Venue: Outdoor practice fields

Format: Walk-through

Brenden Schooler is listed at 195 pounds, which in boxing terms would make him a cruiserweight.

When Schooler walked to midfield for the coin toss prior to Oregon's win last week over Nebraska, he looked like the new cruiserweight champion of the world, based on the heavy black and gold belt he wore around his waist. The belt honors the Ducks' special teams player of the week, and Schooler will wear it again for the coin toss at Wyoming on Saturday (4 p.m., CBS Sports Network), after earning the honor a second week in a row.





"He goes all out and makes plays; that's what it all comes back to," UO coach Willie Taggart said Thursday, following the Ducks' walk-through for Saturday's game. "It's just a kid that loves playing the game. I always say, the spotlight does strange things to some people. He loves the spotlight."

Since beginning his head coaching career at Western Kentucky, Taggart has sought ways to reward standout special teams play. Last year at South Florida, he hit on the idea of the big boxing-style belt, and Taggart brought the concept with him to Oregon.

Not only does the player of the week get to wear it for the next game's coin toss, he will have his named engraved on it.

"Sometimes guys can take special teams for granted, but only if you allow that as coaches," Taggart said. "Our guys have taken pride in it. Everybody wants to wear the belt."





Nobody more so than Schooler, at least through two weeks. A converted safety, Schooler has recorded a tackle in each of the Ducks' two games this season. He also has five receptions at his new position, receiver, for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Against Nebraska last week, Schooler caught his first career touchdown pass on Oregon's opening drive. A little over two minutes of game clock later, he made an open-field tackle on kickoff coverage. Within the first five minutes of the game, Schooler had scored a touchdown and recorded a tackle.

That ended up being worth player of the week honors. Saturday in Wyoming, Schooler puts his title on the line – and with it that shiny championship belt.