Even an empty glass is full of air. Even an empty glass holds the promise of holding cool refreshment, blessed oblivion, healing conversation or a soothing hour with a smooth, silky merlot. An empty glass can be a refuge, an escape, or a weapon of progressive self-destruction. Never underestimate anything you can hold, or has a hold on you.

The penalty phase of the Josh Huff story hasn't been announced, and may not be. Like a lot of things on a team dictated and controlled by a singular vision, we'll know when we know. We'll know when Rob Moseley and Aaron Fentress tell us, and when they ask the question they may or may not get a useful answer. It's part of the schtick. The walls around the program are the not only the price of success but part of the reason for it. It's a clarity of purpose and a fierceness that sets it apart. Things are different at Oregon than they've ever been. We can be nostalgic for the old days and open practices, but the results are a whole new era of excellence. Often Chip Kelly's bulldog intensity and clipped answers are a code for one thing: "you want to win? This is how we do it. My way. No explanations. Limited access. We'll let you know. Or maybe we won't."

Two news updates on Saturday made yesterday's column a lie or a jinx. The Eugene Register-Guard's Rob Moseley blogged running back Tra Carson is transferring (confirmed by a team source), and in another story Jack Moran of the Guard reported that wide receiver/slot back/running back Josh Huff was arrested for DUII and driving without a license.

Those new wide receivers had better be good, because walkon Ayele Ford is now the number three running back in spring practice behind fleet but smallish returning starters Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas. Running backs get nicked up. Barner has missed games in each of the last two seasons, and Thomas has electrifying talent but weighs just 173 pounds. The Ducks may be in five wides by October. New recruit Byron Marshall arrives in August, and he has the speed, strength and potential to be very good in the Oregon offense. He'll have loads of motivation to come into camp fit and acclimated, and he's a workout warrior with a mature body at 5-11, 205. His father is the trainer for Santa Clara University, and his brother Cameron starts at tailback for Arizona State. Marshall has the bloodlines, the athletic background and work habits to play early and excel. They'll need him.

Photo right: youth, wasted on the young, who think they'll be young forever: Josh Huff got into some trouble this weekend, and who hasn't? But the issue creates some problems and challenges for his coach and his team.

Part of the great joy of being a committed fan of a program and a sport is watching the journey of athletes from high school phenom to washout or legend. Around the tailgate we can talk about memories of guys that thrilled us and guys that just made us shake our heads, guys with million-dollar bodies and ten-cent heads.

Remember Dillon Baxter? Two years ago we were message-boarding all over each other about what a get he'd be for the Ducks, a 5-star running back with zoom in his shoes, the guy we had to have, maybe better than Bryce Brown. USC got him. Why did the Trojans need another tailback, and how could they keep beating Oregon to this kind of talent with a douche for a coach and sanctions hanging over their heads? Baxter was can't miss, with moves like Barry Sanders. He could flat fly in the open field.

My friend Dean is a short stubby man with narrow set eyes, as wide as he is tall. He's in his early 50s and drives a delivery truck for the cable company, but he's quitting in four months.

"If I keep driving truck I'll die in four years," he said, looking off to his right at the uncertain future.

Dean's going to mine gold in Alaska, north and west of Nome. It's not an idle dream. He's worked a claim for years just south of the Oregon border on the California side, and he knows about dredges, assays and permits. A buddy of his knows the guy in Alaska.

Jeff Lockie

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 175 40: 4.6
Position:  QB  
Year:  Class of 2012
High School:  Monte Vista HS
(Danville, CA)

All through his high school career, Jeff Lockie has been the other quarterback.

He played in a league with two five-star division one prospects, both of whom got more notice. He played for a school that most years finishes in the middle of the pack. Coming to Oregon, he's invariably mentioned after Jake Rodrigues, the Ducks' other signee at quarterback on Letter of Intent Day.

When practice begins next fall, Lockie will be fourth on the depth chart.

He's heard it before.  Too small. Too slow. Not a big enough arm.

For two years in the East Bay Athletic League Lockie kept hearing about San Ramon Valley's Zach Kline and De La Salle's Bart Houston. Both were Elite 11 invitees and nationally rated. Kline got a full ride to Cal in the spring of his junior year. Houston was snatched up by Wisconsin and Brett Bielema, hoping to find the long-term successor to Scott Tolzien and Russell Wilson.

Against Heritage High in November, too short and too slow Jeff Lockie completed 20 of 33 passes for 355 yards and 5 touchdowns. By the end of the year, he'd thrown for 3278 yards.

And the league coaches named him first team all-league. For the second year in a row. Then they picked him as the league MVP.

Remember the Tall Firs. Howard Hobson's 1938-39 basketball squad won Oregon's first national championship in any sport with a 29-5 record, and they did it with a bold, blur-fast, attacking fast break style of basketball that would have made Chip Kelly proud.

Led by three All-Americans, 6'8" center Slim Wintermute, 6'4" forward Lauren Gale, and 5'8" guard Bobby Anet, the Tall Firs swept through the Pacific Coast Conference and then won the first-ever NCAA basketball tournament, beating Ohio State 46-33 in the final.

Yesterday the football Ducks signed the 21 members of their 2012 recruiting class, and it includes ten players who are 6-4 or taller, and a dozen or so with a basketball background. The new "Tall Firs" are born.

Wheel, deal and throw down: Arik Armstead drives the lane in a baskeball game last season. The fluidity and quickness that makes him a legitimate division one basketball prospect at 6-8, 295 could make him an exceptional, unblockable defensive lineman (maxpreps.com photo).

Recruiting sites try to project 18-year-old high school students three years into the future. They do a good job, but it's far from an exact science. For the Ducks, players like Kenjon Barner, Brandon Bair, Spencer Paysinger, Jeff Maehl and Dion Jordan all wound up playing a different position than they were evaluated at as prospects.

Oregon's coaching staff does an exceptional job of evaluating and developing players, finding the right fit. A big part of that is they draft a lot of athletes with intelligence and multiple skills. Two examples stand out in the 2012 class,  although there are several.

Evan Baylis, a 6-5, 225-lb. tight end from Aurora, Colorado, is a 4-star tight end. He's a fierce blocker and a capable pass catcher, as well as being an A student. So far he sounds a lot like a young David Paulson. But he's also a high-volume tackler at linebacker, with 105 tackles and 8 sacks in his senior year. Project Baylis a year or two in the future at 240 with Jim Radcliffe's staff improving his already-excellent strength and agility, and you have a fearsome inside linebacker.

Another example is Bralon Addison from Texas, a speed athlete who was a high school quarterback that accounted for 46 tds as a senior. Addison could develop into a star as a Duck at wide receiver, running back or defensive back, and Chip Kelly says he's also a pretty good quarterback, although perhaps lacking in arm strength. When he makes the travel squad the Ducks have the added benefit of having an emergency quarterback who could pose problems for the defense running the zone read.

Versatile athletes create extra depth on the roster, and sometimes a player can develop into a surprising star in an unexpected place.

Head coach Chip Kelly breaks down each member of Oregon's 2012 recruiting class in his Signing Day press conference: