SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Both the Oregon Ducks and the Texas Longhorns have loads of talent but some of their players are dinged up or are out for the game completely with injuries or suspensions. Others will be playing the last games of their college careers, perhaps their entire football careers.
Below are the players to watch in Monday’s Alamo Bowl.
Oregon
Marcus Mariota (QB) – Mariota is always worth watching since he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but eyes should be especially focused on him because he’s played on a partially torn MCL since the Nov. 7 matchup against Stanford. Offensive coordinator Scott Frost said the redshirt sophomore quarterback is completely healthy and Mariota said, “Since the last month, I feel probably the healthiest I’ve been.” If that’s the case, the Ducks will be in great shape when they face Texas. They just have to make sure Mariota doesn’t give away any more of Oregon’s secrets.
Byron Marshall (RB) – The same concerns surrounding Mariota are surrounding Marshall, only moreso. The sophomore running back injured his ankle early in Oregon’s 42-16 loss to Arizona and was out for the entire Civil War game. Mariota at least never missed a game while hurt. But Marshall, like Mariota, doesn’t consider himself injured anymore, which will turn an already dynamic running game into a nearly unstoppable force. Marshall also needs just five rushing yards to reach 1,000 on the season, and he said on Saturday that the milestone “is going to happen.”
Tyler Johnstone (OT) – The redshirt sophomore offensive tackle will have what’s probably the toughest job of any player for the Ducks: blocking All-American defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat. Jeffcoat was tied for fourth with 12 sacks this season, so Johnstone will have his toughest test since facing UCLA’s Anthony Barr on Oct. 26. Johnstone won’t have any better time if he or Texas’ defensive line switch during the game. The Longhorns’ other defensive end is Cedric Reed, who had 9 sacks this season. If Johnstone can hold his own, Texas will have a hard time winning the game.
Texas
Jeffcoat and Reed (DEs) – In addition to being an first team All-American defensive end, Jeffcoat made the all-Big 12 first team and won the Hendricks’ Award as the nation’s best defensive end. Reed, as mentioned early, had 9 sacks and is far from an easy assignment compared to Jeffcoat. Oregon tackles Johnstone and Jake Fischer will have their hands full all game.
Malcolm Brown (RB) – The Longhorns are depleted at running back. Starter Jonathan Gray suffered a season-ending injury three games ago and back-ups Jalen Overstreet and Daje Johnson were ruled academically ineligible for the Alamo Bowl. So the onus is on Brown (Joe Bergeron will also be a key contributor). Brown hasn’t been too impressive this season (4.1 yards per carry) but Texas is a run-first team (530 rushing attempts compared to 408 passing in 2013), so he will need to perform in order for the Longhorns to play well against Oregon.
Carrington Byndon (CB) – The senior has rarely been picked on by opposing offenses this season due to his elite cover skills, but he will have one of his toughest matchups this season against Oregon. He’ll probably get a chance to cover both Josh Huff and Bralon Addison, but like Jeffcoat and Reed, both Oregon receivers are almost equally tough to face. Byndom hasn’t faced a quarterback on Mariota’s level, either, and if he can’t shut down one side of the field, the Longhorns will have a hard time stopping the Ducks from putting up a bunch of points.
Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415