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Trio On Early Preseason Top 50
02/13/19 | Football
EUGENE, Ore. – Three Ducks who turned down the opportunity to leave for the NFL to return for their senior season landed on the Athlon Sports top 50 players for 2019 list unveiled on Wednesday. Quarterback Justin Herbert came in at No. 7 and was joined by versatile offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton at No. 43 and linebacker Troy Dye at No. 49.
Oregon's three players in outlet's top 50 tied for the fourth-most nationally, while no other Pac-12 school had more than one on the list.
QB Justin Herbert (No. 7)
» Will enter the 2019 season with the longest active streak of consecutive games with a TD pass at 28.
» Became the fifth player in program history to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season in 2018.
» Ranked second in the Pac-12 and tied for 13th nationally with 29 TD passes.
» Led the Pac-12 in 50-yard completions (7) for the second consecutive season.
» Finished tied for ninth in the FBS with 20 first-half passing TDs with just three interceptions.
OL Calvin Throckmorton (No. 43)
» Only FBS player in 2018 to start at four different offensive line spots.
» Graded out as the No. 8 tackle nationally in 2018, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
» Allowed just one sack over his last 2,289 offensive snaps, including 1,105 in pass protection.
» Did not commit a penalty over his 925 snaps last season.
» Started six games at left tackle, five at right tackle, one at right guard and one at center.
LB Troy Dye (No. 49)
» Just the second player in Oregon history to lead the team in tackles three consecutive years.
» Put together second straight season with 100 tackles in 2018 with a career-best 115.
» Will enter the 2019 season as the Pac-12's active leader in tackles and third nationally with 313.
» Sits 121 tackles away from breaking the program career record.
» Has led Oregon in tackles 20 times over 37 career contests.
The trio is part of 17 returning starters for the Ducks, including 10 on the offensive side of the ball, after a 9-4 campaign under first-year head coach Mario Cristobal that finished with a win over Michigan State in the Redbox Bowl. Oregon also welcomes in a consensus top 10 2019 recruiting class, marking its best class in the recruiting rankings era. The Ducks will open the 2019 season against Auburn at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Oregon's three players in outlet's top 50 tied for the fourth-most nationally, while no other Pac-12 school had more than one on the list.
QB Justin Herbert (No. 7)
» Will enter the 2019 season with the longest active streak of consecutive games with a TD pass at 28.
» Became the fifth player in program history to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season in 2018.
» Ranked second in the Pac-12 and tied for 13th nationally with 29 TD passes.
» Led the Pac-12 in 50-yard completions (7) for the second consecutive season.
» Finished tied for ninth in the FBS with 20 first-half passing TDs with just three interceptions.
OL Calvin Throckmorton (No. 43)
» Only FBS player in 2018 to start at four different offensive line spots.
» Graded out as the No. 8 tackle nationally in 2018, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
» Allowed just one sack over his last 2,289 offensive snaps, including 1,105 in pass protection.
» Did not commit a penalty over his 925 snaps last season.
» Started six games at left tackle, five at right tackle, one at right guard and one at center.
LB Troy Dye (No. 49)
» Just the second player in Oregon history to lead the team in tackles three consecutive years.
» Put together second straight season with 100 tackles in 2018 with a career-best 115.
» Will enter the 2019 season as the Pac-12's active leader in tackles and third nationally with 313.
» Sits 121 tackles away from breaking the program career record.
» Has led Oregon in tackles 20 times over 37 career contests.
The trio is part of 17 returning starters for the Ducks, including 10 on the offensive side of the ball, after a 9-4 campaign under first-year head coach Mario Cristobal that finished with a win over Michigan State in the Redbox Bowl. Oregon also welcomes in a consensus top 10 2019 recruiting class, marking its best class in the recruiting rankings era. The Ducks will open the 2019 season against Auburn at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
