In the Tuesday PAC-12 conference call Jason Quick of the Oregonian asked Coach Helfrich about the placekicking situation, something Duck fans have agonized about for two years.
The first-year head coach told the media that the kicking competition is over, and freshman Matt Wogan would be the kicker going forward for all field goals and extra points. Senior Alejandro Maldonado will continue to handle punting and presumably onside kicks, after three credible tries versus Stanford.
Boots on the ground: Wogan tried two extra points against Stanford, both successful. He has one field goal attempt this year, good from 38 yards against Tennessee (Matt Wogan, Twitter.comphoto).
Wogan, from Porter Ridge High School in Indian Trail, North Carolina, was a 4-star recruit in the 2013 signing class, rated the #2 prep kicker in the country. He was successful on five kicks of 51 yards or long in high school, 11 of 16 overall in his senior year.
It’s unfortunate that it took this long to make this decision. Had the Ducks had a clear winner coming out of training camp, Wogan could be more comfortable and more confident in the role going into the critical stretch drive of a season where the Ducks are competing for a BCS bowl. With some injuries on offense the team has had some struggles. In one of these last three games or the bowl, the Ducks may need a kick to win, and Wogan is as yet untested. It’s a lot to ask of a freshman, but he’s been preparing all his athletic life for the opportunity.
The legend is that when Wogan came to Oregon for football camp. Chip Kelly lined him up at 60 yards, and told him he would give him a scholarship on the spot if he made it.
Wogan nailed the kick. If he does so the first time he faces that situation at Autzen Stadium, fans might carry him all the way to EMU.
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