Now that the season is over, Oregon is focusing on acquiring players for 2025.
Purdue safety Dillon Thieneman, Northwestern cornerback Theran Johnson, Nevada offensive tackle Isaiah World, Texas State offensive tackle Alex Harkey, Louisville tight end Jamari Johnson, and USC defensive tackle Bear Alexander are among the six transfers the Ducks signed. They still need to fill a number of other positions on the depth chart before the upcoming season.
As more players join the transfer site, UO may be addressing the positions of wide receiver, running back, and inside linebacker in the upcoming weeks. Running backs Jordan James and Noah Whittington, receivers Evan Stewart and Gary Bryant Jr., and linebacker Bryce Boettcher are among the players in each of those rooms who must make decisions regarding their futures. They must also decide whether to play in the NFL or go back to school.
Inside linebackers coach Brian Michalowski stated, “We have a great room.” Many of the talented young players we brought on board are growing. Because it requires a high level of game awareness in our defensive strategy, I believe the inside linebacker position is particularly developing. Experience is the only thing that can replace that. Feel incredibly proud of the players we have coming up, especially Gavin Nix, who is incredibly intelligent and motivated, and the freshman signing class we signed last year.
This year, the linebacker room has been heavily populated by seniors. There are several players in the wings, such as Devon Jackson, who has made significant appearances this season and is poised for a major role. I believe that the experience we have in the room, which is developing, has significance.
Boettcher and Jackson would be the likely starters if he and Jackson were given a waiver for an extra season of football eligibility. This would free up Mixon to play more defensively, along with Dylan Williams, Brayden Platt, and Kamar Mothudi, all of whom are coming off redshirt seasons.
Whittington is automatically eligible, so if James enters the draft and Whittington stays in it, the running back room may undergo a major upheaval.
According to running backs coach Ra Shaad Samples, “I think a lot of things are left to be decided.” The way Noah has been playing late and the way Jordan James has been playing, in my opinion, give those players the opportunity to do something exceptional and fulfill their aspirations of playing in the NFL. That does not imply that now is the appropriate moment. For the time being, I’ll leave that question open-ended.
UO currently has seven scholarship running backs for the upcoming season, but if they both depart, the number may decrease to five, leaving the team without an experienced lead back. But according to reports, Oregon will host Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes this weekend. This season, Hughes rushed for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Samples stated, “We always plan.” You want to be prepared for any eventuality. The positive aspect of Oregon is that we have been successful and have produced high-caliber backs. You see what Jordan James is doing today, what Bucky (Irving) is doing in the NFL, and what Noah has managed to achieve during his tenure here. I believe that if there is a chance, excellent backs will want to play there. I don’t think we’ll have any problems finding excellent backs if that chance arises.
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Oregon now only has 11 scholarship receivers after Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden left. The Ducks will have to replace their top three wide receivers and their top tight end if Stewart joins the draft. Bryant, one of the top targets in 2023, will also need to make a decision about his future.
Junior Adams, the receivers coach, stated, “We always consider things like that.” They make their own decisions when the time comes.
Transfer to Florida State After being granted one additional year of eligibility as a former junior college athlete, Malik Benson is evaluating Oregon, Tennessee, and Kansas State for his final season.
Josh Conerly Jr. has yet to declare if he would join the draft, while Oregon signed two offensive tackles. Iapani Laloulu is returning at center, Dave Iuli and Kawika Rogers will compete for a guard slot, and Matthew Bedford is requesting a medical hardship waiver to return. With Devin Brooks and Bryce Boulton also playing backup center, the position is less clear following walk-on Charlie Pickard.
Terry, the offensive line coach, feels at ease with the personnel he has at center.
Terry remarked, “We have a lot of guys here right now who work nonstop when we do center-(QB) exchange.” Those reps are already being worked by our guys. Guys keep growing as long as you keep working at it.
In addition to Johnson and rookie Vander Ploog, the Ducks lose two senior tight ends, Patrick Herbert and Terrance Ferguson. In addition to Kenyon Sadiq, Roger Saleapaga, and A.J. Pugliano returning, tight ends coach Drew Mehringer stated that they are not looking to add another player to the room.
For many of these children, it has been a major selling point for us. However, we typically only keep four, and that number varies from year to year. What do we do with them? Mehringer stated, “We play them.” These individuals will be redshirted by many of these other programs. We performed them. I believe that athleticism is certainly necessary if you’re looking for the right kind of man, but we’re also getting clever, tough kids who can help us. For them, those spring and fall camp reps are invaluable.
–The Oregon Ducks and Big Ten are covered by James Crepea. Get the Ducks Roundup email or listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast.
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