Oregon Ducks countdown to kickoff: No. 1 is extremely popular with playmakers

The Oregon Ducks start the 2024 season on Saturday at home against Idaho. The Oregonian/OregonLive will count down the days with mini-profiles of prominent former and current Ducks whose jersey numbers correspond with the days remaining until the opening kickoff.

Today, No. 1:

Cornerback Alex Molden and wide receivers Cristin McLemore, Josh Huff, and Samie Parker.

• • •

Alex Molden

Bio:

Oregon recruited Molden out of Sierra High School (Colorado), where he also played tailback and returned punts.

His son, Elijah Molden, played defensive back at Washington. The Tennessee Titans selected him in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Key statistics:

Alex Molden was part of an Oregon secondary that helped lay the foundation for the “Gang Green” defense that led the Ducks to the 1995 Rose Bowl.

Molden led UO in pass breakups four consecutive seasons (1992-1995).

After redshirting in 1991, Molden produced four interceptions, 15 pass breakups, and 55 tackles in 1992.

Molden suffered a serious knee injury during the 1992 Independence Bowl but worked his way back to start nine games in 1993 and picked up an interception with 10 pass breakups.

Molden, playing opposite cornerback Kenny Wheaton, was named first-team All-Pac-10 in 1994 after registering 16 pass breakups with four interceptions.

Oregon Ducks defensive back Alex Molden (#1) deflects a pass intended for Penn State wide receiver Bobby Engram (#10) during the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1995 in Pasadena, Calif.

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Oregon upset Washington and won a share of the Pac-10 title to earn a berth into the Rose Bowl, where they lost to Penn State.

In 1995, Molden again received first-team all-conference honors but was also named second-team All-American.

Molden ranks first all-time at Oregon with 60 pass breakups. His 11 interceptions rank 14th all-time.

Molden was inducted into the Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.

NFL:

Molden was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He also played for the San Diego Chargers and the Detroit Lions, recording 296 total tackles, 12 interceptions, and five forced fumbles.

• • •

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Josh Huff (#1) eludes an attempted tackle from Stanford Cardinal cornerback Terrence Brown (#6) at Stanford Stadium, in Palo Alto, Calif., on Sat., Nov. 12, 2011. Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

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Josh Huff

Bio:

Oregon recruited Huff out of Nimitz High School (Texas), where he played wide receiver, quarterback, running back, and cornerback.

Key statistics:

Huff kicked off his collegiate career as the only true freshman to start games on the 2010 offense, which, under coach Chip Kelly, helped the Ducks go 12-0 to reach the BCS National Championship Game.

Huff caught 19 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns that season and scored two rushing touchdowns. He also returned 23 kickoffs for 567 yards, sixth in the Pac-10.

In 2011, Huff caught 31 passes for 430 yards and two scores, helping the Ducks repeat as conference champions and win the Rose Bowl over Wisconsin.

Huff led the team in both receiving yards (493) and touchdowns (seven) in 2012 while catching passes from quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Ducks went 12-1 and won the Fiesta Bowl.

Huff was named honorable mention All-Pac-12.

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Josh Huff (#1), celebrates his touchdown against Oregon State at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sat, Oct 26, 2013. Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian LC- The Oregonian

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Huff’s best season came in 2013 while still playing with Mariota. Huff caught 62 passes for 1,140 yards (fourth all-time at UO) and 12 touchdowns (tied for second).

Huff surpassed 100 yards receiving six times (tied for second). Against Oregon State, Huff caught nine passes for 186 yards (12th all-time) and three touchdowns, including the game-winner from 12 yards out with 29 seconds remainnig. UO won 36-35.

Huff finished his career with 144 receptions (10th), 2,366 yards (eighth), and 24 touchdowns (tied for second).

NFL:

Huff was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints. He later played in the CFL.

• • •

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Cristin McLemore (#1) tries to avoid Penn State’s Phil Yeboah-Kodie (#43) during the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 2, 1995 (Photo by Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima

Cristin McLemore

Bio:

Oregon recruited McLemore out of Marina High School (California), where he played quarterback his senior year.

Key statistics:

McLemore’s career took off his sophomore year when he finished second on the team in both receptions (50) and receiving yards (791) while leading the Ducks with 10 touchdown receptions (tied for fourth in UO history).

