Since the turn of the century, the Oregon Ducks have continued to grow into a powerhouse on the gridiron. Recruiting from coast to coast and becoming one of the winningest programs in the country since 2000, the Ducks have had some of the best players in college football history walk through Eugene.
While the Ducks are still seeking their first national championship, their ability to attract elite talent and turn them into NFL-ready stars has kept the program on the map as more than a team with flashy uniforms and the Nike checkmark. Oregon's lone Heisman Trophy recipient, Marcus Mariota, is still revered for his play in Eugene and is widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the modern era of college football.
With the 2026 season just getting underway, USA TODAY compiled a list of players to represent the All-2000s team. Mariota didn't make the cut, but former Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell took his spot among elite company on the second team.
Sewell shared the second-team honors at offensive tackle with Alex Leatherwood, a former first-round pick and standout at Alabama from 2017 to 2020. First-team selections went to Wisconsin's Joe Thomas (2003-2006) and Miami's Bryant McKinnie (1999-2001).
Sewell spent two seasons as the blindside tackle for Justin Herbert. From the moment he stepped on campus, Sewell was a starter for the Ducks and didn't disappoint. Despite missing six games with an injury as a freshman, he quickly solidified himself as one of the nation's elite protectors, playing penalty-free in his first collegiate season.
#first #tackle
While the Ducks are still seeking their first national championship, their ability to attract elite talent and turn them into NFL-ready stars has kept the program on the map as more than a team with flashy uniforms and the Nike checkmark. Oregon's lone Heisman Trophy recipient, Marcus Mariota, is still revered for his play in Eugene and is widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the modern era of college football.
With the 2026 season just getting underway, USA TODAY compiled a list of players to represent the All-2000s team. Mariota didn't make the cut, but former Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell took his spot among elite company on the second team.
Sewell shared the second-team honors at offensive tackle with Alex Leatherwood, a former first-round pick and standout at Alabama from 2017 to 2020. First-team selections went to Wisconsin's Joe Thomas (2003-2006) and Miami's Bryant McKinnie (1999-2001).
Sewell spent two seasons as the blindside tackle for Justin Herbert. From the moment he stepped on campus, Sewell was a starter for the Ducks and didn't disappoint. Despite missing six games with an injury as a freshman, he quickly solidified himself as one of the nation's elite protectors, playing penalty-free in his first collegiate season.
#first #tackle
12 days ago
