Oregon Ducks¹ Latimer set to prove himself again

By Rob Kariakin
Daily Bruin Contributor
and Andrea DeYoung
Oregon Daily Emerald

Before the season, Derien Latimer’s goal was simply to make the
University of Oregon’s traveling team. He spent his summer nights
tossing and turning, waiting for fall practice to begin so he could
prove himself worthy of that modest dream.

Two months later, he is scheduled to start against the Bruins
this Saturday in Eugene, and sleeping a little better.

This improbable change of events is due as much to the
misfortune of others as to the efforts of Latimer.

At any one time, Oregon boasts at least five players on the
depth chart at tailback, and their "back-by-committee" game plan
often makes use of three or four of them. But five games into the
season, four of them have gone down at different times with
injuries.

The one left standing … Derien Latimer.

The redshirt freshman from Colorado Springs, Colo. spent the
first two games pacing the sidelines, waiting for his chance to
play. He got in for a couple of plays against Colorado State, the
Ducks’ third opponent, but didn’t really have a chance to make much
of an impact.

"It was real difficult the first two or three games," Latimer
said. "I was just walking up and down the sidelines, wondering if I
was going to get in. It was real difficult.

"But it’s something that you have to deal with. It’s a part of
college football. Everyone can’t play. However long it was going to
take, I was willing to wait."

He didn’t have to wait much longer. Two weeks ago, in the second
half against Washington State, he was called in as the Ducks
attempted to rally from a 52-14 deficit. He quickly gained 64 yards
on nine carries and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. In just
over a quarter, the Ducks outscored the Cougars 30-3, but
ultimately ran out of time, losing 55-44.

Despite the defeat, Latimer had made his mark.

"I was just happy to get in, because [the game before] I just
got in two or three plays, so I was real hungry to get in," he
said. "I was glad I took the most of the opportunity because Coach
is always talking about somebody stepping up and that’s what I
did."

That would be head coach Mike Bellotti, who clearly liked what
he saw.

"He ran with good vision, good power and he kept his legs
moving," Bellotti said. "He answered some of the questions we had
about him as a running back. I was very impressed."

The Oregon coaches already knew Latimer could play. Coming out
of Air Academy High School he was one of the all-time leading
rushers in the history of high school football with 5,284 yards and
63 touchdowns. During his senior season alone he rushed for 300
yards six times and twice scored six touchdowns, finishing with
3,150 yards and 38 touchdowns on just 241 carries.

With a resume like that, it was anything but a forgone
conclusion that Latimer would end up at Oregon. That is, until he
visited.

"I didn’t know anything about this program," he said. "I didn’t
even know who the head coach was. When I came [to Eugene], I pretty
much fell in love with this place. There was a good group of guys
here who seemed to be interested in a lot of things. I thought
these were the kind of people I wanted to be around."

He spent his first year learning the Oregon system and adjusting
to the college game, but without extensive playing experience he is
just now discovering what he can contribute to the team.

"I really don’t know what I bring to the table because I really
just played my first game" he said after the Washington State game.
"I haven’t really found myself yet."

He does however have an idea about what it will take for him to
succeed.

"I can’t try to do anything that’s not within myself," he said.
"Running the ball is either something that you have or you don’t.
There are a lot of other things that come around that you have to
deal with like blocking and catching."

Latimer admits that blocking is his weak point, but at 5-foot
11-inch and 207 pounds he has the tools to improve.

"Supposedly, I am supposed to be able to take a beating," he
said.

Which is exactly what the Bruins plan on giving him this
weekend. At least, when he’s around.

Despite being slated to start against UCLA, it is still unclear
how much playing time Latimer will see this week, or this season.
In last week’s loss at Arizona State, he carried the ball only
seven times for a less then stellar 23 yards and no touchdowns.
What’s more, he split time with sophomore Kevin Parker and fellow
redshirt freshman Jerry Brown.

The Ducks show no signs of abandoning that "back-by-committee"
system any time soon, and Latimer has by no means secured the
starting spot once the other tailbacks return.

However, with three more seasons of eligibility left after this
one, he still has plenty of time left to shine.

If his play against Washington State was truly a glimpse of what
the future may hold, Latimer may be sleeping soundly very soon.