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I've read in a couple places the last couple days something to the effect of "another Oregon 5 star bust"; and, wondering where exactly this is coming from? I think Oregon has done pretty well with 5 stars? Leaving out Dickey, in the "recruiting ratings era", I count 13 "consensus" 5 stars. As referenced above, a little over 50% get drafted? I'm seeing 62% at Oregon (with perhaps one * of course). Out of the 13, I'd say 7 were very good or better players who were drafted. Haloti Ngata Johnathan Stewart Arik Armstead Josh Conerly Jr. Kayvon Thibodeaux DAT Noah Sewell Number 8 is the * Lache Seastrunk I'd say most say "bust" and I get it; but, he of course was in the middle of the Lyles thing while at Oregon (which kind of ended it before it started). After transferring to Baylor, in two seasons went 289 carries for 2,189 yards and 18 TDs at 7.6 yards per carry. Left a season early and was drafted in the 6th round by Washington. The next 3 likely go down as "busts" given their ranking. Cameron Colvin: injuries of course, though seemed to finally be on track his last year at Oregon before the ankle injury at WSU, but I get it Thomas Tyner: I've always thought had some very solid contributions at Oregon prior to the shoulder injury but for a 5 star I get it Dontae Manning: became a solid contributor at Oregon but I'd imagine most would say closer to "bust" for a 5 star never breaking through. Manning actually played in 52 games at Oregon with 1,161 snaps. Draft Buzz reported a 65.5 QB rating when targeted as a junior and 64.9 as a senior, which actually is pretty good. Tore off a 4.26 forty at his Pro Day with a 39.5 in vertical and 10.06 broad jump and signed a UFA contract with Atlanta Not much to add for the final 2. Canton Kaumatule Justin Flowe 13 guys, 8 NFL draft picks, one solid contributor and UFA, two pulled down at least in part to injuries, and only 2 clear "busts"? Seems solid.

I’m not sure about Cal, but I can see Stanford going down an Ivy League road in terms of football. Stanford has a relatively small enrollment and alumni base. Their stadium renovation was very good, and I find it to be an excellent venue to watch a game. However, it’s rare that they get a strong crowd. The renovation at Cal’s Memorial Stadium was also excellent, and it too is a great place to watch football. Large crowds are also rare at Cal. I’ve lost count of how many Duck games I watched in those stadiums through the years. Great memories. However, the Bay Area is NFL oriented, with a limited enthusiasm for college football. I’m not sure that either program remains relevant in the current milieu of college football.

If Dan Lanning and the Duck culture are unable to help this young man elevate to his potential, a lot of the responsibility is on him. "And it's wake up time Time to open your eyes And rise and shine" Tom Petty

As far as 5-star recruits go, Jurrion is really the only bust that Dan Lanning has recruited. Connerly was a first rounder. Bo was a first rounder who was developed by Oregon’s staff. Matayo will go in the first round or two. Stewart was a solid contributor and was poised to break out this season. The jury is still out on Dante Moore, Rushing, Breland, and this current group of Freshmen. It’s looking good so far minus the injuries.

Here are the stats for 2024. In short massive drop off after 5 star. So recruiting rankings are still a good rating of potential.

I think I read it’s more players but a smaller percentage. This makes sense since there are only about 30 5-stars per class but hundreds of 4-stars.

I'm curious what percentage of 4-stars get drafted

Shame it didn't work out. But from a culture perspective no team can afford to have a player engage in fighting with other players. I wish him luck wherever he ends up next.

And then, there is The Ohio State University - an AP polling fixture - TOSU beats Michigan? Who knew? https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ohio-state-football-sets-all-time-record-with-latest-ap-poll-drop-leaving-michigan-in-the-dust-for-second-place/ar-AA1KoQGP?ocid=msedgdhphdr&cvid=959287bf7c

Statistically speaking, only a little over 50% of 5-star recruits are drafted into the NFL. Those stars only indicate how good they stacked up against their peers as 17-18 year olds.

“It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward” Rocky Balboa My hope for these kids is that they finish their education, and get themselves on track for life beyond football. I am sure that there are many resources available to the players. Although, I think they have to want, and accept guidance, for it to work in most cases.

New WR coach Ross Douglas replaced Junior Adams (to Cowboys) in the off-season. Sometimes coaching changes and the toil of off-season workouts and Fall camp take a toll on younger guys. We'll see how it shakes out.

Another 5-star... Bad luck or are they just overrated? I guess behavioral issues are hard to quantify, but maybe could've surfaced at HS too? Or is he just frustrated for not being productive....

Daily EmeraldFormer five-star Jurrion Dickey reportedly suspended from...Sources close to the team have told The Daily Emerald that wide receiver and former five-star recruit Jurrion Dickey is no longer with the team, but according to Max Torres of On3, this is only int...

