Category: JwPlayerVideo

Wyoming Lands Three Pac-12 Transfers

Cowboys Sign 3 PAC-12 Transfers to Bolster Roster Contact/Follow @Bangle94 & @MWCwire Jeff Linder brings in 3 PAC-12 Transfers to put the LA in (LA)ramie. Fresh off of receiving a new contract Jeff Linder went to work, improving a Wyoming team that …

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Cowboys Sign 3 PAC-12 Transfers to Bolster Roster

Contact/Follow @Bangle94 & @MWCwire

Jeff Linder brings in 3 PAC-12 Transfers to put the LA in (LA)ramie.

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Fresh off of receiving a new contract Jeff Linder went to work, improving a Wyoming team that made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Larry Shyatt led the Cowboys there in 2015. After losing several players to the transfer portal Jeff Linder got commitments from three PAC-12 players and drastically changed the Offseason for the Cowboys.

After a surprise run to the NCAA tournament, the Wyoming Cowboys faced a lot of uncertainty about the future of the Basketball program as the season came to a close. How would the Cowboys be affected by the transfer portal? Would Hunter Maldonado and Drake Jeffries return for one more year? What about Jeff Linder? Would the coach that turned the program around in two years return to Laramie? One by one those answers started to come. Four players entered the Transfer Portal: John Grigsby, Deng Dut, Ben Bowen, and Eoin Nelson.

Wyoming will almost be a Pac-12 basketball team in 2023: 2 Trojans, 1 UCLA Bruin

Drake Jeffries announced that he would not be returning to the Cowboys in order to pursue a professional career in basketball. Hunter Maldonado announced that he would go through the NBA Evaluation process, and retain his last year of eligibility. Jeff Linder signed a new contract for a significant pay raise making him the head coach for the Cowboys until 2027. Fresh off of his new contract Jeff Linder hit the recruiting trail and pulled off arguably one of the best transfer hauls in all of college basketball this weekend.

On Friday, April 8th Ethan Anderson (USC), Max Agbonkpolo (USC), and Jake Kyman (UCLA) visited Laramie. Ethan Anderson posted on his social media stories a video of him outside of the Arena-Auditorium, and within an hour Jeff Linder and his tweeted out:

Within the hour Ethan Anderson posted this:

The Wyoming sphere on Twitter was buzzing. Ethan Anderson filled a big need for the Cowboys going into next year at the point and will take a huge load off of Hunter Maldonado if he decides to return. Optimism going into next year was starting to simmer when Jeff Linder and his Staff took to Twitter again:

Within the next hour Max Agbonkpolo posted this to his Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcIuS1-OJys/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Agbonkpolo and Anderson both bring tremendous athleticism and defensive prowess to the Cowboys, as well as Chemistry they have built over several years as teammates. The Buzz around Cowboy Basketball began to roar as the night came to an end. Jeff Linder, however, had one more trick (or player) up his sleeve and come Saturday Morning he and his staff took to Twitter again:

Shortly thereafter Jake Kyman tweeted this out

In less than 24 hours Jeff Linder got three players to leave the sun and beaches of Los Angeles for the High Plains of Laramie. Anderson, Agbonkpolo, and Kyman all figure to contribute for the Cowboys immediately next year, and the depth that they provide will help to push the Cowboys to the next level. College Basketball writers across the country are taking notice too, not just those who follow the Cowboys:

Wyoming Basketball and Jeff Linder aren’t sleeping on their laurels going into next season. Jeff Linder and his staff are positioning the Cowboys as potential conference favorites, and setting up for a potentially deep post season run.

Time will tell, but it certainly seems that Jeff Linder is earning every bit of his new contract.

