The Oregonian/OregonLive has compiled a list of nominees for an Oregon Ducks All-Quarter-Century football team made up of players from 2000 through 2024. The final teams will be selected in August.
• • •
OTHER POSTS
Defense:
Defensive tackles
.
Special Teams:
Punt returner
;
Kickoff returners
;
Kicker
.
Punter
.
• • •
Today:
Defensive ends (nominees detailed below in alphabetical order).
Vote:
Make your selections in the poll below. You can also email Aaron Fentress (
afentress@oregonian.com
) with your thoughts.
• • •
DEFENSIVE END NOMINEES
DeForest Buckner
Years:
2012-2015
.
Record books:
In 2015, Buckner made 83 tackles, 17 for loss with 10½ sacks, tied for 10th all-time.
In 2014, Buckner produced 12 tackles for loss with four sacks.
Buckner finished his college career with 231 tackles, 36 for loss (10th all-time at UO), and 18 sacks.
Accolades/accomplishments:
Buckner was named First-Team All-Pac-12 in 2014 and 2015 when he was named conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Buckner helped the Ducks win the 2014 Pac-12 Conference title and secure a victory over Florida State in the 2015 Rose Bowl/playoff game to earn a berth into the national title games.
NFL:
The No. 7 pick in 2016 to the San Francisco 49ers, Buckner is a three-time Pro Bowler now playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has 67½ career sacks.
• • •
Brandon Dorlus
Years:
2019-2023
.
Record books:
Dorlus led the Ducks with 9½ tackles for loss in 2022 and five sacks in 2023.
He finished his career with 108 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
Accolades/accomplishments:
Dorlus was named first-team All-Pac-12 in 2021 and 2023, and to the Second-Team in 2022.
NFL career:
Atlanta selected Dorlus in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He appeared in two games last season.
• • •
Taylor Hart
Years:
2010-2013
.
Record books:
Hart is not listed in the record book.
During his college career, Hart made 173 total tackles, including 22 for a loss and 16 sacks with five forced fumbles. He led the team with eight sacks in 2012.
Accolades/accomplishments:
Hart was named honorable mention in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and Second-Team All-Pac-12 in 2013.
He was a key member of the 2010 team that won the Pac-10 Conference and reached the BCS National Championship Game.
NFL:
Hart was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2014 NFL Draft. He played 14 games with the Eagles in 2015 before moving on to the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
• • •
Jalen Jelks
Years:
2015-2018
.
Records:
Jelks’ five tackles for loss against Arizona State in 2017 rank tied for second all-time.
He ended his career with 156 tackles, 30 for loss and 15 sacks.
Accolades/accomplishments:
Jelks was named first-team All-Pac-12 in 2017 and second team in 2018.
NFL:
Jelks was drafted in the seventh round by the Dallas Cowboys but did not appear in an NFL game.
• • •
Dion Jordan
Years:
2009-2012
.
Records:
He led the team with 13 tackles for loss and 7½ in 2011.
He finished his career with 121 tackles, 30 for loss and 14½ sacks.
Accolades/accomplishments:
He was named First-Team All-Conference in 2011 and 2012.
NFL:
Jordan was drafted third overall by the Miami Dolphins in 2013 and played six seasons in the NFL.
• • •
Devan Long
Years:
2002-2005
.
Record books:
Long’s 48 tackles for loss rank third all-time. He produced 11½ sacks in 2003 (tied for fifth) and had 24½ for his career (fourth).
Accolades/accomplishments:
Long was named honorable mention all-conference in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
NFL:
Injuries ended Long’s NFL aspirations. He turned to acting and is starring
in the television series Ghosts
.
• • •
Saul Patu
Years:
1997-2000
.
Record books:
Patu played just one season within the past 25 years, but his impact was undeniable.
Patu had 20 tackles for loss, which ranks tied for fourth all-time. He finished his career with 53, which remains a program record.
His 11 sacks in 2000 rank tied for seventh and the 26½ for his career rank third.
Accolades/accomplishments:
Patu was named second-team All-Pac-10 in 2000, the year the Ducks defeated Texas in the Holiday Bowl.
NFL:
Patu spent time with three NFL teams but never appeared in a game. He later played several years in the Arena Football League.
• • •
Nick Reed
Years:
2005-2008
.
Record books:
Reed’s name is found throughout the defensive record book.
His 13 sacks in 2008 are tied for first in Oregon history. His 12 sacks in 2007 rank tied for third.
Reed’s 29½ career sacks are the most in program history. His 51½ career tackles for loss rank second.
Reed’s 22½ tackles for loss in 2007 rank second all-time. His 20 tackles for loss in 2008 are tied for fourth.
Accolades/accomplishments:
Reed was named First-Team All-Pac-10 in 2007 and 2008. He was inducted into the Oregon Hall of Fame in 2020.
NFL:
The Seattle Seahawks selected Reed in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL draft. Reed played in 26 NFL games with the Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• • •
Kenny Rowe
Years:
2007-2010
.
Record books:
Rowe’s 37½ career tackles for loss rank ninth. He had 11½ sacks in 2009, which ranks tied for fifth, and a career total of 23½, also tied for fifth.
Accolades/accomplishments:
Rowe was named honorable-mention all-conference in 2009 and Second-Team in 2010 when he helped lead the Ducks to a Pac-10 title and the BCS National Championship Game.
NFL:
Rowe signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, and after a small stint with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders (2011-2012), he spent time with the Arizona Cardinals.
• • •
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Years:
2019-2021
.
Record books:
Thibodeaux ended his career with 126 tackles, 34 for loss and 19 sacks, ranked tied for seventh all-time at UO.
His 9½ sacks in 2019 are a freshman record. In 2021 against UCLA, he had 4½ tackles for loss, tied for 10th.
Thibodeaux led the Ducks in sacks and tackles for loss in three consecutive seasons.
Accolades/accomplishments:
He was named First-Team All-Pac-12 in 2020 and 2021. He was also named an AP All-American.
NFL:
Thibodeaux was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Through 2023, he had recorded 99 tackles and 15½ sacks with five forced fumbles.
• • •
Will Tukuafu
Years:
2007-2009
.
Record books:
His 17½ tackles for loss in 2008 rank 10th all-time at UO. That season, he had 4½ against Boise State, a mark that’s tied for 10th.
Tukuafu ended his career with 32½ tackles for loss and 14½ sacks.
Accolades/accomplishments:
He was named honorable mention in both 2007 and 2008 and second-team All-Pac-10 in 2009.
NFL:
Despite going undrafted,
Tukuafu played six years in the NFL
—three in Seattle and three in San Francisco.
• • •
Next up:
Outside linebackers.
Latest Blazers news
-
Trail Blazers, minus Yang Hansen, end Summer League with loss to Suns
-
Damian Lillard officially signs contract to return to Trail Blazers
-
Portland Trail Blazers face Phoenix Suns Saturday: Summer League game preview, time, TV channel
-
For Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers, there is a thin line between fairy tale and failure | Bill Oram
-
Rookie Yang Hansen and James Bouknight lead Blazers to Summer League win over Rockets
— Aaron Fentress |
afentress@Oregonian.com
|
@AaronJFentress
(Twitter),
@AaronJFentress
(Instagram),
@AaronFentress
(Facebook)
About The Author
More Stories
Oregon Ducks All-Quarter-Century team nominees: Defensive ends
Oregon Ducks All-Quarter-Century team nominees: Defensive ends
Oregon Ducks All-Quarter-Century team nominees: Defensive ends