Hotchkins ready for Oregon debut

Oregon will have a number of new faces take the field at linebacker for 2016 and one of the prominent ones should be MLB A.J. Hotchkins. The former Portland (Ore.) Tigard high school star spent two years at the JC level and now has two years of eligibility for the Ducks.

The top 2015 JC MLB (JC Gridiron) spoke with Duck Sports Authority as Oregon kicked off their 2016 fall camp for this Q&A session.

On early fall camp

So far fall camp has been good. Just getting back out there and getting my feet back under me, working to get back into football shape.

On the transition from high school to junior college to Oregon

It has just been a lot faster. From every jump it gets a little bit faster and it’s harder to get inclined to what is going on and the speed of the game. Changes like the linemen are a little bit bigger and faster and stronger. And the level of competition goes up every time you make a jump.

On satisfaction with current play

I don’t think I’m playing as well as I should be right now. This spring I was a little bit out of shape and getting back into shape over the summer has been big for me. I can feel it now on the field. I have got my wind back. But I am not satisfied with what I have been doing so far.

On Don Pellum

Every time he talks I just listen. I am a sponge. I just listen to what he is saying because I know he has been here a long time teaching it and playing here. Just being a sponge and listening to everything he says. Writing it down and just trying to get better mentally and physically.

On chasing around these Oregon running backs

They are pretty tough. But that is also a big jump from the junior college level because we would play a division one back maybe every few weeks or whatever. But now you see them every day in practice so that has been a big jump as well. They are tough guys who are a lot stronger and faster than I was used to playing against.

Find out what else Oregon’s new MLB had to say in the full interview below.