Rose Bowl Match-Ups: Wide Receivers

This was another surprise to me as I looked at the statistics and depth charts for both schools. Wisconsin has NO depth at this position. They have their two starters and a back-up. That's it.

What's more, Duck wide receivers had more catches as a group than Wisconsin and just 19 less total yards..

Oregon: Wide receiver is another position that the Ducks found themselves needing to reload at in the 2011 season. Lost from the 12-1 national championship runners-up were Jeff Maehl and DJ Davis who completed their eligibility in 2010. Duck fans found themselves optimistic, though, as Lavasier Tuinei, a rangy receiver with good hands, returned. 2010 also saw the emergence of Josh Huff, the speedster out of Texas. The Ducks were looking for a breakout year from Huff. Coaches and teammates felt that there was only one starter that needed to be found.

Unfortunately, Huff found himself injured in fall camp. Without his speed on the outside, opponents would be better equipped to stack the box and play against the run. The Ducks signed 4 wide receivers in the 2011 class, three freshman and a junior college transfer. Early on in the season, though, it became clear that the three freshmen were going to need to redshirt. Someone else was going to need to step up if the Ducks...

Wisconsin: The Badgers faced a similar uncertainty in their wide receiver group coming into the 2011 season. The leading receiver in 2010 was the tight end. The one constant the team was sure they could count on was the son of former New York Jet All Toon. Nick Toon was a legacy player for Wisconsin following in his fathers footsteps to Madison. Nick had played well enough to be the second leading receiver for the Badgers as a junior.

Entering his senior year off of the frustration that came from a Rose Bowl loss to TCU in January, Toon started the season strong with...


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