While the Oregon Ducks Secondary was experiencing some growing pains throughout the 2015 regular season and the Oregon Offense had some early struggles, the team still ended ranked in the Top 25 and reeled off seven straight wins, there was one player that pulled off big plays at the right time, including a play to close out the regular season against Oregon State. On Tuesday the Pac-12 Conference announced the Pac-12 Players of the Year, voted on by the Conference Coaches and Oregon Senior Defensive End DeForest Bucker topped the list.
DeForest Buckner had a chance to leave for the National Football League at the end of 2014, but decided to return to Oregon and anchor a front line that through the season became on of the better Defensive Lines in the Conference.