The No. 20 Oregon Ducks are heading into their Sept. 26 matchup with USC short-handed at receiver, and that makes the battle on the outside even more intriguing.
Jeremiah McClellan is out with a broken foot, so Oregon will have to lean harder on the rest of its receiver group against a No. 12 Trojans secondary that has already shown it can make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. That means freshman Messiah Hampton, sophomore Dakorien Moore and veteran Evan Stewart all need to be ready for a major workload.
The name Oregon has to circle first is Prophet Brown. The USC cornerback/safety has become the veteran presence in that defensive backfield and the player who can flip a game with one snap. Brown has two interceptions already, and both came in momentum-swinging spots, including a 99-yard pick-six against Rutgers that kept the Scarlet Knights from grabbing the lead.
Brown’s track record makes him the defender Dante Moore and Oregon’s wideouts have to account for whenever he’s on the field. USC and defensive coordinator Gary Patterson have clearly trusted Brown’s experience, and that means Moore can’t afford to force the issue in his direction.
There is, though, a spot Oregon can attack. Lincoln Riley said on Sept. 21 that Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams is banged up, and if he isn’t at full strength, the Ducks should look his way. If Williams is limited, Marcelles Williams or RJ Sermons would be the next options on that side.
USC is also dealing with an injury at safety, with Alex Graham working through one before kickoff. Kennedy Urlacher can step in there, bringing versatility as a box defender and the ability to cover inside wideouts.
Oregon’s opportunities won’t stop with Moore. Dakorien Moore and Stewart are part of the equation, but Iverson Hooks may be the receiver with the clearest chance to make a statement.
The UAB transfer has had a quiet start since arriving, yet with McClellan out, this is the kind of game that can open the door for him. His skill set fits the intermediate areas where USC has the most injury concerns.
On paper, the Ducks’ receiver room and the Trojans’ secondary look like a close match. The difference may come down to ball security, with Brown looming as the swing piece for USC.
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Now comes a different kind of pressure point with USC on deck, and it is one of those games where Oregon will need more than efficiency from its quarterback. Moore will have to elevate his play even as the line issues remain unresolved, because the Ducks are about to find out how much margin for error they really have when the opponent can force them to operate under stress. [Read more 🡒]