During the third quarter of Oregon's game at Arizona, junior defensive back Tristan Cooper leveled a devastating hit against Oregon wideout Dillon Mitchell. Speaking with the media this week, Cooper told the Arizona press about the hit, "If I take him out, it’ll be great."

The hit occurred with a little under seven minutes left in the third quarter as the Ducks were down 30-8 and trying to create offensive momentum. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert threw a crossing route to Dillon Mitchell when he was then leveled by Tristan Cooper. The Arizona defensive back described the play on Tuesday with the media.

“I looked backside and I saw the little crosser coming and I was like ‘I don’t think this quarterback is going to throw it, like, this is terrible if he throws it’. And he lobbed it up. I was like, ‘oh dang, this is bad.’" Cooper continued, "I didn't want the pick, I didn't want the touchdown, I just wanted the hit because this is the best receiver that everybody was talking about. So I was like, ‘ You know what? If I take him out, it’ll be great’ but I mean hopefully he’s ok now. I didn’t know I hurt him but Hopefully he’s good and ready to go for this week.

The hit was legal as Cooper lead with his shoulder and didn't hit Mitchell in the head, though Cooper admits he wishes he could have used his helmet.

"When my hit came, I was looking at him, I was like ‘dang, should I put my helmet in? But if I get this targeting call, I'm out for the (first) half of the next game.’ I was like, you know what, just going to throw a little shoulder. I threw it. It was a great hit, I liked it, but I wish it was like in the old days where we could lead with our helmet."

Mario Cristobal announced that Dillon Mitchell was in the concussion protocol following the Ducks loss to Arizona. Cristobal also noted that quarterback Justin Herbert was in the protocol.

"Both Dillon Mitchell and Justin Herbert are in concussion protocol," Cristobal said. "Anytime that the doctors choose to put someone in concussion protocol, we just leave it in the hands of them and they let us know exactly what goes on to determine exactly if and how extensive that injury should be."

Dillon Mitchell was not seen at Oregon's practice on Tuesday.