Tag: Blake Purchase

Dan Lanning details the growth of Matayo Uiagalelei, Blake Purchase, and Teitum Tuioti

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning discusses the growth of Matayo Uiagalelei, Blake Purchase, and Teitum Tuioti.

For the first time in what felt like a long time, the Oregon Ducks had a strong pass rush in 2023. Those efforts were led by seniors Brandon Dorlus and Jordan Burch, but they were also aided by a trio of elite freshmen rushers: Matayo Uiagalelei, Blake Purchase, and Teitum Tuioti.

Now, in preparation for the 2024 season, it seems natural that those three freshmen (now sophomores) will take on a larger role. Burch will be back this fall for his final season, but Dorlus is off to the NFL Draft, so there are some spots to fill in the pass rush.

After Oregon’s sixth spring practice on Tuesday, Ducks head coach Dan Lanning was asked how those three pass rushers have grown in the last twelve months.

“Yeah, I think strength, right?” Lanning said first. “I mean, I think if you look at what happened in the weight room for these guys — this offseason — they’ve all gotten bigger and stronger.”

Lanning also mentioned that Uiagalelei, Purchase, and Tuioti all have a better understanding of how the defense operates, after spending a year playing in it.

“And then obviously, having a better feel for what we’re trying to accomplish on each play,” Lanning said. “It’s kind of like going from Year 1 to Year 2 of this defense of where we’re able to improve because guys knew what the assignment was. It’s not just knowing the call, but now you know the strengths and weaknesses of each call. You know where you can lose leverage, where you can win leverage, who am I, and where are my eyes at pre-snap. All those things have really cleaned up for those guys.”

As I mentioned above, Dorlus is moving on to the NFL, which leaves a lot of production on the defensive line to be replaced. But if these three young rushers can take jumps — mentally and physically, as Lanning suggests they have — Oregon’s pass rush could be stronger in 2024 than it was in 2023.

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2024 Edge Rusher Outlook: Ducks stand strong behind trio of young studs

The Ducks had a trio of true-freshmen edge rushers stand out in 2023, and if Jordan Burch returns, that unit could be dominant in 2024.

The 2023 season is now behind us, and while there is still a bowl game to be played — The Fiesta Bowl vs. The Liberty Flames — Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks are working hard on the construction of their roster and hitting the transfer portal in attempts to formulate what this team will look like going into the 2024 season, the team’s first year in the Big Ten Conference. While they work on bringing new players in via the transfer portal, we want to look at the future breakdown of each position, detailing current players on the roster, incoming recruits, and potential targets on the market right now.

So far this offseason, we’ve broken down the future of the Quarterbacks, Running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, cornerbacks, and defensive line. Now let’s focus on the edge rushers.

While there are some gaps on the Oregon Ducks 2024 interior defensive line, there is a stable of rushers on the edge ready to charge at opposing quarterbacks next season. The Ducks are hoping to return veteran transfer Jordan Burch for his second season in Eugene, as well as the trio of highly productive freshmen in 2023 — Matayo Uiagalelei, Blake Purchase, and Teitum Tuioti.

The biggest thing that made Oregon’s defense better this year than they were in 2022 was their premier pass-rushing unit, led by Brandon Dorlus, Burch, and Uiagalelei. With how many returning Ducks — and new Ducks — there are at outside linebacker and defensive end, Oregon looks like they’ll be able to get to opposing quarterbacks with consistency again in 2024.

Below, is the full preview of the Oregon Ducks’ 2024 edge rushers.

Blake Purchase, Collin Gill earn early praise from Dan Lanning in fall camp

Blake Purchase, Collin Gill earn early praise from Dan Lanning in fall camp

One of the most common refrains from coaches and players in college football is that when a high school prospect finally arrives on campus and joins the team, you can throw the recruiting stars out the window. What you did at the previous level might have helped you get to where you are, but they don’t mean anything going forward.