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2022 NFL Draft Profile: San Diego State DE Cameron Thomas

2022 NFL Draft Profile: San Diego State DE Cameron Thomas The Aztecs’ edge rusher was an integral part of their defense and will be a solid pick this draft. – Contact/Follow @ErwinSports & @MWCwire The 2021 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year …

2022 NFL Draft Profile: San Diego State DE Cameron Thomas

The Aztecs’ edge rusher was an integral part of their defense and will be a solid pick this draft.

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– Contact/Follow @ErwinSports & @MWCwire

The 2021 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year looks ready to contribute at the next level.

San Diego State has been a top defensively-minded program in FBS for years now. Redshirt junior Cameron Thomas fit Brady Hoke’s ideal athlete: a long, lean defender who enjoys going after the quarterback.

Cameron Thomas is a “buy low, sell high” guy despite the Group of 5 label. He’s big and lean enough to get to the quarterback and would flourish in 4-3 schemes. There is tremendous upside in his skill set and continuing pursuit when opponents are scrambling to get out of the backfield. He’s game-time ready and will be able to see snaps in 2022.

Measurables

Highlights

Strengths

Thomas is a 6-foot-5, 270-lb junior with a high IQ to maneuver out of blocks and into the opponents’ backfield. The defensive end saw double-teams to mitigate his athleticism in his time as an Aztec. But his prototypical NFL size and speed propelled him past offensive lines and into the face of quarterbacks. In the trenches, he’s been able to use his quickness to move laterally away from linemen and hunt the opposing running backs.

He started as a redshirt freshman in 2019 but being a part of the team in 2018 prepared him to get acclimated fast. His rapid ascent on defense got him all-Mountain West First Team in 2019 as a freshman.

Weaknesses

At the pro level, Thomas will encounter heftier offensive linemen who will be able to block him off the line of scrimmage and might not need an additional blocker. It was easy to match up with similar-sized frames in the Mountain West, but going up against NFL veterans will be a challenge. According to scouts, the Carlsbad local has below average arm length and his technique might not be able to cover that physical limitation.

NFL Comparison

Sam Hubbard, J.J. Watt

Draft Prediction

Some NFL mock drafts have him as high as the late first round, but most predict him picked in the second round. Mountain West Wire predicts Cameron Thomas goes in the second round to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Carlos Locklyn uses connection to Gary Campbell, Duck legends to inspire greatness

β€œIt’s my job to get that room back to the standard.” Oregon RB coach uses connection with Ducks’ legends to elevate current roster.

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When former Western Kentucky coach Carlos Locklyn was hired to be in charge of the running backs with the Oregon Ducks, his first point of action was to get in touch with those who came before him. He wanted to talk to the people who made this a coveted position in his eyes; the people who set a standard decades ago, and created a legacy of dominant and successful rushers in Eugene.

The first person on the list was former RB coach Gary Campbell, who stands as the longest-tenured coach in Oregon history, coaching from 1983 to 2016.

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β€œFor me, the standard when I first got here was to reach out to Coach Campbell,” Locklyn said on Tuesday. “And to reach out to every one of those backs, because that’s the standard. It’s my job to get that room back to that standard.”

When you think about the best rushers to come through Eugene, it’s nearly impossible to find someone who Campbell didn’t get his hands on. Saladin McCullough, Reuben Droughns, Jonathan Stewart, Jeremiah Johnson, LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, Royce Freeman… the list goes on.

“I know there’s other running back coaches that came after Coach Campbell, but to me, from 1983 to 2016, that guy β€” he’s the standard,” Locklyn said. “And if there’s anybody I want to model myself after, it’s Coach Campbell. He would text me, I would text him, I would text some of the running backs that have been here to let them know that I respect what y’all have done here, and it’s on me to get that room back to the standard.”

It shouldn’t come as a shock that Locklyn took the effort to reach out and form a relationship with some of the stalwarts in Oregon’s history books. If we’ve learned anything about him in the months since his hiring, it’s that relationships are the most important factor between a coach and player. That was a driving factor for why Dan Lanning hired him in the first place.

