Oregon Football: Top 5 breakout candidates for 2017

Oregon football hopes to return to the postseason under new head coach Willie Taggart. These guys will need to break out for the Ducks to reach bowl eligibility.

Last year Oregon took a total nosedive, falling to 4-8 and tumbling to the bottom of the Pac-12 North. Head coach Mark Helfrich and the rest of the staff were fired after the disappointing season. The Ducks fell to rivals Washington and Oregon State and missed out on the postseason for the first time since 2004.

In comes new head coach Willie Taggart. His staff includes multiple former head coaches at the coordinator positions. A fundamental shift has taken place in Eugene, as one era gives way to the next. Oregon has plenty of talent on its roster to return to competitiveness under the new staff in 2017.

Competing for the division title might be too much to ask in Taggart’s first season at the helm. The Ducks bring back plenty of established stars like Royce Freeman. But the transition at Autzen Stadium is also taking place in the two-deep. There are a number of skilled Ducks that will finally get their chance this season after roster spots opened up with graduations and departures.

There will be plenty of opportunities to step up and make big plays as Oregon strives to return to relevance. Click ahead to see five Ducks that have the potential to break out as star players in the 2017 season.