With unlimited talent available, Oregon Ducks look to find the right kick returner in 2024

One thing that the Oregon Ducks aren’t lacking going into the 2024 season is playmakers.

No matter where you look on the offense, you will find guys who can dazzle with the ball in their hands. From Jordan James and Noah Whittington to Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, there are endless options when it comes to players who could potentially act as a kick returner for the Ducks. But finding the right guy to send back there in special teams is a process that’s more difficult than it looks.

Ask special teams coordinator Joe Lorig. He’s ultimately responsible for tabbing the guy to receive kicks, and it’s on him to choose from a list of players who are currently littering preseason award watch lists.

“I think we have a lot of good options,” Lorig said on Friday. “(It’s about) getting a bunch of guys reps early and then kind of paring it down as you go through the next couple weeks of simulated games. We have enough bodies and enough talent back there that I think we can be explosive in the return game.”

But when it comes to special teams, and kick or punt returners in particular, one thing that you need to focus on is health. It’s no wonder that you don’t see guys like Christian McCaffrey or Tyreek Hill returning kicks in the NFL; it’s not that they wouldn’t be elite in the position, but they’re too valuable to the team’s overall success to put them at extended risk.

So for Lorig, how much does that come into play when considering guys like James, Whittington, or Johnson as a returner?

“There’s nobody off limits,” Lorig said. “Bucky (Irving) not being on last year was my decision initially and then obviously coach (Lanning) supported it. Because once Noah (Whittington) went down, you’re just sort of more limited at running back, so we want to always try to look at the big picture.”

At the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unlimited-talent-available-oregon-ducks-122720699.html

Author : Ducks Wire

Publish date : 2024-08-11 12:27:20

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