Oregon vs Arizona State: 2020 NFL Draft stock report as Ducks get upset

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TEMPE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver Johnny Johnson III #3 of the Oregon Ducks runs with the football against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of the NCAAF game at Sun Devil Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Stock Up: Oregon

Johnny Johnson III | Junior | Wide receiver

If you knew who Johnny Johnson III was prior to this weekend, you’re either a big Oregon fan, a big Pac-12 fan, or a big NFL Draft fan. Otherwise, you’d be caught off guard by his stat line. As those stats indicate, Johnson was an absolute TERROR for the Arizona State secondary. He finished with an astounding 10 catches for 207 receiving yards to go along with 2 receiving touchdowns.

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He shows great suddenness, not executing an extensive route tree on regular occasions, but is able to hit cuts with precision to cause missteps from his respective defensive back. His first big catch of the night came in man coverage against a Cover 1 defense, in which he false steps inside very early and then uses his speed to accelerate out to the boundary for a big gain.

However, Johnson made his money creating off of screens, displaying great open field awareness and patience with his blockers to churn out yards. Johnson may not have been a household name prior to Saturday, but his heroics, though not enough to win, were enough to garner attention.

It remains to be seen if he declares for the 2020 NFL Draft.

C.J. Verdell | Sophomore | Running back

While Verdell is not eligible to declare, he demonstrated excellent play behind a veteran Oregon Ducks offense. His performance wasn’t the flashiest, but Verdell displayed a sense of patience with his linemen, hitting holes with authority and confidence. More than anything, Verdell showed his ability to grind through traffic. His burst was evident when he could see the second level, but he was consistent in covering the football and maintaining possession even when running through a crowd.

While, again, it wasn’t the flashiest performance, Verdell showed that he can play like a bell-cow back even at his more diminutive size. He’s listed at 5’9”, 210 pounds. Typically, that’s undersized with good weight, but he churned out tough yards when needed. Verdell may still be a day three selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he definitely displayed some three-down versatility.

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