Let’s get Ducknuts when talking about the Oregon Ducks in the Championship game, and later a couple of Oregon Ducks in the NFL Draft. You know Marcus Mariota could quite possibly become the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
However, there are two Oregon Ducks players that should also be sure-fire first rounders that you haven’t heard of.
CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
One of the very select group of players that makes every NFL Draft expert’s top-20 player lists. If he’s still available when the Philadelphia Eagles are on the clock, it would be hard to imagine Chip Kelly passing up one of his former Oregon Ducks players. Especially since you can consider DB a position of need.
“He’s a little undersized but has excellent quickness and ball skills.” – said NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah
“The premier cover corner in college football displays a game that reminds some of Darrelle Revis.” – NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks
“Has impressed since his freshman year … a full-package defender.” – Fox Sports’ Charles Davis
A lot of people have Ekpre-Olumu as the top corner on their board.
“What I think he suffered from the most early in season, was kind of the Deion Sanders syndrome, he thought no one should catch a pass against him,” said Davis
“I think he pressed a little bit and got down in the dumps when a guy would catch a six yard hitch or curl route against him. The reality is, those will happen.”
“Later in the season, we saw him play more like himself than he did earlier in the season. I think he’s a wonderful player, what makes him great for me is his hip movement and his footwork”
Arik Armstead, DE/DT
This Oregon Ducks defensive lineman might be better served by staying another year in school. We’ll see if he comes out. He’ll be a first round pick either way.
Played on the basketball the year they won the Pac 12 Tournament, and went to the NCAA Regionals, so you know that he has great height, length and jumping ability,
“At 6-8, 290, he’s the most physically imposing defender that they have,” said Davis.
“He’s a defensive end in the 3-4, it’s not necessarily a big run production type of position, what we does for them is exactly what they ask, he’s a wonderful player and has a really bright future ahead of him.”
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