Oregon Football: 5 storylines to follow during 2018 spring ball

EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes the ball as defensive end Jack Banda #92 of the Arizona Wildcats applies pressure during the second half of the game at Autzen Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game 48-28. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

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4. Which incoming freshman will contribute in 2018?

Oregon needed an influx of talent at wide receiver and got that by signing Jalen Hall out of Long Beach Poly. Hall, a 6-foot-4 200 pound true freshman, will be needed to add size and speed to a weak receiver corps. He’ll be joined by another freshman from California in Isaah Crocker. Crocker and Hall are both four-star receivers. Dillon Mitchell does return to the Ducks’ receiver group. Mitchell caught 42 passes for 517 yards and 4 touchdowns as a sophomore. The Tennessee native struggled to create big plays averaging only 12 yards per catch.

Jamal Elliott, a four-star running back out of Durham in North Carolina, will also be expected to step in and contribute right away. With Royce Freeman heading to the NFL, the Ducks will have to find their starting running back for the first time in five seasons. A talented runner like Elliott can make an immediate impact on a team looking for their new starter.

While defense was not the weakness of the Ducks in 2017, it will be hard to hold back a talented safety like Steve Stephens from stealing playing time in 2018. Stephens is a Fresno, CA native and four-star recruit. Jim Leavitt likes guys that can cause turnovers and Stephens has the athletic ability to make an immediate impact for the Ducks.

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