The best college football recruits — the ones with five stars next to their name — typically come from a handful of recruiting hotspots such as Texas, Florida, and California. The Oregon Ducks are filled with 5-and-4 stars from those football factories, but on occasion, the Ducks’ most important players come from places much closer to home.
So many players made massive contributions in Oregon’s 49-21 victory against the Washington Huskies — the Ducks’ first in three years — but Bryce Boettcher, who was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, shined above the rest. With 11 tackles, 2 TFLs, a sack, and a forced fumble, Boettcher’s performance was the best performance by an Oregon defender of the day and perhaps the season.
Boettcher’s forced fumble may have been the most important play of the game. Oregon was struggling for momentum early on against the Huskies, leading 7-6. After a few drives, the Ducks punched in a second touchdown, making the score 14-6 in the second quarter.
On the first play of Washington’s following drive, Boettcher flicked the ball out of Huskies’ RB Jonah Coleman’s hands, allowing Derrick Harmon to recover the fumble. The Ducks quickly extended the score to 21-6 with a Jordan James touchdown, and the Huskies were zapped of momentum from that point on.
Growing up in Eugene, Boettcher excelled in many sports, but his talents were always brightest on the baseball diamond. In high school, Boettcher earned an offer to play baseball at Oregon, and after enrolling at UO, he worked hard to make the Ducks football team.
Boettcher’s first football season in 2022 was uneventful, but in 2023, and especially 2024, Boettcher has been an invaluable member of the Oregon defense. Over the last two seasons, Boettcher has compiled 119 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3 sacks, a pick, and two forced fumbles. His total of 11 tackles on his senior night against the Huskies is tied for the most in his career.
His other 11-tackle game? Oregon’s other rivalry matchup of 2024: the Ducks win over Oregon State Beavers on Sep. 14th.
After the 2024 baseball season, Boettcher was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB Draft. Despite a strong 2023, Boettcher’s play in centerfield was still seen as his primary talent. These days, it’s hard to know if Boettcher is more valuable in football or baseball, but against Washington, he showed he has the chops to play football at the pro level.
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