The 1994 season saw the Ducks reach the Rose Bowl. McLemore racked up 474 yards and eight touchdowns, including one against Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Cristin McLemore (#1) catches a pass against Stanford at Stanford Stadium on Nov. 12, 1994: UO won 55-21. -Otto Greule/ALLSPORT

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The following season, McLemore dominated with 1,036 yards (11th) and four touchdowns to earn second-team All-Pac-10.

McLemore ended his career with 2,498 receiving yards (sixth all-time), 160 receptions (tied for seventh), and 24 touchdowns (tied for second with three others).

• • •

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Samie Parker (#1) scores on a long touchdown reception against Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2002. – Tom Treik/The Oregonian

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Samie Parker

Bio:

Oregon recruited Parker out of


Long Beach Poly High School (California), where he was also a star in track & field. He took both talents to Oregon.

Key statistics:

Parker saw his first game action in his freshman season, showing off his potential with 201 receiving yards on 11 receptions.

In 2001, Parker finished second on the team with 758 receiving yards and had four touchdowns while playing with wide receiver Keenan Howry and quarterback Joey Harrington.

Parker’s biggest game for the Pac-10 champions came during the Ducks’ win over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl.

Parker used his track speed to turn nine receptions into 162 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown.

In his third season (2002), Parker led the team with 49 receptions and 724 yards, scoring eight touchdowns.

In his strongest season, Parker recorded 1,088 yards (sixth in UO history) on 77 receptions (tied for third) with seven touchdowns.

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Samie Parker (#1) breaks free against the Washington Huskies on November 16, 2002, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

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During the team’s 31-30 loss to Minnesota in the Sun Bowl, Parker recorded a program-record 16 catches for 200 yards (ninth), setting Sun Bowl records in both categories.

Parker was named honorable mention All-Pac-10 in both 2002 and 2003.

Parker finished his career with school records in receiving yards (2,761) and receptions (178), which Jeff Maehl tied during his career (2007-2010). Parker’s 19 touchdowns rank tied for 10th.

NFL:

Kansas City selected Parker in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played four seasons with Kansas City, catching 110 passes for 1,529 yards and seven touchdowns.

• • •

PRIOR COUNTDOWN POSTS

Oregon Ducks linebacker Kiko Alonso (47) after intercepting a pass against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2012, in Pasadena, Calif. Bruce Ely / The Oregonian LC- The Oregonian

LC- The Oregonian

No. 2:

Wide receivers Tony Hartley, Bralon Addison, and Jordan Kent, safety T.J. Ward and running back Onterrio Smith

No. 3:

Quarterback Joey Harrington

No. 4:

Safety Erick Dargan, cornerback Thomas Graham Jr., and wide receiver Jaison Williams

No. 5:

Defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, quarterback Darron Thomas, and cornerback Khyree Jackson

No. 6 (Part 1):

Defensive backs Steve Smith and Walter Thurmond III

No. 6 (Part 2):

Running back/wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas, wide receivers Demetrius Williams and Charles Nelson

No. 7:

Running back CJ Verdell and safety Chad Cota

No. 8:

Safeties Anthony Newman and Jevon Holland

No. 9:

Running back/wide receiver Byron Marshall, running back Maurice Morris, and defensive lineman Arik Armstead

No. 10:

Quarterbacks Bo Nix, Justin Herbert and Dennis Dixon

No. 11:

Quarterback Dan Fouts

No. 12:

Quarterback Chris Miller

No. 13:

Wide receiver Dillon Mitchell and Cornerback Cliff Harris

No. 14:

Quarterback Bill Musgrave, defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, and quarterback/defensive back George Shaw

No. 15:

Defensive back Patrick Chung, wide receiver Keenan Howry, and quarterback Bob Berry

.

