EUGENE -- Justin Herbert warned Brenden Schooler.

When you catch your first touchdown, Herbert told Schooler, you better be ready.

"I'm coming down there and I'm going to crack him," the sophomore quarterback said.

It didn't take long on Saturday for Hebert to prove he was a man of his word. In the first quarter of Oregon's 42-35 victory over Nebraska, Herbert saw the safety-turned-wide receiver in enticing coverage in the end zone. Herbert lobbed a pass into the back corner, where Schooler went up and over his defender to come down with the 32-yard touchdown reception.

It was the first touchdown of Schooler's career, and one that came just a month after being switched from the position he played during the entire 2016 season as a freshman.

And after he came down with the ball, he didn't even see his quarterback charging.

"His tackling skills are pretty good," Schooler said. "I think he learned from me. I didn't know who it was, and then I looked up to see him."

Schooler who led the Ducks with four interceptions last season, finished the game with three catches for 41 yards. On the ensuing kickoff, Schooler recorded a tackle on the kick return.

"A big reason why we moved him to receiver is because we knew he had great ball skills that he showed on that play," Oregon coach Willie Taggart said. "He's a football player. Not only the touchdown but going down on kickoffs to make tackles, he does it all for us. He loves to compete, and those are the kind of guys we want on this football team. We'll find a place where they can help us, and that's what we did with Schooler."

-- Tyson Alger

talger@oregonian.com

@tysonalger