Five Oregon Football Players with the Most NFL Potential
Ever since Chip Kelly took over as the head coach in 2009, the University of Oregon program has turned into an NFL factory.
The Ducks have had a phenomenal 13 players drafted in the past three years, most notably running backs LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, and De'Anthony Thomas.
This year is no different, as the Oregon roster is filled with players who have the potential to play on Sundays.
It is one of the most talented teams in the nation, and you can assume that once the 2015 NFL draft comes around, there will be plenty of Oregon players called to the stage.
In this slideshow, I lay out my thoughts on the Oregon players with the best chance to succeed in the NFL. Check it out and see what you think.
Honorable Mention
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This particular list only includes five players, but there is an abundance of NFL-caliber talent on the Oregon roster. There are quite a few players who did not crack the top five but have the ability to develop into productive professional players.
Bralon Addison was a highly touted recruit from Texas, and he had a very solid freshman season. Unfortunately for him and the Ducks, he tore his ACL during spring practice in April.
He targeted the Michigan State game as a return date, but he has still not touched the field so far this year. However, when he is healthy, he is a speedy receiver who can stretch the field as well as catch short passes.
He is not eligible for the draft until 2016, so he should be able to improve his draft stock with a full season in his junior year.
Even though the Ducks are most well-known for spreading the field with track stars and outrunning teams, they also have some outstanding linemen.
Jake Fisher protects Marcus Mariota's blind side, and he does it very well. The senior left tackle is the 11th-best offensive tackle in the 2015 draft class, according to CBSSports.com, and is projected as a third- or fourth-round draft pick.
In addition, two running backs who didn't crack the top five still have legitimate NFL aspirations. Byron Marshall and Thomas Tyner, both sophomores, were beat out by true freshman Royce Freeman, but they are still very good.
Both Marshall and Tyner are versatile backs, and Marshall currently leads the team in receiving. Should Freeman get hurt, either of these guys can anchor a backfield.
Arik Armstead
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Armstead came to Oregon as a two-sport star, but he quit basketball to focus on football this year. That is probably a good decision considering his skill set. He has tremendous athleticism for a defensive lineman, a trait he likely garnered from his basketball days.
At 6'7" and nearly 300 pounds, Armstead has a very high ceiling. CBSSports.com projects him as a second round pick and as the eight-best defensive end in the 2015 draft class.
Here is what CBS says about Armstead's future:
"Armstead signed with the Ducks as a highly regarded prep and immediately impressed, recording 26 tackles in 13 games (including one start) in 2012. He didn't progress as hoped a season ago (15 tackles in 13 games, including five starts) but could be on the verge of a breakout campaign after quitting Oregon's basketball team to focus on football.
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Defensive linemen with quick feet are always in demand, so Armstead should be able to work his way up several draft boards.
Royce Freeman
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When Royce Freeman committed to Oregon in July of 2013, it looked like he would have to bide his time a bit as a backup before getting an opportunity. Returning sophomores Thomas Tyner and Byron Marshall turned in impressive freshman campaigns and were expected to be even better in 2014.
But Freeman had other ideas. He came in with the intent to start, and after a close battle throughout preseason practice, he was named the starter. All three have gotten significant playing time, but Freeman has gotten the bulk of the carries.
I see Freeman as the next back in the line of the great former Oregon running backs. LeGarrette Blount, LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, and De'Anthony Thomas have all thrived in the Duck offensive attack, and Freeman can do the same.
Freeman is bigger than those previous names at 230 pounds, but he has terrific speed for his size and is very quick as well. He is a very physical runner and will likely be a very high draft choice when he decides to declare for the draft.
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Hroniss Grasu
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With an offense as explosive as Oregon's, the offensive line has to be good. The Duck offensive line matches that description, due in large part to Hroniss Grasu. Rated only a 3-star recruit by ESPN Recruiting Nation as a defensive end out of high school, Oregon was the only top-tier school to pursue Grasu.
He took his talents to Eugene, and after redshirting his first year on campus, he has been the center ever since. He has started 43 games in his career to this point, and is a two-time Pac-12 first team All-American.
Grasu fits Oregon's offense well because his quickness is perfect for the Ducks' spread attack, but he has the talent to adapt to any offensive scheme.
He is the third-best center in the upcoming draft class, according to CBSSports.com, and could come off the board as early as the third round.
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
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Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu likely would have been a first-round pick had he declared for the draft after last year, but he decided to stay in college in an attempt to win a national championship.
Barring a major injury, Ekpre-Olomu will be a first-rounder in 2015. He is a legitimate lockdown corner, and has good size (5'9", 195).
Even though the Oregon defense has struggled at times in the past, it usually hasn't been through the air. The Ducks have been gashed on the ground on several occasions, but Ekpre-Olomu has been a dominant force in the secondary his whole career.
He has made his name on takeaways, with seven interceptions and seven forced fumbles entering his senior season. He was First-Team All-Pac 12 in his sophomore and junior seasons, and he will probably make it a third time after another sensational season.
Look at any NFL analyst's draft board, and Ekpre-Olomu is almost unanimously a first-round pick as well as the top defensive back. He has a very bright future and has the talent to be the next great cornerback playing on Sundays.
Marcus Mariota
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Marcus Mariota was well on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy last year, but then he injured his knee. That injury obviously hampered his running ability, and the Ducks went into a minor tailspin. They lost two games last year, which is a lot by their standards.
Mariota, like Ekpre-Olomu and Grasu, decided to come back for another year. Like last year, he is engineering one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
He is the obvious choice to be the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft, if he foregoes his senior year. He has a cannon for an arm, reads defenses better than anyone, has blazing speed and carries himself on and off the field admirably.
Over his career, he has thrown for 71 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. He has also rushed for 1,623 yards and 17 touchdowns. That kind of efficiency has all the scouts drooling, and he might very well win the Heisman Trophy this year.
If the team that ends up with the first overall pick is in need of a quarterback, Mariota will be the first selection, especially with Brett Hundley's recent struggles.
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