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Oregon Ducks place kicker Matt Wogan (49) kicks an extra point as the Ducks beat the Oregon State Beavers, 47-19, at Reser Stadium during the Civil War in Corvallis on Nov. 29, 2014. Randy L. Rasmussen / The Oregonian

EUGENE -- Matt Wogan wasn't really in the mood to beat around the bush. Over the past year, he's gone from front-runner to the guy watching from the bench as a soccer player-turned-kicker took the spotlight.

He holds no grudges against Aidan Schneider, but the former No. 2 kicking recruit in the country was clear about his goals for this spring.

He doesn't want to take back what was rightfully his. That's not the Oregon Ducks way. He wants to earn it.

"This year it's going to be a lot different," Wogan said. "I'm going to take on a lot more responsibility. I'm definitely preparing myself to be the guy. Last year, I was training really hard. Now, I'm training with a purpose."

Last season was supposed to be the year the Ducks finally stopped the kicking carousel. Wogan was the leader out of fall camp, but was only 7 for 9 on field goal attempts during the season, missing time due to undisclosed injuries.

The time he missed gave Schneider a chance to make his mark. A preferred walk-on from Grant, Schneider made 11 of 12 field goals, was 40 of 42 at PATs and was the player called upon for field goals during the Pac-12 title game, the Rose Bowl and the national championship when Wogan was presumably healthy. Wogan was still the Ducks' kickoff man, ranking 43rd nationally with his 62.0-yard average on 87 attempts, but that wasn't what made Wogan so hyped coming into Oregon.

He was supposed to be a scoring threat. He wants to return to that.

A different approach in spring is what he's hoping changes that. Wogan said he used to be a guy who stressed about making every single kick in practice. And from all accounts, he generally did. But when the stress turned on in scrimmage or game situations, it would eat at him.

"Mentally, I'm 100 percent better," he said. "Last year, I was just so focused on doing it right, doing it right, doing it right. Now, I know I'm going to miss a kick. But I'm going to miss it in practices versus missing it in a game.

"For me, it's been the best practices I've had in the Oregon system."

Everyone is still expecting a competition, though. Special teams coach Tom Osborne said he's noticed an improvement from Wogan mentally, but said he has no preference for which player wins the competition. Wogan might be the more natural kicker, but Schneider showed last year that he has a clutch gene. He also has learned the position at a quick rate. Before coming to Oregon, Schneider had kicked for just two years in high school.

"We're going to choose the guy who is the best fit," Osborne said. "Sometimes you feel good for them if they earn a spot because they performed and earned the role, but you're just hoping everyone performs at the highest level."

For Wogan, performing at his peak could bring some stability after a frustrating year. Wogan was described as Oregon's "no-doubt" kicker coming out of fall camp, but the reality of the season was disappointing for the North Carolina native. Osborne said Wogan was injured three times throughout the season, and Wogan described the year as "confusing."

"I wanted the job. I wanted the spot. There's things that went into it one way or another that I can't control," Wogan said, "and I accept competition with open arms. I like it."

And there will be plenty of it. Schneider proved last season that he can compete on the biggest stages. Jesse Kelly and Alec Eickert are two other kickers on the roster in the mix, though Osborne said the main competition is between Schneider and Wogan. They have the two best legs, he said. Now, Wogan is also hoping he's got a better head.

"I was confident, but I didn't feel the confidence from other people, I guess you could say," Wogan said. "Now, I'm not worried about what other people say."

-- Tyson Alger

talger@oregonian.com

@tysonalger