Spring football opens in just two days. We'll have practice access once again this spring, so 48 hours from now you'll be reading our practice report from the first of 15 spring practices.

This will act as the first opportunity to gauge several position battles. Most notable, who will be the team's new starting quarterback? What about those four vacated offensive line spots? Who replaces Troy Dye?

It will also be the first time we'll see the eight 2020 signees and January enrollees in uniform. Players like Noah Sewell, Jay Butterfield and Bennett Williams could develop into program-elevating players. We'll get our first glimpses this week.

There are also the new members of Mario Cristobal's coaching staff. Of course, everyone wants to know how new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead will fit in, but don't forget about new corners coach Rod Chance. He'll also be making his debut.

But those aren't the only things we'll have our eyes peeled for. This week will also provide us the chance to see how some of the program's more "under-the-radar" players coming along. That term can be difficult to define, but look at it this way, these are guys who've yet to start at Oregon, who weren't recruiting class headliners and haven't been lauded as the next big thing just yet.

Here are the five under-the-radar Ducks I'm most excited to watch this week and for the rest of spring camp. Of course this list isn't exhaustive, but for the sake of time and space, I've cut it to these five players.

1. Linebacker Adrian Jackson

The other players on this list have not previously contributed outside of garbage time at the end of games. Jackson is a little more advanced in that regard. Still, Jackson remains a player I can't wait to see. As a freshman in 2018, he looked like an up-and-coming star player. But a lost year in 2019 due to a foot injury, has added a little mystery as to what he can become at Oregon. That's also the case because of the incredible talent the staff has continued to attract. Jackson's name doesn't have the hype attached to it that players like Justin Flowe, Noah Sewell or Mase Funa, but that doesn't mean he cannot develop into a player who is as valuable as those three.

Adding to the intrigue is the near elimination of the position Jackson last played at Oregon. An outside linebacker in Jim Leavitt's 3-4, the Ducks have nearly cut out that position. That's why a player like LaMar Winston went from key contributor to a more limited role in 2019. Will Jackson be big enough to play STUD? Can he slide inside to inside linebacker and be as productive? Both are questions we'll have answers to shortly.

2. Tight end Patrick Herbert

We never got that Justin Herbert to Patrick Herbert connection everyone craved last fall. Justin and Patrick were on the same roster, but never really played together at Oregon. That just means Patrick will have the opportunity to carve out his own path. A year ago Herbert wasn't quite ready to contribute. Despite injuries to the team's top two tight ends, Herbert never played more than end of game snaps early in the season. Not much has changed at tight end, and there is still room for an improved Herbert in the rotation. There's probably even an outside chance that Herbert could win a starting job. That will require beating out numerous vets though.

It was clear last year that Herbert was still a little thin-framed and green to contribute in a major way. Will that again be the case in 2020? Or will Justin's younger brother be ready to be a key part of Oregon's next great offense?

3. Wide receiver Lance Wilhoite

Wilhoite was a player I was really excited to see last year. He possesses the frame and athleticism to be a very good collegiate receiver. But the opportunity to watch Wilhoite was cut short a year ago. Like Jackson, Wilhoite suffered an injury that basically cost him all of 2019. Now we get a chance to see what he can do in green and yellow. There are going to be a ton of players capable of contributing at wideout. Wilhoite isn't the only newcomer either. Devon Williams and JR Waters are also new names at wide receiver to monitor this week and for the remainder of spring.

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Ma'ae was never going to contribute much in 2019. He arrived too thin and in need of time to bulk up to contribute at this level. What he wasn't lacking was the athleticism and football instincts to be a quality outside linebacker. I'm not expecting Ma'ae to win a starting job this fall. But, there's no reason he can't push for a spot on the two-deep at STUD linebacker. Assuming he continues to fill out and retains the quick-twitch athleticism that made him such an intriguing prospect out of Bishop Gorman, Ma'ae could become a nice piece off the edge in Andy Avalos' scheme.

5. Defensive back Trikweze Bridges

Bridges falls more into the Ma'ae category than anything else. In fact, I feel less confident about his chances to contribute this fall than anyone else on the list. But, Bridges remains one of the most intriguing young players in this secondary. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, the Alabama all-time leader in interceptions, arrived in Eugene set to play safety. Midway through fall camp, the staff called an audible and moved him to corner. He possesses the length, frame and ball skills to be a quality performer at the spot, but he remains raw in terms of technique. If he can make strides, including some in the weight room, he can become a very good player. There aren't a lot of players on the defense who step onto the practice turf carrying more potential than Bridges.