In recent years, the Oregon Ducks have become a powerhouse in the world of college football. In a league that features historic programs like USC, UCLA, Stanford, and Washington, the Ducks have often been the team to beat in the Pac-12.
The Ducks had some very lean years as well, but as soon as they became “that team with the funny uniforms,” they started transforming into a legitimate college football program and national championship contender.
Still, Oregon produced plenty of talented football players even before the days of wild uniforms and Times Square billboards. In fact, the Ducks have produced a series of quarterbacks that stand up against most of the programs around the country.
Let’s take a look at the 10 best Oregon Ducks football players of all time.
10. Bo Nix, quarterback
When Bo Nix transferred from his dad’s school, Auburn, many people were surprised. Not only did the legacy kid leave the Plains of Auburn but he decided to take his talent all the way to Eugene. While Nix struggled at times at Auburn, he has become a legitimate star with the Ducks throwing for 3,594 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2022. He’s currently on pace to do even better in 2023. Nix has finally lived up to his potential and has even made himself a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. If things break right for Oregon, he might even lead them back to the College Football Playoff.
9. Max Unger, center
Max Unger was one of the best offensive linemen to play for the Ducks. The 2008 All-American was also named first-team All-Pac 10 twice during his college career. He started all four seasons he was with Oregon, all of which ended in bowl game appearances. Unger went on to play with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, winning a Super Bowl and making three Pro Bowls.
8. Ahmad Rashad, wide receiver
Most fans probably didn’t know that before Ahmad Rashad became a sports commentator, he was a great wideout for the Oregon Ducks. Known as Bobby Moore until he converted to Islam and changed his name in 1973, Rashad played for the Ducks between 1969 and 1971. As a sophomore, the wide receiver and wingback made the All-Pacific Coast team. In 1971, he benefitted from playing alongside quarterback Dan Fouts, garnering 1,211 rushing yards, 324 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. He finished his Oregon career with 2,036 rushing yards, 131 receptions for 1,565 yards, and 36 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-American that year and would later be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
7. Mel Renfro, cornerback & halfback
Before Mel Renfro was known as a Dallas Cowboys great, he was a great cornerback for the Ducks. Renfro was a two-time All-American with Oregon in 1962 and 1963 Some might not remember but Renfro was actually a two-way player at Oregon, playing cornerback and halfback. Renfro rushed for 1,540 yards and 23 touchdowns as well as 41 catches for 644 yards and five scores in his college career. His average per play (6.01 yards) remains a school record. The Cowboys drafted Renfro as a defensive back and went on to have a Hall of Fame career at the position. A track star as well while at school, Renfro is now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, and the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.
6. Patrick Chung, safety
While Max Unger was the anchor on the mid-2000s Ducks offensive line, Chung was the anchor on the defense. Chung played a huge part in those spectacular Chip Kelly teams that cemented Oregon’s place in the national conversation. A first-team Freshman All-American. Chung’s college career got off on the right foot as he finished second on the team with 91 tackles. In 2006, he earned an All-Pac-10 honorable mention and finished third on the squad with 84 tackles, two sacks, and four interceptions. As a junior, he was named Second Team All-American and first-team All-Pac-10 Conference, finishing the season with 117 tackles, 7.5 stops for loss, nine pass breakups, and two interceptions. During his 11-year NFL career, spent mostly with the New England Patriots, Chung won three Super Bowls and was named to the New England Patriots All-2010s Team.
5. Dan Fouts, quarterback
Before Dan Fouts led the high-flying San Diego Chargers of the 1970s and 1980s, he was the architect of the high-flying Ducks offense in the early 1970s. Fouts was the start of the run of many great Oregon quarterbacks. He broke numerous Oregon records and he was named First-team All-Pac-8 in 1972. Fouts ended his three-year Ducks career with 5,995 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. He set 19 school records, including those for career passing yardage and total offense (5,871). Fouts went on to have a storied NFL career with the San Diego Chargers, compiling over 43,000 passing yards and 254 touchdowns.
4. LaMichael James, running back
If you ask an Oregon fan who was the best running back in Ducks history, they might just say LaMichael James. James is a Doak Walker Award winner, two-time All-American, and made the first team All-Pac 10 team twice. He was also named Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2010. James rushed for 1,805 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior and finished his college career with 5,082 rushing yards, 586 receiving yards, and 57 total touchdowns. James was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
3. Joey Harrington, Quarterback
Before Justin Herbert and Marcus Mariota, there was Joey Harrington. Harrington was Mr. Everything to the Ducks back in the early 2000s and with good reason. Harrington threw for nearly 7,000 yards in his career and 59 touchdowns. In 2001, he was named Pac-10 Offensive Player Year, a Heisman finalist, and an All-American. Harrington came to be known as “Captain Comeback” for leading the Ducks to several come-from-behind victories in the fourth quarter. The Ducks finished 10-2 and 11-1 in his final two seasons with the school, setting them on a path to sustained success. While his NFL career didn’t live up to the hype, Harrington is now a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
2. Justin Herbert, quarterback
Justin Herbert didn’t win the Heisman Trophy or lead Oregon to a national title, but he essentially did everything else while at school. Herbert has won numerous awards during his college career while leading the Ducks to the Pac-12 championship. He was named Rose Bowl MVP, was a three-time Academic All-American, and remains the all-time leader in touchdowns thrown (54). He finished his college career with 10,541 passing yards, 95 passing touchdowns, 560 rushing yards, and 13 rushing scores. Herbert went on to become the first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Chargers and won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
1. Marcus Mariota, quarterback
Perhaps the greatest Oregon Duck and greatest quarterback in the program’s history is Marcus Mariota. Mariota is not only a Heisman Trophy winner but also racked up Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, All-American, and just about every major quarterback award in 2014. In his Oregon career, Mariota passed for nearly 11,000 yards and 105 touchdowns, both of which are the most in Ducks history. In his Heisman season, he threw for over 4,400 yards and 42 touchdowns. He also ran for over 2,200 yards and 29 touchdowns in his career. It’s only a matter of time before Mariota is in the College Football Hall of Fame.
