Coach Troy Mott wasn’t about to let John Boyett get down on himself over an injury that he suffered during spring football practices at the University of Oregon earlier this year.

Mott was right there for his former Napa High School star athlete, the all-everything player who rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another score to lead the Indians to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship his senior year over St. Mary’s-Stockton, 38-36.

When Mott first heard about Boyett suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee, he got on the phone right away, offering support and encouragement.

“Keep your head up,” Mott told Boyett, a redshirt freshman. “The coaches know that you can play and you know that you can play. Stay positive and do what the doctors tell you.”

The injury, unfortunately, knocked Boyett out of spring drills and he lost his spot on the depth chart, moving down on the list. But he didn’t lose his focus or his spirit to do whatever was necessary to rehab the knee and get back, so that he could return to the field and compete and have a presence in the Oregon secondary.

“It’s pretty difficult to handle, mentally and physically, and it took a little while, but I was able to get back on track,” Boyett said in a telephone interview from Eugene, Ore., this week. “I knew things would work out if I just focused on each day and did my best. You’ve just got to keep your head up and think about the future. You can’t think about the past.

“Because of the good treatment and the good trainers, I was able to heal quickly and get back quick. I am happy with how things are going.”

Oregon is happy as well.

The Ducks (7-1 overall, 5-0 Pacific-10 Conference) — who are ranked No. 7 by The Associated Press and No. 8 in the USA Today poll coming into Saturday’s game against Stanford (5-3 overall, 4-2 Pac-10) at 12:30 p.m. (CSN Bay Area) in Palo Alto — can point directly to Boyett’s impressive play as one of the keys to their success.

Filling in for the injured T.J. Ward at free safety, Boyett has been a productive run-stopper and pass defender, reacting to the ball and making plays — time after time, week after week. He has made seven straight starts.

The jump from high school football to a big-time college program is a major step.

“I’m doing well physically,” he said. “I think there’s a big mental change between high school and college. When you get into college, your playbook is as big as a dictionary. A lot of people don’t understand how complex a defense can get, depending on what the offense throws at you.”

Boyett has been a consistently solid player for the Ducks, as he is second on the defense in total tackles (50) and also has two interceptions with two passes broken up and a tackle for a three-yard loss.

“He’s really come a long way in a very short period of time, trying to execute all those things and doing it well and consistent,” said John Neal, Oregon’s secondary coach. “The kid has over-exceeded the bounds that I thought he was capable.

“What you find out about him is that he’s a tremendous competitor. His competitive level is as high as anyone in any sport, anywhere, and I think that’s the secret to his success.”

There’s something more about Boyett, who was credited with a career-high nine tackles (seven unassisted) while making his debut in the starting lineup against Purdue.

He has very good technique and is a finisher.

“John does a great job of finishing,” said Neal. “I’m not surprised. When the ball is in the air, I expect him to make a play, because he expects to make the play. He’s a very good tackler. He’s got unlimited ability. Experience and playing will be the key to his development.”

Boyett, named as the Northern California Player of the Year by GoldenStatePreps.com, has had additional big games.

• He had fourth-quarter interceptions to seal wins over Utah and UCLA.

• He knocked a receiver out of the back of the end zone in the final seconds to break-up a two-point conversion attempt against Purdue.

• He shared a team-high five tackles against Washington State.

• He tied for second in tackles (seven) as the Ducks stunned USC last week, 47-20, in a key Pac-10 game.

“It’s this competitive drive that just separates him,” said Neal. “You don’t have to worry about guys like him. He’s going to find his way to the classroom, he’s going to find his way to the meeting room. He’s going to find his way to do everything on the field, to excel.”

Saturday is a homecoming for Boyett, named as an All-American and the State Player of the Year by maxpreps.com, who will be playing in front of family and friends in his only Northern California appearance of the regular season.

It’s a game that Mott is looking forward to watching. He is proud of Boyett, the way he approaches the game and prepares and competes.

“He’s a very poised individual and he handles his success with a lot of dignity and respect,” said Mott, the Indians’ head coach. “He has a lot of respect for the game and respect for his coaches and his teammates.”

Mott has seen each of Oregon’s games on TV this year. He can’t say enough about Boyett’s play, in particular his tackling.

“He looks like he belongs,” Mott said. “He looks like he’s right there as far as the speed of the game. I’ve also been really impressed with the fact at just how physical of a player he’s been week in and week out. Coming up from that position, he has to tackle a lot out in space.

“He’s always had great ball skills back there, so he’s got a real nose for the ball in the air. He plays fearless and he’s not afraid to go out and try and make plays in the passing game. I’m really impressed with all aspects of the game.”

Boyett was a playmaker at Napa High, as he handled the ball on offense. He uses those skills on the defensive side of the field as he takes on wide receivers and tight ends, combining very good speed and coverage as the last line of defense.

“If you know John Boyett, he can catch the ball,” said Neal. “He can catch any ball. If you threw John any kind of ball ever made, he will catch it. He’s got tremendous hands.”

One thing Boyett learned from the get-go upon arriving in Oregon and joining the football program is the importance of staying as focused as possible. He began his career at the bottom of the depth chart, but worked his way up.

“The biggest thing, day to day, week to week, year to year, you’ve got to keep your mind right,” he said. “A big thing that I’ve learned in coming up to Oregon and taking that next step is focus is a big part of the game.

“Just like everybody else, when you come in, you’re not going to be at the top. You have to work your way up, just like life. You have to start somewhere and then work your way up. I’m very happy that I’m in this situation and I’m able to help the team win.”

The Ducks are 5-0 in Pac-10 play for the first time since 2000 and only the second time in 52 seasons. They also became the first team in the Pac-10 to become bowl eligible in 2009, a feat they accomplished for the fifth straight year. Oregon has been to 16 bowls in the past 20 seasons, the eighth-most appearances in college football over that time span.

Oregon is also ranked No. 8 in this week’s Bowl Championship Series standings.

“It’s very exciting, that’s the reason why I came up here,” said Boyett. “I love the competitive atmosphere up here, the competitive atmosphere of the Pac-10. Each week you have to think of as going into a battle.

“The program up here is doing very well. I’m very happy about that.”

There wasn’t a lot of time to celebrate the win over Southern California, as Boyett returned the following day to begin preparing for Stanford.

No one is taking the Cardinal lightly, he said.

“We’ve got to move on and look toward Stanford,” he said. “Stanford’s a very good football team — one of the better teams in the Pac-10.”

If he looks into the stands at Stanford Stadium, Boyett may see a few familiar faces — family, friends, coaches, former teammates, fans of his that will make the drive from the Napa Valley for the game.

They’ll be on hand to see one of the greatest athletes in Napa County history go against the Cardinal.

“I think I’m playing OK,” Boyett said. “I don’t like to say how well I’m playing. I like to look at it as, ‘What can I do to become a better player?’ Maybe I can become just a little bit better.”

University of Oregon’s John Boyett at a glance

Position: Free safety

Height: 5-10

Weight: 190

Year: Redshirt freshman

High School: Napa HS

2008 redshirt year: A three-time scout team player of the week, readied the team leading up to games against Boise State, Washington State and Oklahoma State.

High School: Earned First-Team All-State honors (calhisports.com), Northern California Player of the Year by GoldenState Preps.com, EA Sports Second Team All-American, named as an All-American and the State Player of the Year by maxpreps.com.

Completed his senior season passing for 1,827 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 1,527 yards and 20 TDs. Also registered 81 tackles, three quarterback sacks and three interceptions.