EUGENE -- For years, Arrion Springs has been known as a good quote.

The senior for Oregon is just as confident in his abilities as he is his opinions, and there was no better blend of his two traits than the last time the Oregon Ducks met Arizona State in Tempe, when Springs ended the game in triple overtime with an interception in the end zone.

Springs saw a wide split, Reggie Daniels shut down the wheel route and Springs knew his receiver would come in on a slant. He was in the perfect spot to make the play when ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici overshot the throw. Springs caught it, kneeled down to the ground and then led the Ducks sprinting through the tunnel back to a raucous locker room.

Minutes later, he graced the media with one of the best press conferences of the season.

"I'm feeling really good, you guys can ask me anything you want and it's going to be awesome," Springs said.

The quotes kept coming:

"I knew it was coming the whole way. The whole way."

"They got me earlier. I figured they would come back to it. Nope."

"Ugo (Amadi) had (an interception) last week. Mine's a little more significant. We're all getting picks. It's whatever."

Two years later, as the Ducks ready for their return to Tempe, it's still a moment that Springs remembers vividly. The Ducks won 61-55 that night in a game highlighted by sheets on the sidelines, Charles Nelson's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the circus play between Vernon Adams and Dwayne Stanford to send the game into overtime and Bralon Addison's toe-tapping touchdown in the third OT.

It was also a game that foreshadowed some of Oregon's future struggles, as the Ducks allowed 742 yards of total offense.

But just as Oregon's 2017 defense has shown a propensity for forcing turnovers during the first three games of this season, the Ducks clinched the game with a takeaway.

Talking about it now still brings a smile to Springs' face.

"Everyone stormed the field and we ran into the locker room and started getting undressed and then they were like, 'Arrion they want to interview you,'" Springs remembered. "I was already juiced up. It was an untouchable vibe I was on at that point, so I just proceeded to give a good interview."

Springs has had his ups and downs since that game as Oregon's defense went through its lumps over the last two seasons and that still remains the only interception of his career. But so far in 2017, Springs has played a large part in what appears to be a defensive resurgence. The Ducks allowed just 64 passing yards against Josh Allen and Wyoming, his six passes defended lead the team, and Oregon coach Willie Taggart said Springs' intensity in practices has set a strong example for some of the younger players who have helped the secondary.

Springs is still hungry for his first pick of the season. He'll probably give a good quote after.

"When he's on and having a good day, that's the best Arrion," safety Tyree Robinson said. "We're trying to make that every day for him."

-- Tyson Alger

talger@oregonian.com

@tysonalger