NJDuck

Carlos Locklyn looking for leadership and mentorship from Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington Carlos Locklyn looking for leadership and mentorship from Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington 247SPORTS.COM Bucky Irving and Noah Whitting are back at Oregon for their second seasons, and the duo will make up one of the best running back tandems in the country. Where do they look

Jahlil Florence repping at nickel this spring: 'We want as many corners on the field as possible' Jahlil Florence remembers taking in the totality of the Autzen crowd for the first time when Dont'e Thornton raced past him for a long touchdown. That pass connection came in last year's spring game and isn't a play he'll soon forget. "That really woke me up," Florence admits. "People see all the fans and get a lot of anxiety, but just calm down, it's the same game you've played your whole life." Jahlil Florence repping at nickel this spring: 'We want as many corners on the field as possible' 247SPORTS.COM Oregon sophomore Jahlil Florence has been working at nickel this spring in an effort to find a bigger role this fall.

WATCH: Ajani Cornelius breaks down decision to come to Oregon

WATCH: Oregon RB Coach Carlos Locklyn has high expectations for RB room Everything RB coach Carlos Locklyn said following Oregon's 10th spring practice - Transcript Everything RB coach Carlos Locklyn said following Oregon's 10th spring practice 247SPORTS.COM Here's a complete transcript from RB coach Carlos Locklyn's press conference.

Redshirt freshman S Trejon Williams, former 4-star recruit, no longer with Oregon program Oregon Football: Safety Trejon Williams no longer with the Ducks DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Redshirt freshman Trejon Williams is no longer with the Oregon program. He was a 4-star recruit but played 0 snaps in 2022.

Oregon QB Target Michael Van Buren Teases News Following Trip to Eugene Over the weekend thought, one of Oregon's top targets in the 2024 class, Michael Van Buren (No. 11 QB on 247Sports Composite) from Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy, made the cross-country trip to Eugene for an unofficial visit. This was an interesting trip not only because he's from a national powerhouse program, but also because the Ducks are trending for Phoenix (Ariz.) Sunnyslope quarterback Luke Moga ahead of his commitment on April 28. Timing plays a big factor in recruiting and it could be playing into Oregon's favor with a big run on the recruiting trail expected this spring. This past weekend's trip was Van Buren's second of the year after he was on campus in January. Following the trip the talented quarterback teased news that will come out on Friday. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article274540001.html#storylink=rss

Reveiwing the Oregon Ducks' Football Power Index ranking since 2005 Life for an Oregon Duck fan has been quite eventful over the past couple of decades. After going for decades as a relatively irrelevant team on the national landscape, Mike Bellotti turned things around at the start of the Melinium and a rise to prominence quickly followed. The start of the 2010s brought multiple trips to the National Championship game and a pair of Rose Bowl victories, but Oregon has also seen brutal losses at the hands of Auburn and Ohio State, as well as a 4-win season that ended in no bowl game and a fired coach just years later. This past week, ESPN published its updated Football Power Index (FPI) which measures team strength based on 20,000 simulations as explained on their website. This year the Ducks have the following preseason FPI ratings: Oregon Football: Reveiwing the Ducks’ FPI ranking since 2005 DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM The Ducks are rated prominently in terms of FPI this offseason. How does that compare to the past couple of decades?

'I wish I did it earlier;' Jamal Hill discusses move from safety to linebacker Oregon Football: Ducks Defender Moves from Safety to Linebacker DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Jamal Hill is transitioning from safety to linebacker for the Ducks this year, and so far he’s loving the move.

National brand makes recruiting at Oregon easier for Ducks' coach Chris Hampton Oregon Football: Chris Hampton enjoys benefit of recruiting with Ducks DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM “When you talk to kids now, they know exactly who you are,” Hampton said. “I’m a little bit prettier than I was at my previous spot.”

Redshirt freshman S Trejon Williams, former 4-star recruit, no longer with Oregon program The Oregon Ducks saw more roster turnover this week as a former member of the 2023 recruiting class was deemed no longer with the program, a UO spokesperson confirmed. Trejon Williams, a former 4-star safety, has been removed from the team’s roster online, and was not seen with the team at Oregon’s 10th spring practice on Thursday inside the Moshofsky Center. After redshirting as a freshman in 2022, Williams leaves the Ducks having played zero snaps. Oregon Football: Safety Trejon Williams no longer with the Ducks DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Redshirt freshman Trejon Williams is no longer with the Oregon program. He was a 4-star recruit but played 0 snaps in 2022.

Spring Ball Takeaways: Ducks move indoors for 10th practice of spring season We are a little bit over a week away from the Oregon Ducks kicking off the annual spring game on April 29 inside Autzen Stadium. It has been clear that with that date on the horizon, the energy in practice has ramped up along with the preparation. On Thursday morning, Dan Lanning and the Ducks got back after it, this time inside the Moshofsky Center due to inclimate weather. They once again went through stretching, special teams drills, and modified tackling drills. While the players were in shoulder pads and shorts, the energy was high and the pads were thumping. Oregon Football: Takeaways from Ducks’ 10th practice of spring season DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM A couple of projected starters were absent from Thursday’s Oregon practice on Thursday. Our full practice report here. Oregon Football Spring Camp Updates: Practice 10 Oregon Football Spring Camp Updates: Practice 10 247SPORTS.COM Oregon's 10th practice of the spring took place on Thursday, check here for updates

Spring football practice is scheduled for today. I am starting this thread early so that posters may start dropping items in as they occur. There are 15 spring practices scheduled this season. Each practice will have it's own thread on OBDF and all articles in that thread will only pertain to that particular practice. This should help in keeping information organized and make it easier for our readers to navigate. FYI, in the article below you will see the dates for the practices scheduled. Be sure to check in later today as practice articles, interviews, and updates start coming in. Oregon Football: Dates set for Ducks spring practice schedule DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM The dates have been set for Oregon’s spring practice schedule.

