NJDuck

The Washington State Legislature is knee-deep in a 105-day legislative session. Lawmakers are currently on day No. 32, discussing matters such as agriculture, technology, business, education and other topics. They will not talk Pac-12 Conference football, I’ve learned. Plus, more on George Kliavkoff's visit to SMU. Canzano: Bill to marry Washington and WSU makes a U-turn WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM Plus, more on George Kliavkoff's visit to SMU.

"What would Knight have done at the deadline if he owned the Blazers? Hold up. Wrong question. What wouldn’t Knight have done? LeBron was growing antsy in Los Angeles. Durant was on the trading block. Who else? What else? Anyone think the entrepreneur who built the largest global sports brand in history would have been content to sit still — whispering — while the league roared around him?" Canzano: Best Trail Blazers trade involves Phil Knight WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM My wish for the NBA Trade deadline.

"You can feel the buzz starting to grow where moviegoers and sports lovers overlap. When you take a subject that contains arguably the greatest basketball player to ever live — Michael Jordan — and the most famous sports apparel brand in the history of the world — Nike — you’ve got sports fans excited. Then you put actors like Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, and Viola Davis on the big screen to depict that subject matter? Now you’ve got a movie." WATCH: Trailer drops for ‘AIR’ movie about Phil Knight, Michael Jordan DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM The first trailer for ‘AIR,’ a movie about Phil Knight and Nike’s pursuit of Michael Jordan has officially dropped.

Oregon lands in top seven for blue-chip 2024 wideout from Texas SATURDAYOUTWEST.COM Oregon has landed in the top seven for one of the best wideouts in the 2024 class.

They should look at UNLV. Las Vegas is growing. turning into a sports mega city. Also, "UNLV achieves its goal of Tier 1 research university status several years ahead of schedule." UNLV achieves its goal of Tier 1 research university status several years ahead of schedule – The Nevada Independent THENEVADAINDEPENDENT.COM UNLV had been explicit since at least 2013 about its goal of getting on the list, which includes the top 2.5 percent of higher education institutions. In 2010, it was designated as Tier 2, or an institution... UNLV achieves its goal of Tier 1 research university status several years ahead of schedule – The Nevada Independent THENEVADAINDEPENDENT.COM UNLV had been explicit since at least 2013 about its goal of getting on the list, which includes the top 2.5 percent of higher education institutions. In 2010, it was designated as Tier 2, or an institution...

That is what I like about Tony Altimore's information. Showing where the Ducks are sitting with our national fanbase. Our brand is growing each year, like Charles pointed out, not just nationally, but world wide. Go Ducks!

Oregon entered the 2023 cycle hoping to shore up its cornerback room. The final result was an undoubted success as the school's signing list includes the top two cornerbacks on the west coast in four-stars Rodrick Pleasant of Gardena (Cali.) and Daylen Austin of Long Beach (Cali.). Both players hail from Southern California, drawing some similarities to the Ducks' 2017 signing haul when they also went in to the Los Angeles area to pull the area's two top corners in Deommodore Lenoir and Thomas Graham. Lenoir and Graham went on to become multiple year starters next to each other and to enjoy NFL careers. Greg Biggins, a 247Sports national recruiting analyst, sees the similarities between the cornerback pairings, and believes the Austin and Pleasant combo could achieve something similar during their times at Oregon with both possessing NFL upside. Greg Biggins thinks Ducks may have something special with Daylen Austin and Rodrick Pleasant 247SPORTS.COM Greg Biggins thinks Ducks may have something special with Daylen Austin and Rodrick Pleasant

