The Oregon Ducks cleared their biggest early-season hurdle on Saturday.
They got over it with the help of a national hurdles champion.
Devon Allen was already in a rare class of athletes before making his Oregon football debut. Last spring, he set the NCAA Championship meet record in the 110 hurdles as a freshman.
Saturday, the first two touchdown catches of his career helped the No. 3 Ducks beat No. 7 Michigan State. Fittingly, his total receiving yardage was 110.
A redshirt freshman from Phoenix, Allen is among a group of young receivers that are answering a big question for Oregon — How would the Ducks replace injured Bralon Addison, last year’s leading receiver?
Freshman Darren Carrington has more than 60 receiving yards in each of his first two games. Sophomore Dwayne Stanford has also shown flashes.
But none of Oregon’s young receivers has shown more ability than Allen. In the second quarter Saturday, he sprinted down a seam in Michigan State’s defense, spun away from a tackler after 30 yards, then outran everyone else for a 70-yard TD catch.
His 24-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter cut into Michigan State’s 9-point lead and started an avalanche of 28 unanswered points.
“He’s a great young guy to work with,” said senior receiver Keanon Lowe. “He’s probably one of the best athletes in the whole country. … He brings the same work ethic that he has on the track to the football field. That’s why he’s having success so early in his career.”
Allen doesn’t see many parallels between sprinting over 110 meters of hurdles and gathering 110 yards of receiving on the football field. He said, however, the mental preparation is similar.
“Football is more of an attack, hit and run mentality, while track is more finesse,” said Allen. “I know I’ve done a lot to prepare up to that point, so I try to go out and just have fun and play.”
Just as in hurdles, rhythm plays a big role in football. Quarterback Marcus Mariota said developing that chemistry with his young receivers has been a focus since fall camp began last month.
“We take time to just kind of go over routes and make sure that we are doing everything on the same page and making sure we’re all doing that same stuff,” Mariota said. “It’s been good and we’re continuing to get better.”
Allen, an Arizona high school record holder in the 110 and 300 hurdles, said having two touchdowns Saturday didn’t surprise him.
“Any time you get the ball you’re looking to score,” Allen said. “So I’m not really exceeding any expectation. Hopefully I keep playing well and keep getting better.”
He has already impressed coach Mark Helfrich.
“Devon Allen is a stud,” he said.
