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NJDuck

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Posts posted by NJDuck

  1.  

    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.

     

    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.

     

     

  2. 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.

     

     

     

     

  3.  

    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.

     

    DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

    Safeties coach Chris Hampton feels the Oregon defense will be too good to be overshadowed by the offense in 2023.

     

  4.  

    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.

     

    WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM

    Walt and Elizabeth Smith have a story to share.

     

  5.  

    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.

     
    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.”

     

  6.  

    Dan Lanning lists Matayo Uiagalalei, Josh Conerly Jr. as possible spring fill-in tight ends

     

    With numbers dwindling at tight end this spring, Oregon's coaching staff could be forced to get a little creative over the final two weeks of practice.

     

    Head coach Dan Lanning pointed to a few high-profile players at other positions as possible stand-ins in the interim, naming defensive end Matayo Uiagalalei and offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. as players capable of doing so.

     

    247SPORTS.COM

    Oregon coach Dan Lanning ran through a list of players who might be able to fill in at tight this spring with depth waning due to injury.

     

     

     

  7.  

    RUMOR: Oregon is emerging big-time for four-star WR Aaron Butler.

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    BUYING IT. There was a time a few months ago that it looked like it was only a matter of time until Georgia landed Butler’s commitment and I was even making preparations for that inevitability. It no longer feels that way. 

     

    Maybe Georgia slowed down a tad on the four-star receiver from Calabasas, Calif., because the Bulldogs already have commitments from Ny Carr and NiTareon Tuggle with many other targets out there. But it’s also because Oregon has dramatically stepped it up with him. 

    Butler had a phenomenal trip to Eugene over the weekend and now the Ducks probably have the slight edge for Butler, who impressed at the recent Under Armour Los Angeles Camp.

    1

    OREGON.RIVALS.COM

    Are Nebraska and USC still in it for five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, who is ranked No. 1 in the 2024 Rivals250?

     

  8.  

    Four-Star DB Zabien Brown locks in official visits with Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon and USC

     

    Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei defensive back Zabien Brown cut his list of schools to four last month and has now locked in official visits with each of his finalists.

     

    Brown is one of the nation's top cover corner prospects and is currently rated No. 68 nationally in the 247Sports Composite and No. 39 in the Top247.

     

    Brown has a final four of Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon and USC. The Trojans will get his first official visit on June 3rd followed by Ohio State June 17, Alabama June 23 and Oregon July 1.

     

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    https://247sports.com/college/oregon/article/four-star-db-zabien-brown-locks-in-official-visits-with-alabama--208565047/

  9.  

    Oregon Football Spring Camp Updates: Practice Nine

     

    EUGENE, Ore. -- A few transfer portal defections aside, the team appeared to came out of the first scrimmage of spring relatively unscathed.  Tuesday brought the first day back from Saturday's session in Autzen and the day's work, which took place in full pads, featured nearly perfect attendance.

     

     

    247SPORTS.COM

    Oregon's ninth practice of the spring took place on Tuesday, check here for updates

     

  10.  

    Dan Lanning is thrilled to welcome some special faces as guest coaches

     

    “They’re good ambassadors because they’re obviously phenomenal players, but also phenomenal people,” he said of Mariota and Holland. “Anytime you have guys that were just tremendous Ducks that care so much about our program and make an effort to give back, it’s always great to recreate that. That’s special for our players, but it’s just a special for our fans. They’re loved and adored by every Duck out there. (We) love having them back for us.”

     

    DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

    “They’re good ambassadors because they’re obviously phenomenal players, but also phenomenal people.”

     

  11.  

    Thrown into the deep end, freshman TE Kenyon Sadiq is making up ground quickly

     

    For those of us of a slightly older, uh hem, generation, the thought of finishing high school early in order to join the college football team is still quite strange.

     

    What was a phenomenon is now the norm and tight end Kenyon Sadiq is one of those freshmen looking to make an impact and play right away for the Ducks.

     

    According to tight ends coach Drew Mehringer, the learning curve from high school to college is still the biggest obstacle incoming freshmen have to face.

     

    DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

    With the injury to Terrance Ferguson, freshman Kenyon Sadiq will get a bigger look in spring camp and he’s ready for the challenge.

     

    • Thumbs Up 1
  12.  

    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.

     

     

    DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

    The dates have been set for Oregon’s spring practice schedule.

     

  13. Updated list of linebackers for Oregon to consider in the transfer portal

     

    Even before linebacker Keith Brown announced over the weekend that he would be entering the transfer portal and leaving the Oregon Ducks, linebacker was a position of relative need for Dan Lanning’s defense.

     

    While you have a lot of talented players, there isn’t an exorbitant amount of depth. With guys like Jeffrey Bassa, Jestin Jacobs, and now — without Brown — Jamal Hill leading the way, and unproven players like Devon Jackson, Harrison Taggart, and Elijah Williams behind them, it’s easy to see that the Ducks could stand to add a player or two to the LB room.

     

    That was the case before Brown entered the portal, and it’s been turned into a more dire need since the roster move.

     

    Fortunately for Oregon, there are a number of really solid options available in the transfer portal. While more players will continue to enter the portal and eventually come off of the board, the Ducks will likely reach out to a handful of guys who they think can improve their roster instantly.

     

    Here are some players that I think the Ducks might try and target.

     
    DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

    With Keith Brown gone, the Ducks could stand to add another LB to the mix. Fortunately, there are some great options in the transfer portal.

     

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