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“Lock was a guy that always stood out to me as a coach. I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time and more than anything, I’ve noticed how players respond to him,” Lanning said on Tuesday. “You can see obviously that video, the connection that he has with his guys, and like we said from the beginning, we’re going to be about relationships and development. And Lock takes a lot of pride in having great relationships with his players.”

The video that Lanning referred to is one that we saw a couple of months ago when the new Oregon head coach rounded up a group of Locklyn’s former players β€” Darrell Henderson, Antonio Gibson, Tony Pollard, Kenneth Gainwell, Patrick Taylor β€” on a call to have them present as he was offered the new job at Oregon. It represented how much love there was from his former players.

“Anybody that knows me knows that those five guys from Memphis, they mean a lot to me,” Locklyn said. “So, that was special to have those guys on that call, and those guys wanted to be on that call. They know the journey I had to get into this profession.”

As he looks toward the future, Locklyn knows that he can learn a lot from the past. In Eugene, there is a great history of successful running backs that spans decades into the past. They’ve set the standard for what it means to be great players and great men, mentored by the legendary Gary Campbell.

“It’s on me to get that room back to the standard.”

Contact/Follow usΒ @Ducks_WireΒ on Twitter, and like our page onΒ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Pair of Oregon Ducks listed among ESPN’s 100 greatest RBs in college football history

Two legendary Oregon Ducks made the cut for ESPN’s top-100 running backs in college football history.

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We all know who the best running backs in Oregon Ducks football history are. Over the years, we’ve taken a hard look at the all-time career rushing list in Eugene and determined which players stand above the rest as far as a legacy left behind.

Heck, we even determined which rushing duos were the best in Oregon history earlier this year, looking at standout seasons from tandems in the Ducks’ backfield, looking at which 1-2 punch had the most power in Eugene.

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However, where do these Oregon legends stand when it comes to the history of college football as a whole? Recently, ESPN did some work to figure that out, ranking the best 100 running backs in the game. Fortunately for the Ducks, a pair of Oregon alums made the cut.

Those guys are Royce Freeman and LaMichael James.

Freeman, who is currently the No. 1 player on Oregon’s rushing list, was listed a little bit lower than we expected, coming in at No. 63 on the list. He finished his career in Eugene with 5,621 yards and 60 touchdowns in four seasons.

James, on the other hand, got some nice recognition from ESPN, coming in at No. 30 on the list. Here is what they had to say:

Chip Kelly’s Ducks went 34-6 from 2009-11, finishing in the top five twice and nearly winning the 2010 national title. James was the face of those teams, rushing for at least 1,500 yards each year and scoring 24 times during that blessed 2010 run. An underrated superstar.

In his career, LaMichael had 5,082 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns, finishing No. 2 on Oregon’s all-time rushing list. He was also playing alongside Kenjon Barner β€” No. 3 on the rushing list β€” making them the undisputed top RB tandem in Oregon history.Β 

Contact/Follow usΒ @Ducks_WireΒ on Twitter, and like our page onΒ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Chase Coda cherishes the opportunity to carry on family legacy at Oregon

It took four seasons, but Chase Cota is finally back home playing for his favorite childhood team.

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It took four seasons, but Chase Cota is finally back where he belongs.

Oregon recruited the son of famed safety Chad Cota when he was one of the top players in the state coming out of Medford. The Ducks really wanted the 6-foot-3, 210-pound receiver and it was a surprise when Chase chose to go play for UCLA instead.

But thanks to the pandemic year of 2020, Cota still has one more year of eligibility and he has decided to play his final season where his father helped lead the Gang Green defense.

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“It was definitely still a tough decision because it was like, as much as it’d be great to come back home, which I ended up doing, and playing for the Ducks after I grew up a Duck fan, it was also just like the best spot for the last year of college football,” he said. “I thought I could fit in the best and have an impact and set myself up for success.”

