Jake Fisher named semifinalist for Outland Trophy

OMAHA - University of Oregon senior Jake Fisher was one of six players announced as semifinalists for the 2014 Outland Trophy on Thursday by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee.

An offensive tackle from Traverse City, Mich., Fisher's importance to the Ducks this year cannot be understated. A starter at right tackle the past two years, the two-time winner of the team's "Pancake Club" award has been pressed into duty at left tackle this season, responsible for protecting all-Pac-12 quarterback Marcus Mariota's blind side. In the eight games he has played in and started, third-ranked Oregon (No. 2 College Football Playoff) is a perfect 8-0, including top 20 wins over Michigan State, UCLA and Utah, with the latter two coming on the road.

In the two games Fisher missed, the Ducks allowed 12 sacks and suffered their lone defeat, compared to surrendering a total of 11 sacks in his eight appearances. All 11 of those sacks came in four games against teams ranked first (Utah), second (Washington) and eighth (Michigan State and Stanford) in the nation in sacks per game.

The Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior lineman in college football since 1946, started announcing semifinalists for the first time last year. Former UO defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, now an NFL all-Pro with the Baltimore Ravens, is the only Outland finalist in school history (2005). No UO player has won the award.

Three finalists for this year's honor will be announced Nov. 25 on ESPNU (3-3:30 p.m. PT) and the winner will be revealed on Dec. 11 during the Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN (4-6 p.m. PT).