Some players leave high school with all of the accolades and hype, while others weren’t recruited as prominently, but still find a spot on prominent teams. How successful they are at the next level is up to them.

No two players better depict that journey on Oregon’s roster this fall than true freshmen Blake Purchase and Collin Gill. While both had different recruiting processes in high school, the pair have earned some high praise so far during fall camp.

On one hand, Purchase was rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Colorado coming out of high school, and the No. 17 EDGE in the nation (No. 183 overall). Head coach Dan Lanning has been impressed with how quickly he’s been able to get up to speed in Eugene since coming to town this summer.

“On the first day it’s like he’s trying to figure out where to line up, but when you when you let that guy go, he just got explosive power,” Lanning said. “He’s got quickness and he’s got a want to be better. And it’s certainly showing up on the field.”

On the other hand, Gill was the 77th-rated CB in the 2023 class, and the No. 1,264 player overall. Despite the low ratings as a recruit, he’s had a big impact so far with the Ducks.

“He had a couple of interceptions on Saturday, which is pretty impressive for him,” Lanning said. “Still, at times he’s got to figure out where he’s supposed to line up but he’s the guy that’s a willing tackler, willing to hit and he’s done a good job when the ball has been thrown his way.”

We will see if either player gets much time on the field this fall, but the reviews so far are glowing for a pair of true freshman who took different paths to Oregon.

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3 Ducks freshman named as highly skilled players by ESPN

Jurrion Dickey, Ashton Cozart, and Blake Purchase have all been highlighted by ESPN going into the 2023 season.

ESPN writers Craig Haubert and Billy Tucker released a list of the best incoming freshman with 39 individual skills they selected. Three Oregon Ducks were selected for the list: wide receivers Ashton Cozart and Jurrion Dickey and linebacker Blake Purchase. Below are the ESPN article’s quotes about each player.

Jurrion Dickey – Skill: Best Contested Catch Ability

Dickey, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, looks like a TE or H-back and has a similar skill set when boxing out smaller DBs on a jump ball and high pointing. Not surprisingly, he’s a basketball player with a near 40-inch vertical and polished ball skills. With his size and potential red zone value, Dickey may have a better shot at carving out a role than Cozart.

As Dickey has climbed the WR rankings in his class, he has really showcased his contested catch ability, especially on back-shoulder throws and high passes. As the ESPN article mentions, his large frame is one of the reasons he is able to compete for nearly every pass, able to both extend for each catch and muscle his defender off the ball. One thing to note about Dickey is in 2023, he will be wearing No. 99 for the Ducks, which has caused some to speculate he will redshirt this season.

Blake Purchase – Best Second-Level Blitzer

You’re not seeing Russaw here as we’re not going to repeat names. While this selection might be a bit of a surprise, it’s hard to argue with the production. Having recorded 30 sacks over his final two high school seasons, Purchase has shown excellent ability to get after the QB. Not a pure speed rusher, he’s a big body with good initial burst but also impressive power, balance and agility. At nearly 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he may end up putting his hand down, but regardless of utilization, he can generate pressure and fill a need for the Ducks.

On the best high school team in Colorado in 2022, Blake Purchase was far and away the best player. He has the textbook frame of a hard-hitting outside linebacker but still has the speed necessary to be an elite rusher, perhaps more speed than Haubert and Tucker give him credit for. What this means is Purchase has all the skills to be an elite blitzer for Oregon, and hopefully he can turn his raw talent into results early and often for the Ducks’ defense.

Ashton Cozart – Best Deep Threat

At 6-foot-3 with a laser verified 4.45-second 40-yard dash and 10.7 in the 100 meters, Cozart has the size and speed combination to take the top off a defense. He doesn’t always look ultra-fast given his stride, but he will quickly get behind coverage, and his wide catch radius adds to his range as a pass-catcher. Oregon has a strong receiving room, and his impact may be limited this fall despite the rare size and speed combo.

Tez Johnson wasn’t the only speedy WR that the Ducks picked up this offseason, as freshman Cozart might even be faster. While Johnson’s abilities were on display in Oregon’s spring game, Cozart’s speed is no-joke (see the 40-yard dash time Haubert and Tucker highlighted above). Hopefully, he and Dickey will be able to crack into the lineup —perhaps in sets with an empty backfield and an extra WR —and make an impact this season. If Cozart is able to, Haubert and Tucker are likely correct in their assumption that it will come from the long ball, catching Bo Nix’s touchdowns.

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Ducks well represented among 2023 Gatorade Players of the Year

The Gatorade Players of the Year were announced for all 50 states on Friday, and the Ducks were well represented.

There are many ways to determine who the best recruits in high school sports are each year, but one of the best ways that have come about over the past few decades is to look at who was named the Gatorade Player of the Year.

Gatorade highlights dozens of spectacular athletes across all sports, and they award the top player from each state year after year. While this isn’t a perfect way to determine who the top 50 players in the nation are, since there are often multiple deserving players in each state, it goes to show who the most talented player in all 50 states is.

In the world of football, the 50 winners were announced on Friday, January 6, and it turns out that the Oregon Ducks are well represented. We wanted to celebrate those players for their achievements and look at a couple of other players — one potential future Duck, and another former Duck — that made the cut as well.

SIGNED: 4-star defensive end Blake Purchase is officially a Duck

Oregon believes it may have signed the next great Duck linebacker with the No. 1 recruit in Colorado Blake Purchase.

Oregon is quickly making it a habit of signing the No. 1 recruit out of Colorado. First, it was tight end Terrence Ferguson. Now it’s linebacker Blake Purchase.

The Ducks will definitely have a need at linebacker in 2023 and definitely in 2024. Noah Sewell might be gone after this season, Justin Flowe transferred, Iowa transfer Jestin Jacobs has just one year of eligibility left as does Mase Funa.

So there is a spot that could be ripe for the taking for Purchase. In his three seasons on the varsity level, Purchase has been credited with 158 tackles and 38 sacks. With a little more weight, he could turn into an edge rusher for the Oregon defense.

 

Breaking: 4-star LB Blake Purchase announces commitment

Oregon Ducks’ 4-star LB prospect Blake Purchase announced his commitment on Tuesday.

The attention of college football fans has turned to the product on the field, but a big commitment took place on Tuesday afternoon, with 4-star linebacker Blake Purchase announcing that he will be joining the Oregon Ducks’ 2023 class.

Purchase is rated by 247Sports as the No. 122 player, and No. 14 EDGE in the 2023 class.

Purchase is the 18th member to commit to Oregon in 2023, and he is one of the higher-rated players now on the Duck’s defensive line. He chose Oregon over Notre Dame, Iowa State, Washington, and Colorado.

While Oregon didn’t have a great showing against the Georgia Bulldogs last weekend, it’s clear that some top recruits are still buying into the message that Dan Lanning is selling.

Film

Blake Purchase’s Recruiting Profile

Four-star 2023 defender gets an offer from Notre Dame

Could the Irish add another prospect on the d-line for ‘23?

It seems like the Irish would have been completed with their 2023 defensive line recruit portion of their class with commitments from [autotag]Keon Keeley[/autotag], [autotag]Brenan Vernon[/autotag], [autotag]Boubacar Traore[/autotag] and [autotag]Devan Houstan[/autotag]. After the offer to Colorado edge defender [autotag]Blake Purchase[/autotag] yesterday, it seems like [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] and company are not done at the position.

At six-foot-three-inches and 240-pounds, Purchase’s frame shows the potential for him to play multiple positions on the line. He could continue to add weight and play in the middle or stay lean and rush the passer from the edge. The Irish join schools like Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, USC and others in offering a verbal scholarship to Purchase.

This offer might now have came to fruition, but Purchase announced earlier this month he was going to postpone his commitment. He has already visited four schools, so his final visit will be very telling. If Purchase elects to visit South Bend, the Irish would be in the mix for his commitment.

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