Ducks have a perfect opportunity to troll the Trojans in Top 25 clash

Oregon makes better combined use of the transfer portal and high school recruiting than any team in college football, and they have a prime chance to highlight that with USC coming to town on Saturday afternoon.

The ideal choice to tweak the Trojans would be to name game captains Emmanuel Pregnon, Bear Alexander, Gary Bryant Jr. and Matayo Uiagalelei.

All would be fitting choices. They've played way above the line for the Ducks. USC transfer Pregnon entered Friday night's win over Minnesota with zero sacks allowed in 248 pass snaps and a pass block grade of 91.3 from Pro Football Focus. A 6-3, 302 junior from Terrell, Texas, Alexander has racked up 39 tackles and six tackles for loss as a Duck, with four quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

The sure-handed Bryant Jr., the team's third former Trojan, is fourth on the team with 25 receptions for 299 yards and four touchdowns, a reliable punt returner and leader in the receiver room.

As a fourth captain the Ducks could choose former prize five-star Southern California recruit Uiagalelei, a player Dan Lanning snatched out of St. John Bosco when Trojan message boards said he was a USC lock.

The 6-5, 272 edge rusher has four sacks, four quarterback hurries and four passes broken up on the eve of a game where pressure is paramount, a draft-eligible junior who could go in the first round if he elects to try the NFL draft.

While game captains are chosen to honor leadership and effort, this quartet has the additional benefit of thumbing noses at USC's arrogance and lapses in development.