At UCLA, Cota caught 67 passes for 883 yards and scored six times. With his size and experience, Cota could have gone to a few other schools. Coming to Oregon wasn’t a sure thing. But Cota says that he clicked with the new coaching staff and coming back home was the right thing to do.

“I really liked Coach (Junior) Adams and Coach (Kenny) Dillingham. I just thought my communication with them and hearing what they had to say about the offense and the opportunity. It sounded really good,” he said.

The Ducks have a receiver room full of talent but are low on experience. They’re all either freshmen, redshirt freshmen, or sophomores, except junior Isaah Crocker. Having a senior with Cota can only be beneficial for all involved.

“It’s not like I came here because there are no receivers,” Cota said. “There’s a bunch of really good receivers here so just to be in a really good room and to think that I can help enhance it is the experience I wanted to be in.”

Contact/Follow usΒ @Ducks_WireΒ on Twitter, and like our page onΒ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Dan Lanning offers positive injury update on CB Dontae Manning

We got a somewhat positive injury update on cornerback Dontae Manning on Tuesday after practice.

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One of the biggest takeaways from the Oregon Ducks’ morning practice on Tuesday was the fact that cornerback Dontae Manning was not a full participant, and was sporting a full leg brace while going through stretches and working off to the side.

After he left Saturday’s scrimmage in a wheelchair, this was actually a positive development, as the young defensive back was able to put weight on the leg and go through limited work.

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After practice, head coach Dan Lanning offered an update on what we know about the injury at this point.

“He has an injury, going through recovery right now,” Lanning said. “We don’t think it’ll be a long long-term deal but obviously you’re monitoring his safety first.”

While Lanning says that they don’t think the injury will be long-term, it’s probably safe to assume that we won’t see Manning participating in the Oregon spring game at the end of April.

After losing players like Mykael Wright, D.J. James, and Verone McKinley, the Duck’s depth in the secondary is a bit thin, and Manning was projected to be a piece that fills in well this year, as a former 5-star recruit.

We will continue to monitor the situation going forward and hope that he can return healthy this fall, if not sooner.

Contact/Follow usΒ @Ducks_WireΒ on Twitter, and like our page onΒ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Central Catholic tailback Ellis Bynum commits to Oregon

The Oregon Ducks added 3-star RB Ellis Bynum as a PWO on Tuesday.

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Three-star running back Ellis Bynum out of Central Catholic High School in Portland has announced via his Twitter page that he will be joining the Ducks in the fall.

“Thankful for everyone who has helped me on my path to greatness,” he said. “With that being said I’d like to announce my commitment to the University of Oregon.”

Bynum helped the Rams to a perfect 15-0 record and the Class 6A Oregon state championship. For his senior season, Bynum racked up 1,011 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground as well as 17 catches for 215 yards and four more scores.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pounder just adds more talent to the running back depth chart. Besides scooping up the top in-state talent, head coach Dan Lanning and offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham might have liked Bynum’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make plays in space.

Contact/Follow usΒ @Ducks_WireΒ on Twitter, and like our page onΒ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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2022 NFL Draft Profile: San Diego State TE Daniel Bellinger

The Aztecs tight end was a quiet part of the team’s success for years, but he’s flashed the tools to be a big NFL contributor.

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2022 NFL Draft Profile: San Diego State TE Daniel Bellinger

The Aztecs tight end was a quiet part of the team’s success for years, but he’s flashed the tools to be a big NFL contributor.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

A pre-draft star looks to make good in the pros.

The San Diego State Aztecs of recent vintage have largely been renown for their defensive process, so it’s easy to overlook that the program has also put its share of offensive contributors into the National Football League over the last decade or so: Gavin Escobar, Donnel Pumphrey, and Rashaad Penny, just to name a few.

Add to that list Daniel Bellinger, who had one of the more thankless roles in the Aztec offense over the last couple years as its primary tight end. Without a stat line like that of Trey McBride or Cole Turner, it’d be tempting to think there’s no way he could measure up but outstanding performances throughout the pre-draft process put the lie to a lack of catches and touchdowns. Put simply, Bellinger can play.

