purpose list Sammie would be right up there with Steven Jackson fighting for the #1 spot. The sight of Sammie brining that punt back in the 2006 USC game will be a fixture at Beaver games for the next 50 years. Had Sammie not gotten inured in 2007, he could very easily be #1 on my list.

All Time Oregon Ducks

I love ranking players, and rankings in general. So is here is my list of the best Duck players of my lifetime, or since I really started following (1998-present). These ranking have nothing to do with NFL careers, instead they are just simply based on what I saw at during their time at Oregon (QB’s and RB’s today, more to come later).

Quarterback

1. Joey Harrington 1997-2001 – A 26-3 record as a starter speaks for itself. Harrington didn’t have the strongest arm, or quickest feet, but he managed games and was a perfect for Oregon’s offense at the time. Harrington lead the Ducks to 7^th and 2^nd end of season national ranking his last two seasons.
2. Akili Smith 1997-1998 – The Juco transfer from San Diego shared time with Jason Mass his junior season. Smith had a breakout 98’season, shattering nearly every passing record in the book while claiming the Pac 10 offensive player of the year award. His 1998 season was the best individual season I have even seen from a UO signal caller.
3. Kellen Clemens 2001-2005 – Clemens could easily head this list, had he not posted a losing record as a junior. The perfect combo of arm strength and speed for the newly implemented spread offense, Clemens was having one of the best seasons ever for a Duck QB until that unforgettable October night down in Tucson. Posting a 20-11 record as starter, the Burns native was always a fan favorite.
4. Dennis Dixon 2004-2007 – Dixon captivated college football fans throughout the nation during the 2007, leading the Heisman Trophy race, and putting the Ducks smack dab in the middle of the National Championship hunt before his torn ACL against Arizona State. Dixon had an amazing 2007 campaign, but the 2006 season must factor in…putting him 4^th on this list.

Running Back

1. Reuben Droughns 1998-1998 – Droughns made quite the splash in his first season, posting 200+ yards in thee of the first 5 games, before breaking his ankle at #1 UCLA in October of 1998. #1 could easily go to a number of former Ducks, but I believe he was the best running back the Ducks have had in my era.
2. Jonathan Stewart 2005-2007 – Stewart has the best individual rushing season ever for the Ducks, grinding out 1,722 yards on the ground in 2007. His combination of speed, size, and power made him nearly impossible for defenses to stop.
3. Onterrio Smith 2001-2002 – In my opinion Smith was the most talented running back to dawn the green and yellow. While the off field issues were certainly concerning, his on field production was never in question. Do yourself a favor and YouTube his 2001 game at #10 WSU where he rushed for a school record 285 yards on 22 carries. Had Barry Sanders like moves, making Duck fans hold their breath every time he touched the ball.
4. Maurice Morris 2000-2001 – Often overlooked, Morris put up back to back 1000 yard seasons in his only two seasons with the Ducks. His 2001 run against Colorado in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl will be seen on Duck vision for the next 50 years. Maurice was a constant workhorse, but never spectacular, putting him 4^th on this list.

Wide Receiver

1. Keenan Howry 1999-2002 – After much internal debate, I had to give the #1 nod to Howry. A four year contributor for the Ducks, Howry wasn’t the fastest or the biggest, but always came through with a big play when his team needed it most. Whether that was his 4 touchdown effort against ASU, nearly 400 all purpose yards (a UO record at the time, only to be surpassed by Onterrio the next week at WSU) in the 2001 loss to Stanford, or the 2001 Civil War punt return for a TD, Howry shined the brightest in biggest moments.
2. Sammie Parker 1999-2003 – Parker was often looked by Howry, but many don’t know he lead the team in receiving yards in the Fiesta Bowl season. Parker too lived for the big moments, gaining 179 yards in the Fiesta Bowl, and capping off his college career with 16 catches and 200+ yards against Minnesota in the 2003 Sun Bowl.
3. Demetrius Williams 2001-2005 – I feel D-Will was the most complete receiver the Ducks have had. He had the size to out jump defensive backs, the speed to run the deep fade, and the hands to go over the middle. Williams put up huge numbers in his sophomore and senior seasons, teaming with Kellen Clemens, forming one of the best duos the Ducks have ever seen.
4. Tony Hartley – Admittedly I don’t remember Hartley as well as the aforementioned players, but I do recall his 242 yard performance against the Huskies in 1997. I too remember him being suspended for the 1998 Aloha Bowl loss, possibly costing the Ducks a top 25 finish that year.

Tight End

1. Ed Dickson 2005-present – Dickson’s best is still ahead of him, but the last two seasons he has been the Ducks go to receiver in pressure situations. I know there are many other names I could put at the top of this list, but Dickson has the tools and the work ethic to easily secure the #1 spot come seasons end.
2. Justin Peele 1998-2001 – Peele played a huge role in the Ducks finishing in the top 10 in both 2000 and 2001. His 2000 game at Arizona State will go down as one of the best performances in Duck history. Always a solid and at times spectacular tight end.
3. Tim Day 2001-2005 – Day was a star in 2003 and 2004, becoming a household name for Duck fans after his 2003 game saving touchdown catch and run against Cal (remember the game when the lights went out in Autzen). His production dropped dramatically after Oregon switched to the spread in 2005, making me think he should have turned pro after the 2004 season.
4. George Wrighster 1999-2002 – George left early, along with Onterrio after the 2002 season. Had he stayed for his senior season, he would certainly be #1 on this list, as his 2002 season was the best I have ever seen from a Duck tight end (you remember all the brilliant 1 handed catches that season?!?!).