No. 16:

Quarterback Danny O’Neil

No. 17:

Defensive back Rashad Bauman and quarterback Jack Crabtree

No. 18:

Tight end Spencer Webb and linebacker Wesly Mallard

No. 19:

The 1919 and 2019 Oregon Ducks Rose Bowl teams

No. 10:

Defensive back Kenny Wheaton and defensive back/running back Mel Renfro

No. 21: Running backs

LaMike James

and

Royce Freeman

No. 22:

Linebacker Derrick Malone Jr. and running back Reuben Droughns

No. 23:

Running back/wide receiver Ahmad Rashad and wide receiver Jeff Maehl

No. 24:

Running backs Kenjon Barner and Jeremiah Johnson

No. 25:

Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin

No. 26:

Running back Travis Dye

No. 27:

Defensive back Terrance Mitchell

No. 28:

Running back Jonathan Stewart and safety J.D. Nelson

No. 29:

Defensive back Mario Clark and running back Kani Benoit

No. 30:

Jim Shanley, Woodley Lewis and Dave Grayson

No. 31:

Defensive backs Avery Patterson and Justin Phinisee

No. 32:

Safety Jairus Byrd

No. 33:

1933 Webfoots and linebacker Tyson Coleman

No. 34:

Defensive back Jim Smith and defensive tackle Jordon Scott

No. 35:

Linebackers Troy Dye, Joe Walker and Spencer Paysinger

No. 37:

Defensive back Talmadge Jackson III

.

No. 38:

Safety Eddie Pleasant

No. 39:

Linebacker Kevin Mitchell

No. 40:

Linebacker Ernest Jones and punter Josh Bidwell

.

No. 41:

Kicker Aidan Schneider

.

No. 42:

Tight end David Paulson and fullback Latin Berry

.

No. 43:

Center Brad Ecklund and lineman Ed Moshofsky

.

No. 44:

Defensive lineman DeForest Bucker, tight end Dante Rosario, and defensive back Jake Leicht

.

No. 45:

Defensive lineman Matt Toeaina

.

No. 46:

Linebacker Michael Clay

No. 47:

Linebacker Kiko Alonso

No. 48:

DL Saul Patu and LB Rodney Hardrick

No. 49:

Defensive end Nick Reed

No. 50:

Defensive tackle Popo Aumavae

No. 51:

Offensive lineman Jeff Kendall

No. 52:

Linebacker Tom Graham

No. 53:

Defensive lineman Igor Olshansky

No. 54:

Three champion linemen

No. 55:

Centers Hroniss Grasu and Jake Hanson, plus linebacker Casey Matthews

No. 56:

Offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman

No. 57:

OL George Dames and 1957 Rose Bowl team

No. 58:

Defensive end Kenny Rowe and center Jackson Powers-Johnson

No. 59:

Offensive lineman Ian Reynoso

No. 60:

Center Max Unger

No. 61:

Lineman Steve Barnett

No. 62:

Offensive lineman Matt Pierson

No. 63:

Defensive lineman Vince Goldsmith

No. 64:

Lineman Dave Wilcox

No. 65:

Offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius

No. 66:

Defensive lineman Taylor Hart

No. 67:

Offensive lineman Jack Patera

No. 68:

Offensive lineman Shane

Lemieux

No. 69:

Offensive lineman Bo Thran

No. 70:

Fullback Bob Sanders

No. 71:

Offensive linemen Mark Lewis and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu

No. 72:

Offensive lineman Adam Snyder

No. 73:

Offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby

No. 74:

Offensive linemen Kyle Long and Tom Drougas

No. 75:

Offensive tackle Jake Fisher

No. 76:

Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr

No. 77:

Offensive lineman Carson York

No. 78:

Offensive linemen Alex Forsyth and Cameron Hunt

No. 79:

Mark Asper, offensive line

No. 80:

Wide receivers Lavasier Tuinei, Greg Moser and Ray Palm

No. 81:

Wide receiver Bob Newland

No. 82:

Wide receiver Lew Barnes and tight end Blake Spence

No. 83: Tight end

Ed Dickson and wide receiver Patrick Johnson

No. 84:

Tight end Justin Peelle, linebacker Anthony Trucks

, and Cam McCormick

No. 85:

Pharaoh Brown, Tim Day and Matt Evensen

.

No. 86:

Wide receiver Paul Burleson

.

No. 87:

Wide receiver Greg Specht

No. 88:

Wide receiver Dwayne Stanford and defensive lineman Brandon Bair

No. 89:

This team ended a 25-year drought

No. 90:

Tight end Josh Wilcox and defensive lineman Drayton Carlberg

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