The 4 unsung heroes who helped deliver Oregon a statement win over USC

The Oregon Ducks needed everyone to play their role on Saturday Night to leave Los Angeles with a Top 25 win over the USC Trojans. Dante Moore leaving the game in the 1st half raised the pressure on every other player to rise to the occasion and deliver for their injured quarterback. While it wasn't always pretty, Dan Lanning's group did just that.

Whether it was individual great efforts on singular plays or quiet dominance that flew under the radar, Oregon got just enough to help Dan Lanning move to 3-0 over the Trojans. While they may not have stood out like a Dylan Raiola or a Jamari Johnson, 4 Ducks stepped up when the team needed answers the most.

The 4 unsung heroes from Oregon's win over USC

Davon Benjamin - STAR

Carl Williams IV returning from injury, and Oregon using Brandon Finney Jr. in the STAR role could've left Davon Benjamin out of the lineup. Instead, the freshman defensive back played solidly in limited playing time with a tackle and a pass deflection. Oregon picked on USC's freshman cornerback, but the Trojans weren't able to exploit Benjamin in the same way while veteran safeties looked lost in coverage at times.

The entire offensive line

No one caught more blame for Oregon's early-season struggles on offense more than the offensive line, but they showed up in a big way on Saturday Night. The Ducks didn't allow a single sack to a talented USC defensive front while opening holes for the back to average 4.2 yards per carry. The unit appears to be coming together, and if they can start to cut out some of the mistakes that have plagued them, it'll go a long way.

Devon Jackson - Linebacker

There weren't the big flashy plays in this game, but Devon Jackson was solid for the Ducks' in the middle. Jackson led the team with 11 tackles including a tackle for a loss, and a pass deflection helping slow the Trojans' rushing attack. While a ton of defenders struggled, Jackson stepped up, and helped force USC to throw the ball 42 times.

Messiah Hampton - Wide Receiver

Given that Messiah Hampton finished with just 5 passes for 40 yards, his performance won't be remembered, but he impressed in replacing the injured Jeremiah McClellan. The highlight of the game came on an incredible focus catch by Hampton from Raiola to help give Oregon the lead at the half. Add in that it wasn't a veteran or an offensive lineman, but Hampton who was first into the mix to defend Dante Moore after the hit, and it's hard not to love everything about the freshman.

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