SDSU and SMU under the spotlight. When USC and UCLA left the Pac-12 Conference last summer, they took a whopping 6.7 million Southern California television households with them. George Kliavkoff appears motivated to replace that divot. The Pac-12 has been in communication with San Diego State. Kliavkoff, the conference commissioner, is reportedly headed to Dallas to talk with SMU on Wednesday. What you need to know: • The Pac-12 is on a mission to replace the football inventory lost by the UCLA/USC defection to the Big Ten. That’s 23 combined football games and a pile of men’s basketball games. • Adding San Diego State would get the Pac-12 back into Southern California and regain 1.13 million television households. • Kliavkoff met in December with officials at San Diego State, a conference source told me. A 45-minute meeting between the sides took place in the time around Oregon’s Dec. 28 appearance in the Holiday Bowl, I’m told. • Adding SMU would bring the DFW market with it. That’s 2.96 million TV homes. • SMU + San Diego State = 4.1 million combined TV households. That will be attractive to media partners. But after the dust settles, the Pac-12 would still have ~2.6 million fewer television homes than it did before the departures of USC/UCLA. Canzano: Pac-12 expansion ramps up WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM SDSU and SMU under the spotlight. Canzano's listing of Oregon and Portland's market is a portion size of what Oregon's brand brings overall. Oregon comes in at number 7 overall drawing fanbase viewing. This is a great study by Tony Altimore analyzing the 130 FBS fan bases. Interesting total fanbase estimates for each conference, Pac 12 sits at 23.5 million while the Big12 is 11.6 million Good Read: Where are the Oregon Ducks in study of largest college football fan bases? | Ducks Wire DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM The Ducks have one of the biggest fan bases in the nation. But where do they stack up among the most beloved teams in college football?

Pac-12 Football: Schools that make sense for potential expansion DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM A report from @Brett_McMurphy shows George Kliavkoff could be looking to expand the Pac-12. Here are some candidates for potential expansion.

How Adrian Klemm's departure impacts Oregon in the short and long term 247SPORTS.COM How Adrian Klemm's departure impacts Oregon in the short and long term

"News came out on Monday morning that the Oregon Ducks were losing offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, who was heading to the NFL and accepting a job with the New England Patriots. It is undoubtedly a great move for Klemm, and the right step in his career, but it also leaves Dan Lanning and the Ducks in a tough spot when it comes to filling out that spot on the coaching staff in an expedient fashion that has the team ready to roll when spring football comes around in a month. Fortunately for Oregon, this coaching move comes after the recruiting cycle has closed, and well before the next transfer portal window opens. Once the Ducks do make a hire, they will have 15 practices to get everyone on the same page in the offensive trenches and head into the season hoping to boast one of the top lines in the nation once again." Of course this is the beginning of buzz surrounding list of candidates. I am sure more to come. Oregon Football: Potential coaches to replace OL coach Adrian Klemm DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Where do the Ducks turn to replace Adrian Klemm? We’ve got a list of 10 candidates with notable Oregon connections that might make sense.

Familiar name us Duck fans know: "We’ve said the ’25 QB class in California is a strong one and another signal caller we’re high on early is Vista Murrieta’s (Calif.) Akili Smith Jr. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Smith’s father Akili Smith was a JUCO all-American out of San Diego (Calif.) Grossmont back in 1996 before playing two years for Oregon and earning All-American honors for the Ducks in ’98. Smith was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the ’99 Draft with the 3rd overall pick. He’s now coaching quarterbacks and his son has made huge strides in the last year. We’ve been watching Smith Jr. since middle school and like where his game is trending. He’s a big quarterback and looks all of 6-5, 200 pounds and has a huge arm. He has worked hard to tighten his release and looks a lot more fluid as a passer. He’s still growing in to his body but can already make a lot of college level throws and it’s exciting to see where his game could be at by the time he’s a senior year. On the recruiting front, Smith saw his stock soar in January with new offers coming in from Michigan, Miami, Oregon and San Diego State. He already previous offers from Arizona, Cal and Fresno State. The offer from the Ducks obviously meant a lot to him." '25 QB Akili Smith Jr. has seen his stock soar this off-season 247SPORTS.COM We’ve said the ’25 QB class in California is a strong one and another signal caller we’re high on early is Vista Murrieta’s (Calif.) Akili Smith Greg Biggins breaks down what could make 2025 QB prospect Akili Smith Jr. special 247SPORTS.COM Greg Biggins breaks down what could make 2025 QB prospect Akili Smith Jr. special

"Laguna Beach (Calif.) junior tight end Ryner Swanson visited Oregon two weeks ago and the Ducks made a huge impression. Swanson is among the region’s top tight end prospects. At 6-4, 230 pounds, he has an ideal tight end frame with plenty of room to fill out. He's a fluid athlete and a natural pass catcher and has been very productive the last two seasons. As a sophomore, he caught 45 balls for 586 yards and eight touchdowns and nearly doubled those numbers this past season." Oregon makes big impression on talented '24 TE Ryner Swanson 247SPORTS.COM Laguna Beach (Calif.) junior tight end Ryner Swanson visited Oregon two weeks ago and the Ducks made a huge impression.

