EUGENE, Ore. — After four years as a point guard on Oregon's basketball team, Johnathan Loyd is making the transition to receiver for the Ducks, taking advantage of an NCAA rule that allows a player a fifth year of eligibility — in a different sport.
Loyd is doing this partly for fun and partly because he's the consummate competitor. He's already gotten his degree in applied economics and is working on another.
Loyd unexpectedly made the jump to football the second week of spring practice. The 5-foot-8 guard won many of the naysayers over when he donned pads for the annual Spring Game and had a catch for four yards and saw time as a punt returner on special teams.
Now he's immersed in fall training camp, trying to prove that he belongs.