The research team at the Pac-12 Conference keeps a transfer-portal spreadsheet that tracks all the activity on the conference football rosters. I’m bracing for some wild developments on that front. The NCAA football teams operate with two transfer-portal windows. The first is a 45-day period that begins on the Monday after bowl game selections. The second is a 15-day window that runs from April 15-30. Washington State coach Jake Dickert is not a fan of the second window. Canzano: Climbing through the Pac-12 transfer window WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM Who is winning in the portal?

Dan Lanning pushing Jordan James to do more in year two When the ball neared the goal line most Oregon fans knew what was coming a season ago. The Ducks brought in a slew of massive bodies and pounded the rock. In many of those instances, that meant the ball ended up in the stomach of Jordan James. No running back scored on the ground more frequently than James, who shared that distinction with Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, who finished with five rushing touchdowns apiece as well. "That package is kind of a mentality package," James told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. "You know what you're going to get from the defense and they know what they're getting from the offense. So, you've got to [man] up." The well-built sophomore wants to show more in year two. His head coach expects he will do just that. Dan Lanning pushing Jordan James to do more in year two 247SPORTS.COM Oregon running back Jordan James was one of the few members of the 2022 class to avoid a redshirt season.

Dan Lanning and the Ducks continue to see progress in spring football. In his first media availability since the Ducks’ scrimmage on Saturday, head coach Dan Lanning addressed the state of his football team as spring camp nears its tenth practice. Here are some of my top takeaways. https://www.bnd.com/sports/college/article274493986.html#storylink=rss

Ducks extend offer to 5-star DJ Pickett, No. 1 safety in 2025 class The Oregon Ducks’ new safeties coach Chris Hampton is making an early impression on the recruiting game up in Eugene since coming over from Tulane. Already he has landed a commitment from Aaron Flowers, one of the top safeties in the 2024 class, and he appears to be big-game hunting, extending an offer to DJ Pickett, the No. 1 safety in the 2025 class, and the No. 6 overall player, per the 247Sports Composite. Oregon Recruiting: Ducks extend offer to 2025 S D.J. Pickett DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Oregon’s Chris Hampton has big eyes in the class of 2025, offering DJ Pickett, the No. 1 ranked safety in the nation.

Dan Lanning evaluates the play of quarterbacks behind Bo Nix Bo Nix is returning to Oregon for his second season with the program and fifth in college football. He’s the clear starter for Dan Lanning’s Ducks. Still, the team needs to be prepared for anything at that position throughout the 2023 season. Now, Lanning has broken down those quarterbacks behind Bo Nix this season. Dan Lanning evaluates the play of quarterbacks behind Bo Nix - On3 WWW.ON3.COM .

Facing Bo Nix in practice every day gives Oregon defense top-notch experience It will be easy to understand that when the 2023 Oregon Ducks are previewed by the national media or the media at large, the offense is going to receive most of the attention. With all of the weapons the Ducks’ offense has, one can’t blame the media to focus on Bo Nix, Troy Franklin and others. But the unit that has to face that offense more than anyone is the Oregon defense in practice. According to Oregon safeties coach Chris Hampson, the talent is there for this Ducks defense to be special. Facing Bo Nix in practice every day gives Oregon defense top-notch experience DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Safeties coach Chris Hampton feels the Oregon defense will be too good to be overshadowed by the offense in 2023.

Walt and Elizabeth Smith have a story to share. I received a letter in the mail a couple of weeks ago from a reader who prints out my column every morning and shares it around her senior-living center. Elizabeth Smith is 91. Her husband, Walt, is 94. They live in a small apartment in The Dalles, eat cereal for breakfast and drive a silver Honda Accord. I reached Elizabeth and Walt on the phone last week, thanked her for reading, and came away from the conversation thinking they could teach the rest of us a thing or two. Canzano: Wait for college football season brings us together WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM Walt and Elizabeth Smith have a story to share.

Chris Hampton talks Ducks' secondary, Dan Lanning, and trying to stop Bo Nix in practice Of the many hires that Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning made over the offseason, safeties coach Chris Hampton was among the most intriguing. Taking over for Matt Powledge, who left to become the defensive coordinator for the Baylor Bears, Hampton had relatively big shoes to fill in Eugene. He himself was the former defensive coordinator for the Tulane Green Wave, which made him a coveted coach coming over to Eugene. Hampton now has the opportunity to coach a talented group of players in Oregon’s secondary, including Evan Williams, Tysheem Johnson, Steve Stephens, and Bryan Addison. On Tuesday, we got our first chance to talk to Hampton and discuss his transition to Eugene and what it’s like to go up against Oregon’s explosive offense every day in practice. Here are some of best quotes from that interview. Oregon Football: Chris Hampton talks Ducks’ defense and Bo Nix DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM “We go against a veteran QB every day and play against some really good WRs. It’s a challenge each and every day, and it’s going to make us better.”

Peyton Waters visiting Oregon/Oregon State this weekend, has official trips set with Utah and Washington Peyton Waters visiting Oregon/Oregon State this weekend, has official trips set with Utah and Washington 247SPORTS.COM Van Nuys (Calif.) Birmingam athlete Peyton Waters has a couple of Pac-12 unofficial visits set for the weekend and recently locked in his first two official trip