Tag: cbssports.com

Aaron Flowers named to true freshman watchlist ahead of 2024 season

True freshman Aaron Flowers has a chance to make a significant impact for the Ducks in the 2024 season, according to CBS Sports.

In most spring games, there’s a players that arises to the top and shows great potential. But then the regular season comes and that same player is stuck down on the depth chart and never heard from again.

Most think that won’t be the case for Oregon true freshman safety Aaron Flowers. In his first appearance in the 2024 Spring Game, Flowers had four tackles, two solo and two assisted, but he was in on many other plays and seemingly always the ball, especially for a true freshman who isn’t supposed to know all that much.

According to CBS Sports, Flowers could be one of those true freshmen in the 2024 season that could make an impact right away for their team.

“There are some snaps to grab at safety behind Kobe Savage and Tysheem Johnson. That is a plus for Flowers, who greatly impressed during spring ball and had a huge spring game,” said writer Chris Hummer. “Given that almost every other player in the safety mix is an unproven underclassman, Flowers definitely has a path to the field.”

Flowers was the No. 7 safety and the No. 102 overall player in the Class of 2024, according to 247Sports.

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Two Ducks have a chance to crack CBS Sports’ Top 100 players in 2024

CBS Sports says there are two Ducks who could move into their Top 100 players with a good 2024 season.

The idea of moving to the Big Ten was for give Oregon a higher profile nationwide than the Pac-12 could ever do. That goes for the university on the whole and individual athletes in all the sports.

According to CBS Sports, there are two Ducks that are outside their Top 100, but they have a chance to crack the list should they have good seasons in the new conference.

The first Duck is linebacker Jeffrey Bassa.

According to writer Blake Brockermeyer, Bassa’s multiple talents can be a huge plus for the Ducks in the Big Ten.

“Bassa had his best season in Eugene under Dan Lanning last year and is one of the best coverage linebackers in the country as he can stay on the field for every snap,” he said. “Excellent tackler in the box and can also blitz the quarterback.”

The second Duck that could make a big jump and get out of that “second tier” status is offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius. The Pac-12 honorable mention had some difficulty adjusting to the Pac-12 level from Rhode Island, but after a year in the program, Cornelius could back a big leap in 2024.

“A transfer from Rhode Island last season, Cornelius is a powerful run-blocker who can move defensive linemen off the ball,” Brockermeyer said. “He plays with good pad level and hand placement. He struggles more in pass protection at times but those issues can be fixed with better technique. Could also kick down and be a solid guard at the next level.”

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Herbert, Nix listed among NFL’s 100 most important players for 2024

Justin Herbert, Bo Nix, and Penei Sewell all listed as most important players for the 2024 NFL season.

Over the past several years, the NFL has been sprinkled with some great talent provided by the Oregon Duck football program. Perhaps more than ever before.

Now here in 2024, there are more Ducks in the NFL than ever before and there are a few that CBS Sports says that are the most important players for the NFL season.

First among the list, and not surprisingly, is Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. CBS Sports says that while the Chiefs are going to be overwhelming favorites to win what they call a weak AFC West division, Herbert, with new coach Jim Harbaugh, has the best chance to challenge the defending Super Bowl champs.

While that’s not a shocking development, the most recent Oregon quarterback to enter the league, Bo Nix, is the listed as the No. 7 most important player in the NFL and he hasn’t even played a down for the Denver Broncos yet.

In Denver, the Broncos are firmly Sean Payton’s team after he got rid of his last quarterback and drafted Bo Nix 12th. Payton favors a precise, on-time attack, which Nix thrived in at Oregon, so the fit in theory works. But in theory and on field in are very different. — Zachary Pereles

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell was also mentioned as he received a big contract this offseason. They came within a game of being in the Super Bowl for the first time and the Lions should be in the running for the title game once again.

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Marcus Mariota on the cover? What could have been for NCAA Football 16

Oregon legendary quarterback Marcus Mariota could have been on the cover of EA Sports College Football 16 if franchise continued.

When nostalgia is done right, it can be epic, but when it’s done wrong, it can be a proverbial dumpster fire.

The gaming world is about to find out where the cookie crumbles when EA Sports’ College Football 25 comes out in July. All indications are there won’t be a dumpster fire to be found.

It’s been over a decade since EA has presented sports fans with a college football game due to legal reasons. Unfortunately, they had to stop right when Marcus Mariota was on the top of the world leading Oregon to a national title and holding a Heisman Trophy. CBS Sports says the Duck legend would have graced the cover of NCAA Football 16.

This was a very difficult cut to make, and it came down to a pair of quarterbacks that led their teams to a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff: Mariota and Florida State’s Jameis Winston. Both won the Heisman, with Winston following in Johnny Manziel’s footsteps as a freshman winner while also becoming the youngest player to ever take the Heisman home. What sets Mariota apart, however, is his consistent success. It also helps that Mariota plays for Oregon and its imminently marketable uniforms, which look great emblazoned on any promotional material. — Will Buckus, CBS Sports

Mariota would have been the best call here, but it would have been comical to have a picture of Winston spinning himself into oblivion in the Rose Bowl on the cover.

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Pair of Ducks listed as top potential draft picks for 2025 NFL Draft

A pair of Ducks are projected to garner a lot of attention from NFL scouts for the 2025 draft.

The 2024 is still about four months away, but some are beginning to think about the 2025 NFL draft.

According to CBSsports.com writer Tom Fornelli, there are two Ducks that NFL scouts are going to pay close attention to. Transfer wide receiver Evan Stewart via Texas A&M and offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr. are two of the 20 best players who will be draft eligible for 2025.

This is what Fornelli had to say about Oregon’s newest receiver.

Stewart was one of the top receivers in the 2022 class. Unlike (Missouri’s Luther) Burden, Stewart performed slightly better as a freshman than in his sophomore season. Still, most of that can likely be attributed to circumstances beyond Stewart’s control. Stewart has since transferred to Oregon, where he’s seen as the replacement for Troy Franklin in the Ducks’ offense. If Stewart puts together a big year in (green and yellow), he could play his way into the first round.

One of the reasons Stewart came to Oregon no doubt was to catch passes from Dillon Gabriel. The Ducks expect Gabriel to have an impact on the receivers similar to what Bo Nix had and Stewart should benefit greatly.

As for Conerly, the former five-star recruit will be a junior and should be one of the top offensive linemen in the Big Ten next season.

“Much like the QB class for next season, I’m not confident about who will be seen as the top tackle in next year’s draft,” Fornelli said. “Last year, it was Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Notre Dame’s Joe Alt. Several candidates could step up this year, and Conerly is one of my favorites. Oregon’s offensive line was a significant strength last season, and Conerly was excellent in pass protection. He has the production and the traits to garner NFL attention.”

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