Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
The Oregon Ducks have had many players that have been drafted into the NFL, but none as important to the University as these players.
One of best players in Oregon’s history has to be former quarterback Bill Musgrave. He holds the most career passing yards for a QB in the University’s history, throwing for 8,343 yards from 1987-1990. He threw for a total of 60 passing touchdowns, which is good for fourth all-time on Oregon’s career list.
Another Duck great has to be former quarterback Dennis Dixon, who amassed 6,330 yards and 50 total touchdowns in his career. Dixon saw a lot success at Oregon tallying 16 wins in his two years starting. He brought the Ducks to the University’s highest ranking (before the 2010 Ducks team) of second in the nation. If it weren’t for a gruesome injury to his left knee, Dixon could have potentially won the Heisman Trophy (the first in Oregon’s history).
Following the trend, the next best player for the Oregon Ducks is quarterback Joey Harrington. The former third overall pick of the Detroit Lions had an immensely successful career for Oregon. Within three years Harrington had significant playing time racking up 6,289 passing yards and 70 total touchdowns. He threw over 300 passing yards in a single game six times, which is third all-time in Oregon’s history.
Changing positions, the next player to come through Oregon en route to the NFL has to be former running back/wide receiver Ahmad Rashad—he was known as Bobby Moore when he attended the University of Oregon. He tallied up over 2,200 yards and 22 touchdowns—an average of 74.4 yards per game—which is good enough for sixth all-time in the University’s history. On top of being a great running back, Rashad is eighth in Oregon’s record books with 131 career receptions.
Finally, the greatest Oregon Duck to ever play has to be former running back LaMichael James. He is the greatest running back to have ever come through Oregon totaling 5,082 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns in his illustrious career good for number one all-time at Oregon. He is also number one in total scoring with 348 points from 2009-11. It is only a matter of time before James is enshrined in Oregon’s Hall of Fame and known to all as the greatest player to ever come through Eugene, Ore.
This is just a glimpse of the greatest players to come through the University of Oregon in its long and successful history.
Vincent Winter is an Oregon Ducks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @sportsfans247, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
