EUGENE —

Zach Emerson is still hoping to earn a scholarship as a walk-on kicker for Oregon, so what better way to improve than to turn to a former NFL kicker for some tips?

Emerson, a graduate of Bend’s Mountain View High School, worked with Ryan Longwell, the former Green Bay Packers (1997-2005) and Minnesota Vikings (2006-2011) kicker, this summer in Bend. Longwell, 44, is a graduate of Bend High and went on to kick for Cal before embarking on his long and successful NFL career. He was inducted into the Packers’ Hall of Fame in July.

“He’s just super intelligent,” Emerson said of Long-well. “He watched me just for a little bit and immediately was able to fix things and immediately had things for me to work on. There’s just so much benefit from working with him. Outside of just coaching, he gave me some mental tips to help with kicking field goals in a game and how to handle those situations.”

Emerson, a redshirt sophomore, came into preseason camp second on the Ducks’ depth chart for field-goal and kickoff duties behind sophomore Adam Stack. He is hoping that his work with Longwell might have helped him improve enough to compete for a starting spot in one or both of those roles.

“We worked on my rhythm, my technique, and just dialing things in before camp,” Emerson said earlier this month during the Ducks’ media day at Autzen Stadium. “He was getting me to hit a consistent, clean ball. Every time I work with him things start getting better and better and I just feel more comfortable and more confident.”

Emerson — a two-time Class 5A first-team all-state forward for the Mountain View soccer team — was a preferred walk-on at Oregon in 2016 who eschewed a career in soccer for a chance to kick for the Ducks. The last two seasons he had the chance to learn from Aidan Schneider, one of the best kickers in Oregon history and himself a former walk-on.

Now, Emerson finds himself competing with Stack under new head coach Mario Cristobal and new special teams coordinator Bobby Williams.

“I’m really happy with the coaching changes,” Emerson said. “Everyone knew that the coaches Cristobal brought on are awesome, really good coaches. Bobby Williams is unreal. I’m really looking forward to a couple years with him.”

Emerson said he came into preseason camp confident, but also willing to take on whatever role the Ducks need. If Stack earns the starting job, Emerson said he will be supportive of him.

“If my number’s called, I’m ready for that challenge,” Emerson said. “At the end of the day I want the team to be as successful as possible, so whatever my role is I’m comfortable being there and just happy to help the team be successful. If it’s not me (starting), I’m super supportive of Adam, and I know he’ll do a great job if he gets the job. I think we’re in good hands.”

Emerson and Stack were roommates when Stack, of Honolulu, first arrived in Eugene last year. Stack said that he and Emerson are good friends, always bouncing ideas off each other while watching film and comparing technique.

“I like working with Zach,” Stack said. “We don’t even really look at it as competing, we’re just out there kicking, both of us trying to be the best kickers we can be. We do a good job of pushing each other, and seeing what’s working for me and what’s working for him.”

Emerson, an economics major and business minor, said he has no regrets choosing football over soccer in college, but admitted that sometimes he misses soccer.

Still, the opportunity to play football for Oregon was just too good to pass up.

“It’s still pretty surreal day to day,” Emerson said. “I’m super blessed to have this opportunity.”

— Reporter: 541-383-0318,

mmorical@bendbulletin.com