SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. It's not hard to forget that Kenjon Barner
started his Oregon career being a scout-team defensive back 2008.
In the spring of 2009, using the Ducks thin at running back,
Barner was switched to offense, joining his best ally LaMichael James inside the
backfield. Three years later, Barner is going to put the finishing touches on
the most effective seasons with a running in school history.
"I couldn't have scripted this any benefit," Barner said.
Because No. 5 Ducks (11-1) prepare to play No. 7 Kansas State
(11-1) from the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday, Barner shares the school record with
James (from 2010) with 21 rushing touchdowns inside a season. Barner could break
that mark on Thursday while chasing many
replica louis vuitton luggage notable records, too.
Barner took over as fifth different UO player to earn
consensus All-America honors, buoyed by his school-record 321-yard,
five-touchdown performance in a 62-51 victory at USC. His 1,624 yards are
fourth for the school's all-time single-season list. Barner needs 181 yards to
match James' 2011 record of just one,805 yards.
Barner also needs 188 yards to tie James' career record of
5,689 all-purpose yards.
Last year, Barner gave some thought to joining James as an early
entrant to the NFL Draft. Ultimately, he opted to go back for his senior
season and his one chance at being Oregon's featured back.
"I think which is a great example of a guy that needed that
seasoning, prove he could be 'the man,'" UO offensive coordinator Mark
Helfrich said. "There was not ever any doubt if you watch him practice, the thing is that
him play.He's been similar to tailbacks this time of the year, battered, beat
up and not missed a day.The only practice he missed ended up being go to the
Doak Walker Award (presentation in Orlando, Fla.), which is it.Great
guy.Great smile.Humble, smart.Another example of a great kid
about the team."
Teammates and coaches have experienced similar praise for an additional
first-year starter, Marcus Mariota. The redshirt freshman quarterback has
thrown for 30 touchdowns and six interceptions, putting him three touchdowns
shy of Darron Thomas' UO record of 33 from 2011.
Equally as impressive, Mariota's completion amount of 69.9 is
the best by a UO full-time starter and so on pace to destroy the NCAA freshman
record of 69.5 set by Oklahoma's Sam Bradford in 2007.
"It's
been fun to be able to go through these experiences, find myself, find this
ease and comfort
louis vuitton online store," Mariota said soon.
-- Adam Jude