He was one of the most coveted prep tailbacks in the nation when he picked Oregon over Washington State coming out of Lacey, Wash., two years ago. The question was not if Jonathan Stewart would rush for a 1,000 yards in a season but rather how many 1,000-yard seasons he would collect.

Well, fast forward two years: Stewart and the Oregon faithful are still waiting for that first 1,000-yard season. He came awfully close in 2006, netting 981 yards on 183 carries for an explosive Oregon attack that ranked ninth in the nation in total offense. Stewart no doubt would have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark were it not for some nagging injuries that limited him to one carry against Fresno State in Week 2 and two carries against Portland State in late October.

Athlon's 2007 Heisman Watch

This year, Oregon has vowed to make Stewart an even bigger part of the offensive gameplan. New coordinator Chip Kelly, who comes to Eugene from Division I-AA New Hampshire, has plans to use two tailbacks at a time in his spread offense. But it’s clear that Stewart will be the main man for the Ducks. Last year, Oregon was 4–0 when Stewart had more than 20 touches; 3–6 when he didn’t.

Oregon Team Preview

Among the highlights during his solid sophomore season were five games of at least 120 rushing yards, including a 168-yard, two-touchdown effort in the opener against Stanford, a 144-yard afternoon in the controversial win over Oklahoma, and 159 yards vs. rival Washington.

Stewart was also a threat on special teams, averaging a robust 28.1 yards on his 23 kick-off returns.

Why he’ll be holding the hardware: Stewart is one of the most skilled offensive players in the country. He enters the season as a darkhorse in the Heisman Trophy race, but he will have an opportunity to make a statement in Week 2 when Oregon visits Michigan in a nationally televised game. A big game vs. the Wolverines — combined with an Oregon win — could vault Stewart into the upper echelon of Heisman contenders. Stewart could also help his cause by doing something spectacular on special teams.

Why he’ll be left out: There is a host of talented running backs in the nation this year, so Stewart will have to do something remarkable to separate himself from guys like Ray Rice, Steve Slaton and Mike Hart. And Oregon, while expected to be a factor in the Pac-10, doesn’t figure to make too much of a splash on the national scene.

Final Analysis: Stewart likely will enjoy his best season in an Oregon uniform, but don’t expect to see him among the finalists in New York for the Heisman ceremony.

2006 Stat Line