The question now is where that will be.

Measurables (taken from Mockdraftable)

Highlights

Strengths

Don’t confuse the lack of receptions in college with an inability to catch the football. Draft analysts, from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein to The Draft Network’s Drae Harris to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, are generally in agreement that Bellinger has the hands to succeed as a pass-catcher in a NFL offense. He also has the hand-eye coordination and catch radius to remain capable of lining up in the slot, though he may end up closer to the point of attack more often in 12 personnel.

That’s because most of what he was asked to do at San Diego State involved helping the Aztecs’ running game, and he’s got the tools to continue helping out in that front. What Blue Chip Scouting’s Devin Jackson calls a “finisher’s mindset” allows him to play effectively inline, something about which analysts have questions in Mountain West peers like Derrick Deese Jr. and Cole Turner, where his hands and willingness to get physical can help running backs get through their running lanes.

Weaknesses

Despite the catchy 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, Bellinger won’t be confused for a Travis Kelce-like downfield threat in the passing game because there appears to be some disagreement as to just how athletic he is: Brugler tabs Bellinger as an “above-average athlete” but believes he is more “one-speed” and Harris describes him as being more “sufficient”, while Football Sapient’s John Vogel and NFL Draft Buzz take a more lukewarm overall stance.

While he flashed some ability to earn yards after the catch as a route runner with the Aztecs, offenses may end up getting more from him as a possession receiver rather than one to be counted on for chunk plays since he isn’t particularly elusive. That may limit his upside relative to others who flashed big-time tools, like Virginia’s Jelani Woods, but there’s nothing wrong with being a high-floor prospect.

NFL Comparison

Robert Tonyan

Draft Prediction

Bellinger looked sharp at both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine and definitely made himself a good chunk of money with those performances. He may not be quite the chess piece that other tight ends in this year’s class could be, but Bellinger won’t be pigeon-holed into one role on a pro offense and he’s a good bet to hear his name early on Day 3, probably in the fourth round.

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Oregon QB Ty Thompson to attend Manning Passing Academy this summer

Redshirt-freshman QB Ty Thompson will be at the Manning Passing Academy this summer.

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One of the premier places for young quarterbacks to go and get a masterclass at their position is the Manning Passing Academy, and the guest list this summer will be populated with at least one member of the Oregon Ducks.

It was announced recently that redshirt freshman QB Ty Thompson will be in attendance at the passing academy as a counselor. The camp takes place from June 23-26, on the campus of Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La.

This is the first time that Thompson β€” who is currently in a competition for the top QB spot in Eugene β€” will attend the camp, put on by Peyton, Eli, Archie, and Cooper Manning.

A year ago, former Auburn and current Oregon QB Bo Nix attended the MPA as a counselor. There is not yet word whether or not he will return this year as well. Former Oregon QB Anthony Brown attended the camp last year as well, as did Justin Herbert in 2019.

Contact/Follow usΒ @Ducks_WireΒ on Twitter, and like our page onΒ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Air Force Football: The Bugg Family Edition

Tre’ and Mason Bugg Enjoy a Special 2021 Another Sibling Duo To Leave Their Mark At The USAFA Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire The 2021 football season proved to be one worthy of celebration, for a multitude of reasons. Anytime the Falcons can put …

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Tre’ and Mason Bugg Enjoy a Special 2021

Another Sibling Duo To Leave Their Mark At The USAFA

Contact/FollowΒ @SeanΒ orΒ @MWCWire

The 2021 football season proved to be one worthy of celebration, for a multitude of reasons. Anytime the Falcons can put together double-digit wins, it bares worth remembering and appreciating, because such a feat will never come easy. That seems to be a common mantra in Colorado Springs though, because there truly is nothing easy about a day in the life of a cadet; much less that of a cadet-athlete managing the rigors that come with playing football.

