**Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in the Emerald’s “Gameday” edition, which was released on Aug. 27. Copies are available on stands throughout Eugene.
With only one true starting defensive back returning for the Ducks this year, it’s no wonder that many analysts around the country predict this unit to be Oregon’s downfall defensively.
Oregon must replace three senior starters from last year’s championship unit and although some returning players saw action, very few of them came in meaningful minutes.
Redshirt sophomore Chris Seisay is expected to be Oregon’s top cornerback. He started in Oregon’s two playoff games last year, replacing the injured Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.
Seisay sat down with the Emerald and spoke about his summer as well as how he entered his third camp with a completely different mindset from the previous ones.
Ryan Kostecka: Let’s step away from football for a second. How was your summer?
Chris Seisay: I enjoyed it. I took this urban farmer class and it was cool. Other than that though, I went home and had my birthday down there with all my friends and family, so it was cool seeing them. I had a little family party at home, so a lot of family members came over and, you know, we just had a really good time .
K: Was it nice to see your old friends again when you went home?
S: It was cool, but it’s nothing exciting because we do the same thing over and over again. We all just chill, stay inside and play some video games and hang out, nothing crazy or exciting. I did go paint balling though, and that was fun. The whole idea is to not get shot, so me and my brother were with each other the whole time thinking we can’t get shot because it hurts too bad.
K: From a football standpoint, what was your main focus coming into this year?
S: It was all about getting healthy. During spring ball, I had a slipped disc so I was really just relaxing. The only way to heal that kind of injury is a lot of rest. So I was just resting and relaxing, doing what I could to get better.
K: Being hurt, how did you still manage to improve your game in other aspects?
S: When I wasn’t practicing, I was focusing on the huddle a lot more so I could still know all of the plays. There were a lot of mental reps I did over the spring and summer. When I went home [this summer], I conditioned my body a lot so I could be physically ready for camp and this year. But when I wasn’t able to do that, I was watching and studying a lot.
K: Are you healthy now?
S: I’m feeling good and I’m ready to go. Obviously we’ll see how it goes, but I should be back to full strength and ready to roll.
K: After replacing Ifo in the two biggest games of the year last year, how does that change your mindset entering this year?
S: It’s different now because I’m the starter. I’m the guy people are looking towards to help them play better, so there’s a lot more that comes with that responsibility. Even though I’m the starter now, I look at it as more of a challenge because I’m trying to keep my spot rather than have someone take it away.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka