2012 Rose Bowl: Nine Oregon Players to Keep an Eye on

The Ducks long journey is coming to close this season on January 2nd in the Rose Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers.

Oregon boasts one of the most talented offenses in the nation where literally every player has a chance to score every time they touch the ball.

With all of that talent and depth, however, it may be hard to keep track of all of the play makers so we'll narrow the list to nine players.

LaMichael James

With his outstanding MVP performance in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game last week, James notched his fourth 200-yard game of the season.

Wisconsin may have a physical defense, but James' speed will be too much for the Badgers to handle.

If James was able to run wild over Stanford then he will have no trouble with Wisconsin.

Darron Thomas

Thomas has not had much of an opportunity to show off with his legs this year, but with defenses keying on James, look for Kelly to use the option often in the Rose Bowl.

The option will allow Thomas to dazzle with his legs on the keeper and his arm on the bubble screen.

Being neglected by the All-American and All-Pac-12 teams yet again, we serve only as motivation for Thomas.

Josh Huff

Huff has been rather disapointing this season but has improved as the season continued, I mean cut the guy some slack, he changed his position from a 'slot-back' to a full-time receiver, it's a major adjustment.

As said in the previous slide, Thomas will be using the option much against the Badgers, creating the oppurtunity for the bubble screen to be very effective for Huff.

Wisconsin will also be keying on the run, so there will probably be multiple deep shots to Huff down in Pasadena.

De'Anthony Thomas

Ever since his recruitment began, fans have been looking at 'Black-Mamba' and that won't change in the Rose Bowl.

The athletic Thomas will take screens, end-arounds, passes, hand-offs, returns, pretty much everything.

His electric play is going to be a huge factor in Oregon's game plan and will be a deciding factor in the game.

David Paulson

Coming off his career game against UCLA, Paulson will be huge in the Rose Bowl.

His hands and blocking ability will provide Oregon their own 'doomsday player' against the Badgers.

Paulson's hands will be huge in the red zone and being able to block well will provide the running lanes needed for Oregon to get on a roll and break the Wisconsin defense down.

Dion Jordan

Who else saw Kevin Prince absolutely lit up by Dion Jordan?

Jordan is going to have a tough match-up against the Wisconsin offensive line, Russell Wilson, and Montee Ball.

Keep an eye on him all night, something is bound to happen.

John Boyett

One of my favorite Ducks, the hard hitting Boyett is going to have to keep the Wisconsin receivers in check.

He and fellow safety Eddie Pleasant are going to have to show huge leadership in a young Oregon secondary to keep Russell Wilson and Nick Toon at bay.

Michael Clay

The standout junior linebacker is going to be key in stopping Wisconsin's grind-it-out offense.

Russell Wilson and Montee Ball are going to be tough to stop and Clay's presence in the middle is going to be needed to give Oregon a shot at their first BCS Bowl Victory since the 2002 Fiesta Bowl.

Jackson Rice

The punter's getting some love!? Weird, huh?

On the off-chance that the Ducks actually have a fourth down and Chip Kelly doesn't go for it, Rice, a Ray Guy (Top Punter Award) finalist will be needed to give the Badgers horrible field position.