Which begs the question; if you are a high school football player with ambitions of playing in college, or even the NFL, why go to The Air Force Academy?
If you are a smart, motivated and talented individual, there are a lot of answers with which to reference. Ultimately, the prospect of an receiving an elite education while playing football at the highest level will often prevail. Such was the case for Tre’ (Milton) Bugg III, one of the best defensive backs in the Mountain West Conference over the past three years.
A multi-year starter and All-Conference player; Bugg III finds himself recently removed from showcasing his talents to NFL scouts at the Pro Day which was held at the Air Force Academy. Tre’ Bugg III is the perfect example of what kind of opportunities can yield for an Air Force grad. A high school standout that held offers from multiple schools, he chose the USAFA route to ensure elite education was equal to the competition on the field.
Perhaps the only thing more apropos than success manifesting itself from the hard work and commitment remarked, is the reality of brotherhood existing at an unparalleled level at U.S. Military Academies. In the literal sense, that is the story of the Bugg family.
Joining Tre’ at the Academy in 2020, was his younger brother Mason. A record setting quarterback in high school, Mason was an accomplished athlete coming out of Williams Field High School in Arizona.
The two share a lot more in common than their last name though. Despite being a standout quarterback, Mason mirrored Tre’s path and transitioned to the defensive backfield at the Academy. Competitive and high IQ, a couple of the traits that helped both young men see the field as underclassmen. If Mason really wants to match extremes, he’ll have to come up with an ESPN play of the year interception in this, his junior year, just as Tre’ did back in 2019.

ON THE FIELD
You may have noticed that Mason joined the Falcons in 2020, which certainly overlaps with the tenure of Tre’. In case you don’t recall though, the elder Bugg didn’t play in the pandemic shortened 2020 season, as he was part of a large contingent of players who opted for a turnback year. So, while Mason did something pretty special in itself, dressing and traveling as a freshman during that 2020 year, it wasn’t alongside his brother.
Fast forward to 2021, and for the first time since Tre’s senior year at Williams Field High School, both he and Mason would dress and share the sidelines together. That’s a pretty special thing, when you think of how difficult it is to get into the Air Force Academy, much less make the football team and dress. You would be hard pressed to find a prouder pair of parents out there than Michelle and Milton Bugg Jr.
Milton Jr. saw both of his sons compete in the USA Football Program as youth’s. To now see both of these young men represent the USA in a whole other capacity speaks to a sense of honor and commitment very few can relate. Much less siblings.
Tre’ and Mason aren’t the first sibling tandem to play for the Falcons, as there have been a few. Elijah and Elisha Palm were in the secondary as recently as 2020, and the Healy’s, Connor and Patrick were linebackers together in 2016 as another pairing.
OFF THE FIELD
In case you haven’t noticed, distinction has become a bit of a theme for Tre’ and Mason. After all, their father was an accomplished diver, capturing a championship during his senior year at Ohio State. Full disclosure, Milton Jr. is as humble as he is gracious, and offered that his diving title may or may not have come intramurally. I’ll leave the fact checking to the reader. What I can affirm, as a man and father, I can’t help but marvel at how he and Michelle have raised these ‘service before self’ centered young men.
In the spirit of service, it’s worth pointing out that after Tre’s NFL journey concludes, he will be a member of the heralded Space Force. Pretty impressive credentials between those two paths.
As for Mason, he’ll have two more seasons of Falcon football ahead of him. From there he hopes to successfully apply for pilot training after graduation and fly C-17’s during his service.
So, as you can see, there will be more chapters to the Bugg’s football and Service story. We’d be remised if we didn’t conclude with a teaser about the youngest of the Bugg siblings, Matteus. Another in the Bugg family football lineage, Matteus had a Junior Day visit recently. Perhaps there will be one more Bugg to join the Falcon family.

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