josh-huff-ducks-spring.jpg

Oregon defensive back #31 Oshay Dunmore gets stiff armed as he takes down Oregon wide receiver #1 Josh Huff during the spring game at Autzen Stadium.

(Doug Beghtel/The Oregonian)

Oregon has established itself as a piece to the BCS title conversation every season now.

With an electrifying offense chocked full of speed and talent at all the skill positions, the

are a defensive coordinator's nightmare.

Largely because of their success on offense, the Ducks are one of the 10 teams

pinpointed as BCS favorites for the 2013 season.

QB

and RB

will carry much of the load again for the Ducks. Everyone knows that. But to be one of the 10 teams in the national championship conversation, Oregon will need production from more than Mariota and Thomas.

Here are five players key to the Ducks making a run at ending Alabama's run of two consecutive BCS titles -- and the SEC's string of seven straight.

CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu

Oregon allowed 229.2 yards per game last season through the air—good for 56th-best in the country. Not good. Not bad. But where they excelled was creating turnovers in the secondary. The Ducks led the nation with 26 picks, including four TDs and a whopping 502 return yards (second to SMU). Ekpre-Olomu had four picks—tied for second-best on the team—and was fourth on the team with 63 tackles. His experience—he played in all 14 games as a freshman two seasons ago—is big in leading a secondary big on making plays and getting the ball back for the offense.

WR Josh Huff

While most of the offensive attention over the past few years has fallen on a backfield featuring Mariota, Thomas, Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James, Huff has been solid, if not spectacular, at times. As a freshman in 2010, he was second on the team with 1,086 all-purpose yards. Over his career he owns an 85-yard TD run and 12 TD receptions, including a 59-yarder. Huff caught two TD passes in Oregon’s spring game and could be the beneficiary of an offense that throws the ball more under

than Chip Kelly.

DL Arik Armstead

One of the nation’s top-rated recruits coming out of Sacramento in 2011, Armstead’s talent was immediately noticed in Eugene, Ore., and he quickly worked his way into the defensive line rotation as a freshman last season. He played in 13 games and recorded 26 tackles and half a sack. At 6-8, 280 pounds, he is an imposing figure on the football field and athletic, too—he also is a member of the Oregon basketball team. While the Ducks have good numbers on the line, if Armstead continues moving closer to reaching his potential, he has the ability to be a disruptive force the way few others can be.

LB Boseko Lokombo

It can’t be all offense for the Ducks. We know Oregon will score points. The Ducks weren’t bad on defense last season, allowing just 21.6 points per game (25th in the country). But Oregon lost a lot at linebacker. Its top two tacklers, Michael Clay (101 tackles) and Kiko Alonso (81 tackles), as well as hybrid DE/LB Dion Jordan (44 tackles) combined for 34.5 tackles for loss. At 6-3, 230 pounds, Lokombo will be counted on to pick up where those guys left off. A season ago, he showed the propensity to make plays—4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

RB Thomas Tyner

Tyner hasn’t taken a snap yet, but his every move will be watched as he vies for playing time as a true freshman. The in-state recruit made headlines last fall with a

. He’s fast and is the exact type of back that can slide right into a big role with the Ducks. Barner’s 278 carries are gone to the NFL. Mariota had the next most carries with 106 and Thomas had 92 and Byron Marshall 87. So the opportunities are there and you can bet Helfrich & Co. are eager to see how much their prized recruit can contribute.

-- Ken Bradley, Sporting News. This article originally appeared on SportingNews.com