Lucky Number 7? Let it be. Historic Trend Says One of These Teams Will Win the College Football Playoff

FWIW - AP Preseason Top 25 Playoff - Sugar Bowl - No. 1 Texas vs. No. 9 LSU at No. 8 Alabama Orange Bowl - No. 4 Clemson vs. No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Georgia Rose Bowl - No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 10 Miami at No. 7 OREGON Cotton Bowl - No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 11 ASU at No. 6 Notre Dame The Fiesta and Peach Bowls are the semi-final sites. The championship game will be played in Miami at the 'Dolphins' Stadium. IMO, it's not a good idea to play the title game in an uncovered stadium. Pawalll and Greg Sankey would not be happy about three SEC teams being in the same bracket. The bottom of the bracket sets up as an all-B1G semifinal matchup. Of course, the odds are very much against this being the field the playoff committee gives us on 12/7/25 IMO, a Clemson team lit up by Georgia and Texas last season and with home losses to Louisville and South Carolina, may be overrated. A new DC, Tom Allen, was brought in for a reason: the Tigers D in 2024 was not that good. The two Clemson D linemen the 'experts' are raving about were on the team last season. OBD would have an enticing 1st round matchup against MIA. A win in Autzen would send Oregon to the Rose Bowl, this time against Penn State. However, I think the Ducks return to the PO, but I doubt Miami, with no returning starters at wide receiver, and no matter the value of the car stolen from the starting QB 😁, will break through to PO territory. As I recall, Heisman candidate Dillon Gabriel drove a mini-van. Only four of the 12 teams in the field return the 2024 starter at QB. What teams with many new starters will do the best geling in The Season of Roster Turnover?

Thank you, Charles, for another superb and much-needed editing job. And thank you, and Another OD, for raising the Portal Transfer impact on today's college football rosters. In an era of largely unregulated 'free agency,' roster management is critical to a team's success. Players must be recruited from high school and the portal, and often need to be re-recruited to prevent them from moving on to another program, one that is likely offering more NIL money. Ohio State, with an experienced deep blue Blue Chip Roster, likely would not have won last season's title (Sigh) without Will Howard transferring in from Kansas State to start at QB, and starting Center Seth McLaughlin, and Safety Caleb Downs, transferring in from Alabama. It's another feather in Dan Lanning's and his assistant coaches' hats that Oregon has yet to lose a starting player with remaining eligibility to the portal. 2025 could well be referred to as 'The Season of Roster Turnover.' So many quality teams, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and others, have to replace players who contributed to their team's success in 2024. What coaching group does the best at slotting in new starters who were on the 2024 roster and arrive as recruits from high school or the portal in 2025 will go a long way toward determining this season's champion. This season presents a new challenge to Coach Lanning and his staff. For the first time in Lanning's four seasons as OBD's head coach, a player with limited starting experience will start at quarterback. Since Dan's hire in 2021 and his first year coaching in 2022, Oregon has led the nation in average points scored on offense. But Heisman-contending finalists Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, who joined OBD with a wealth of starting experience, have moved on to the NFL. Charles' terrific comment details the pieces added to Oregon's roster from the portal. Fortunately, the 2025 schedule provides four games, one-third of the season, for Oregon to gel on offense, defense, and special teams before being the guest at a Penn State White Out. Penn State, like Oregon, has a Blue Chip roster, but unlike Oregon, returns many players from 2024 when the Nittany Lions won a record 13 games, and has added players at positions of need, especially at wide receiver, from the portal. This season will test this Oregon coaching staff's acumen like no other in head coach Dan Lanning's time leading the Ducks. Buckle up! 2025 should be a very interesting ride for Oregon and its fans. One point in the article that did not age well. At the time I wrote the article, the B1G and the SEC were in agreement that an expanded playoff field in 2026-27 and thereafter, with 14 or 16 teams, should have four automatic qualifiers from the B1G and four from the SEC. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, duplicitously in my opinion, pulled the new playoff format rug out from under B1G commissioner Tony Petitti. The field will probably stay at 12 teams in 2026-27 and thereafter, unless the SEC agrees to play nine regular-season conference games. No big deal for the B1G that leads all conferences in revenue and net earnings, and will continue to do so with or without the playoff field expanding.

If Bear has a solid season then the video seems like a good advertisement for transfer portal players. A’Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander, Matayo, Tuioti, Purchase, D Jackson, E Rushing, Boettcher…seems like we have the foundation of a solid defensive unit. DB’s will have some growing pains, but overall looks good to me.

Bear seems like a guy who got really wrapped up in the NIL and stardom stuff. USC was not a fit for him and I think he just assumed he'd get a starting role and that didn't happen. Lanning knew the potential of Bear and knew his culture would either mold him into a player or he'd effectively quit on the team and be a non factor. Bear knows he needs to step up and work if he wants to have a shot at the NFL. I think we all know how bad USC's culture is based on the exodus of talent at the end of last season. Bear knows this is his last shot to make the NFL and it sounds like he is taking it. Probably a mix of Lanning culture and guidance and Bear getting his act together. Here's hoping for a monster season from the Bear.

It’s August which means I’m allowed to get excited about the roster. Pretty sure he’s going to blow up!

Starting about the third minute....they give some information about Bear that nobody has brought up before, and SHOUTS to what his impact could be this fall. There are other elements of this video that make it worth 12 minutes of your time as well. Good stuff! A fun way to pass a little time between tasks...

Another OD...you beat me to it, and Jon wanted that addition added to his article, and I figured we would cover it in the comments. Oregon is listed with just five returning players, but when you look at portal transfers who were tremendous starters at other schools...that number changes. When you consider Theran Johnson, the incredible corner from Northwestern, Dillon Thieneman Jr. from Purdue at safety, and Bear Alexander from USC, we see three starters on defense from portal transfers. On offense, we see Isiah World from Nevada, Emmanuel Pregnon from USC, Matthew Bedford from Indiana, and Alex Harkey from Texas State on the offensive line alone. Add Dante Moore at QB, (UCLA) and Makhi Hughes from Tulane, and Oregon's "rebuilding" year looks very different. That number of "5" now moves up to "14 with the portal transfers, which is why, with the schedule, Our Beloved Ducks look to do a lot of winning this year! Makhi Hughes

You run a great program here, Charles. Congratulations and cheers to many more! - NYDuck

Hoping Jurrion can get the help he needs. Special talent!