Willie Taggart’s Starting 11: Jake Pisarcik, Right Guard

Oregon senior Jake Pisarcik will start at right guard for the Ducks in 2017. After playing in just six total games last season, the offensive lineman is looking to play a full campaign for head coach Willie Taggart.

We are just 17 days away from Oregon’s first game against Southern Utah on Saturday, September 2 at Autzen Stadium.

If you missed any of my 11-part series projecting the defense, you can find it at ATQ. Now, it’s time for the offensive starter projections for Willie Taggart’s 2017-18 team.

WILLIE TAGGART’S 11

QUARTERBACK - Justin Herbert (Tuesday)

RUNNING BACK - Royce Freeman (Wednesday)

WIDE RECEIVER - Charles Nelson (Thursday)

WIDE RECEIVER - Dillon Mitchell (Friday)

TIGHT END - Jacob Breeland (Saturday)

LEFT TACKLE - Tyrell Crosby (Sunday)

LEFT GUARD - Shane Lemieux (Monday)

CENTER - Jake Hanson (Tuesday)

STARTING RIGHT GUARD, JAKE PISARCIK

He was one of four Oregon starting offensive linemen to play in all 15 games amid the Ducks’ run at the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2014-15. The then redshirt freshman protected Marcus Mariota for his Heisman Trophy run that year.

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Pisarcik’s stellar freshman season continued into his sophomore campaign. He appeared in 12 of Oregon’s 13 games, including the Alama Bowl vs TCU.

After missing the first four games of 2016, the right guard made his first appearance in Week 5 vs Washington State. Pisarcik played in just half of the Ducks’ games (6) last season.

With a new staff and former Alabama o-line coach Mario Cristobal teaching in the trenches, the 6-foot-3 senior is looking forward to a strong finish to his collegiate career. Tyrell Crosby is the only other starting senior presence on the line, so the younger Ducks will be looking to Pisarcik for leadership.

THE FINAL VERDICT

The senior will end his Oregon career in style. Pisarcik will help lead the Ducks to the No. 1 rushing rank in the Pac-12 Conference. A season after finishing fifth overall in rushing yards, the Ducks will run away with the rushing crown (3,122 yards) in 2017. The senior will start nine games while appearing in all 13 contests for the Ducks this season. However, it will be Crosby and Hanson that steal the spotlight on the line.

Part 10 of Willie Taggart’s Starting 11 series will continue on Thursday.

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