Will Stein and the Oregon staff are working to add another promising arm to the Ducks roster in 2024 "Oregon is one of the latest offers for the Arizona quarterback. The Oregon Ducks are hard at work looking for their quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class. One player that was recently in Eugene was Phoenix (Ariz.) Sunnyslope quarterback." "Luke Moga, who earned an offer from Will Stein and company shortly after that trip. He spoke with Ducks Digest to provide the latest in his recruitment as he's earned 14 scholarship offers since the start of the new year." https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/college/article272189253.html#storylink=rss

Opinion: Ducks' coaching turnover is not a sign of poor hiring — it's the opposite Oregon Football: Why Adrian Klemm’s departure isn’t bad news for Ducks DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Dan Lanning is tasked with making yet another coaching hire this offseason. While fans may be frustrated, it’s a trend that will make Oregon better in the long run.

Oregon Recruiting: Near misses could pay off for Ducks down the road DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM In this new world of the transfer portal, building and maintaining relationships can pay off down the road. Nobody knows that as well as Dan Lanning.

Dan Lanning’s early impressions of 4-star quarterback Austin Novosad DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Oregon Ducks quarterback Austin Novosad has impressed Dan Lanning so far, and will learn a lot from Bo Nix and Ty Thompson in 2023.

Oregon Football: Jurrion Dickey highlighted as instant-impact player DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Can 5-star WR Jurrion Dickey have a role in Oregon’s offense as a true freshman in 2023?

Oregon Recruiting: Where Ducks stands early on in 2024 class rankings DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM It’s time to start looking ahead. Here’s where Oregon currently stands in the 2024 national recruiting rankings. College football recruiting: An early look at the top 25 classes for 2024 247SPORTS.COM ...

"NSD 2023: Oregon a Recruiting Heavyweight in Southern California" "The Ducks have proven they have legitimate pull in both USC and UCLA's backyard. Oregon just wrapped up the 2023 recruiting cycle following a small but eventful National Signing Day. The Ducks finished with the No. 8 recruiting class in the country according to the 247Sports composite. From Washington to Florida, the Ducks got it done with recruits from across the country. One of the biggest, if not the biggest, states that Oregon needed to dominate on the trail was California." https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article272051782.html#storylink=rss

Is Oregon Finished Recruiting in the 2023 Class? Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle High School tight end Duce Robinson is now the top uncommitted and unsigned recruit in the country. Ranked No. 1 at his position and No. 17 overall, he has his pick of any school. He has 28 reported offers but it's believed that he's strongly considering Georgia, Texas, USC, Alabama and Oregon. Robinson has taken official visits to each of those schools, with the exception of Oregon. Which is why it's so interesting that he didn't sign during the early signing period or on National Signing Day. The towering tight end choosing to extend his recruitment past traditional deadlines could be just what the doctor ordered for the Ducks. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article272080442.html#storylink=rss

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning spoke with the media about Oregon's 2023 recruiting class, where the program has improved its roster, and what is next for the Ducks.

Two 10-win football programs. Two head coaches. Two parties. This is probably a good time to point out that what we have here is the beginning of a golden-era of college football in the state of Oregon. It’s a renaissance for the Civil War rivalry, punctuated by the back-slapping recruiting bashes going on within miles of each other on Wednesday evening. Canzano: Ducks and Beavers go head to head with bashes WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM It feels like the beginning of a golden era.

National Signing Day 2023: Oregon 'in good position for' 5-star Nyckoles Harbor, over South Carolina. National Signing Day 2023: Oregon 'in good position for' 5-star Nyckoles Harbor, over South Carolina 247SPORTS.COM ...

Insiders have suggested a shift towards Oregon. Luckily, we’ll find out about both Harbor and Pleasant between 10-11am PST. Brad Crawford @BCrawford247 .@SWiltfong247's latest on Nyckoles Harbor ... 'I think late conversations w/ Dan Lanning & the Oregon staff, the track staff has put Oregon in good position. I said SC needed to hold advantage for 23 hours (Tues) and last night I said Oregon needed to hold it for 11 hours.'