Oregon is in the final stretch as it begins to prepare for Spring ball. This will be a very big Spring for Oregon at a number of positions.

There's a lot of early buzz about Dillon Mitchell.

With many new faces and another starting quarterback, the Ducks will work to find the chemistry that will lead them to the national championship.

One look at this roster, and offensively it's absolutely LOADED with weapons. Royce Freeman, Darren Carrington and Dakota Prukop are just a few of the names highlighting the list.

Below are some notes Matt and I put together from various sources. Some of you will have questions on specific guys but this is just what we've been able to put together through the grapevine.

Although a lot of our information is doubled, Matt and I did checking with different sources to come up with the notes below.

Who's Impressed

I'm going to lead off here with Dillon Mitchell. Granted, we've heard some of this before but his early impressions have been off the charts. Lubick might have a very difficult time keeping him off the field this season. Which is really saying something considering the depth at receiver.

The early word is he's been all that was advertised and the coaching staff can see why he had every national offer. This will be something to watch progress in Spring ball when the pads come on.

AJ Hotchkins is going to be an impact player this year. He showed up in shape and hungry to get on the field. He's got the size and sources tell me he's working his butt off in every drill. While inside linebacker was a bit of a weak spot, the move to the 4-3 combined with Hotchkins arrival might cure that issue.

A healthy Juwaan Williams will really bolster the defensive back group.

What to Watch For

Last season when Juwaan Williams went down with an injury it was a brutal loss on many fronts. Not only did it hurt depth purposes, it was likely the loss of Oregon's best defensive back. While he didn't steal headlines, Williams was doing all of the little things right and really coming along. This could be a very big season for him if he stays healthy. It will also help with what I'm posting below.

While defensive back depth was an issue last year, it likely won't this year. Malik Lovette made the switch and will continue to learn the position. Seisay is back and healthy also aiding in that depth. Another year for Ugo Amadi to progress and he'll be valuable.

But what that ultimately means is Charles Nelson's tenure at defensive back is done. Barring any major changes this Spring, Nelson will make his return to offense full-time. He's one of the most electric playmakers in the country in the open field. The Ducks will have yet another weapon in addition to those listed above to utilize this season. Good luck opposing defensive coordinators.

While I'm talking DB's, watch out for walk-on Jhet Janis. He was late to the show last year and is a track kid. But sources tell me this kid does it all really well. He's fast, he's tough and he works really hard. I'm not advocating he'll be a day one starter, but the fact is, you might hear an alarming amount about this kid this Spring and Fall. And I mean in a good way.

Kirk Merritt is going to be special. There are a number of great playmakers at Oregon and Merritt has the athleticism and drive to be great. With only one ball and so many options, it will be hard to see just how much Merritt can get the ball. But expect to see him on the field a lot making plenty of eye-opening plays.

The Prukop Show

Think about this, Oregon is about to have its third quarterback starter in as many years. For most schools that's the kiss of death. For Oregon it's nearly the norm. On one hand the recruitment and development of high school quarterbacks hasn't been ideal. But on the other hand, credit Mark Helfrich for going after a fix.

Prukop has seized the reigns of this Oregon team.

We saw what Vernon Adams did with just a week or two of prep time. But Dakota Prukop gets the benefit of building chemistry and leadership through the Winter, Spring and Summer. I'm told he's taking every advantage. Like Adams, Prukop is betting on himself and how this year could set up his NFL career.

The offense is going to be different. Not only because of Lubick, but because of Prukop as well. He's a different type of quarterback. He's an amazing athlete but he isn't nearly the passer Adams is. He's got the big arm, but his accuracy isn't as polished as Adams. Expect the Ducks to return to a bit more of the run-threat type of offense it ran with Mariota at the helm.

One thing is for sure, this team is Prukop's. He's taken the bull by the horns and is the definitive leader on this team.

Odds and Ends

Devon Allen's track success is going to continue to be a factor. And what I mean by that is he is still considering making the jump to full-time track star. And understandably so. I'm not sure if he will go through Spring ball with Oregon football or not, but in any event I get the feeling he's likely played his last down for Helfrich.

Brady Hoke didn't mess around. I'm told he showed up and in his first 'real' team meeting he called out the team for the Alamo bowl game loss. I'm sure there's been no shortage of calling out for the debacle, but I'm told Hoke really drove it home.

Watch out for Justin Hollins this year. I'm told if he can stay healthy, he's got a special chance to be a major impact. The staff is incredibly high on his potential. It will be interesting to see how he fits into the 4-3 scheme under Hoke, but the ability is there.

The return of Pharaoh Brown is highly anticipated. However don't get caught up in the hype. As of now he's still not clear to practice for full drills. He's not cleared for contact. He's still got a ways to go. I'm not saying he won't come back, in fact it seems incredibly likely. And should he return that's going to be yet another HUGE weapon in the offense. This Spring will go a long ways towards seeing exactly where Brown is at.

A healthy Pharaoh Brown will be huge for this Oregon offense.

While we are talking about injuries a little bit on Travis Jonsen. For starters he's opened a lot of eyes in his limited time. His foot has mostly healed, but unfortunately it's the type of injury that can linger and easily return. While I'm not saying he will get injured again, it's certainly something to keep tabs on moving forward. This will be a very, very big year for him to learn the offense and sharpen his skills right behind Dakota Prukop. Jonsen has a chance to be a special multi-year starter at Oregon if he can stay healthy.

***Matt Prehm***

Leadership

I am told that Junior running back Royce Freeman and senior quarterback Dakota Prukop have taken on a bigger role in leadership this offseason. It isn't a big surprise, and honestly, it is something Oregon's coaches expected to happen, but still seeing it develop is key. Freeman is working on becoming more of a vocal leader and is going through the growing pains like Marcus Mariota did between his sophomore and junior seasons.

Prukop, on the other hand, is doing anything and everything to get himself in front of teammates and showcase his leadership skills. He's the new guy on campus, but playing the most important position. I am told Prokop's work ethic is impressive and starting to catch the eye of teammates. They already liked him off the field, but he's developing the team chemistry early. This is an area Vernon Adams said last year that required time. He didn't feel like he became a team leader until the Washington or Arizona State game. He also was available for workouts like Prukop is, so that played a factor.

Offensive Line

I am told offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby and interior lineman Evan Voeller have done a really good job at cutting their bad weight and adding on muscle. This is the time where guys work on shedding bad weight and bulking up, and I am told that these two linemen are guys who've stood out so far early into the offseason.

Dillon Mitchell is the real deal

I want to say first that 7-on-7 workouts don't equally mean a player is going to be a stud, but from all accounts, it looks like Dillon Mitchell is the real deal. He is one of the team's most athletic players on roster and is starting to make noise in 7-in-7 workouts. This is a guy who could find himself on the travel roster next season as a true freshman.

AJ Hotchkins Impressive

From a purely physical standpoint, inside linebacker AJ Hotchkins looks the part of Oregon's revamped defense. He moves really well sideline to sideline, but also vertically. I was told he's going to have some issues with his height, but he looks like a steal from the JUCO ranks.

