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With Boykin back, Ducks barely recognize Doctson's absence
The Oregon Ducks are so preoccupied preparing for TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin that they've barely noticed that star receiver Josh Doctson, a potential first-round draft pick, won't play in Saturday's Alamo Bowl.
Doctson's injured wrist will keep him from playing one last game for TCU, but Boykin, the two-time Heisman Trophy candidate, is 100 percent healthy after dealing with a late-season ankle injury. The Ducks say they have yet to face a multi-dimensional quarterback with the speed and skills that Boykin possesses.
"There’s not really anyone like him in the Pac-12 this year,” Oregon coach Mark Helfrich told reporters during an Alamo Bowl press conference. “He can really throw it and really run. He’s an elite passer, an elite runner, and they have a great system.”
Boykin was one of the nation's leaders in total offense for a second consecutive season. Of course, he'd love to have Doctson, his favorite target and the nation's leader in reception yards per game, as TCU looks to improve to 23-3 over the last two seasons.
Doctson finished his senior season with 79 catches and 14 touchdowns. Oregon, which ranks 125th out of 127 FBS teams in passing yards allowed a game (301.2), feels a little better knowing the Biletnikoff Award finalist won't be on the field.
"They got a whole bunch of them (receivers), but when you take one of the five best wide receivers in the country out of the game plan, yeah, there’s a little bit of relief,” Oregon secondary coach John Neal told reporters. “But they’ll just replace him with somebody. They got a lot of production on that team and a lot of great speed. It’s a tough break for them, but it doesn’t really change anything for us. We got to figure out how to stop everybody else."
