Tag: Duck Football

Nation’s top-rated 5-star defensive lineman, J.T. Tuimoloau, chooses Ohio State over Oregon Ducks

Oregon was unable to land their second 5-star recruit on the day, with J.T. Tuimoloau choosing to commit to Ohio State instead of the Ducks.

Some dreams are just too good to be true, apparently.

While the Oregon Ducks had a great chance to land J.T. Tuimoloau, the nation’s top-rated defensive lineman and the No. 1 overall prospect, according to 247 Sports, it just wasn’t in the stars, in the end.

Instead of coming to Eugene, Tuimoloau chose to commit to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday afternoon.

As one of the biggest gets of the 2021 class, Tuimoloau would have fit perfectly into Oregon’s depth chart set to kick off the season against Fresno State in September. Instead, he will be lining up opposite the Ducks on September 11th, when Oregon visits Columbus.

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Houston Texans select DE Kayvon Thibodeaux in new 2022 NFL mock draft

The Houston Texans are being projected to have the No. 1 pick in the draft next year, where they would be smart to grab Kayvon Thibodeaux.

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What better recruiting tool is there for Mario Cristobal than saying that if you come to Oregon, you’ve got a pretty good chance to be a top-10 selection in the NFL draft?

We saw it last year with left tackle Penei Sewell getting selected with the No. 7 overall pick by the Detroit Lions, and the year before that, quarterback Justin Herbert went to the Los Angeles Chargers, who took the former Duck with the 6th pick.

Next year, it looks like the Ducks are going to strike again, with DE Kayvon Thibodeaux being pegged to get drafted with the No. 1 overall pick. In a new mock draft from Sports Illustrated, it is the Houston Texans who are being projected to have the first pick, and a generation defensive end is what they have their eyes on.

Most would want to mock a quarterback here but if the Texans do not identify one that is worth the first overall pick, they will go in another direction. Thibodeaux should be a quality pass rusher as a rookie, combining sacks with strong run defense.

As recruiting season heats up for the Ducks, it’s hard to think of a better argument to pitch to potential commits. Seeing the success of other top athletes who have come through Eugene has to be encouraging, with a top draft selection being the ultimate goal.

As the wheel turns, and more high-end recruits turn into star NFL players, the Oregon football program will continue to rise.

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Breaking down why Isaac Slade-Matautia might have decided to transfer from Oregon Ducks

Oregon’s veteran-most LB announced his intent to transfer, which might have more to do with Oregon’s elite recruiting than anything else.

The veteran-most linebacker on the Oregon Ducks’ defense announced via his Instagram page on Friday that he plans to enter the transfer portal ahead of the 2021 season and find a new team with which to finish his college career.

The announcement definitely came as a shock to many fans of the Ducks, with Isaac Slade-Matautia standing as the most experienced player in the middle of the defense, having started for more than two years and racking up over 130 career tackles.

So why did it happen? A number of reasons could be to blame, but not all of them are bad for the Ducks. At the top of the list, it has to be considered that Tim Deruyter, Oregon’s new defensive coordinator, had something to do with it. That’s not to say that he did anything wrong or pushed Slade-Matautia out, but just an acknowledgment that playing under a new DC can sometimes be difficult, and players and coaches don’t always mesh well.

A more likely reason for Slade-Matautia’s decision to transfer — one that Duck fans should feel extremely good about — is that the recruiting in Oregon is at such a high level that the young players on the team could have pushed the veteran down the depth chart. If we’re going to try and nail down a reason as to why Slade-Matautia decided to search for a new roster to join, it likely has something to do with that.

Look at some of the defensive recruits that Oregon has gotten over the past couple of seasons that could push Slade-Matautia out of his starting job. Justin Flowe (5-star), Noah Sewell (5-star), Keith Brown (4-star), and Mase Funa (4-star). All of those players have come to the Ducks in the past couple of years, and are now entering their prime collegiate years.

At the weak-side linebacker position, Slade-Matautia was slotted to try and stave off both Flowe and Brown this offseason in order to keep his starting spot. Does the transfer announcement tell us that the depth-chart upheaval has already taken place?

While it is too bad to see a player with a desire to leave what Mario Cristobal has built in Eugene, it’s also hard to fault him. With one last season in college. of course Isaac wants to find the situation that is best for him, looking to put together one last season of tape and try to convince an NFL team to take a chance on him. It’s likely that this would have been hard to do in Oregon, with such a dynamic core of young linebackers coming up.

Duck fans can be sad to see Slade-Matautia go, but still be happy with the reason why he left. Both things can be true.

Here’s to hoping that Isaac finds a good landing spot for the next season.

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These 11 Duck football players graduated from University of Oregon on Saturday

Congratulations to these Ducks! A handful players celebrated their graduation from the University of Oregon, capping off a final year in school full of hardships.

At long last, these members of the Oregon football team can throw their hats in the air and celebrate being done with school. What a feeling.

The celebration has to be extra sweet for this graduating class, as well, after having to endure a year of distance learning and COVID restriction throughout campus. Saying that they’d be happy to have that part of their lives behind them is probably an understatement.

While their time in the class working towards a degree may be over, most are still working towards the ultimate goal of winning a championship with the Ducks on the gridiron, something that they will give one last push for this season. Here are the 11 Oregon graduates from the football team that we are celebrating today:

WATCH: Oregon commit Stephon Johnson makes incredible one-handed catch in practice

3-star wide receiver commit Stephon Johnson showed a bit of what he can bring to Oregon, pulling down this impressive one-handed catch in practice.

The talent at the wide receiver position that is starting to come through Oregon should have fans feeling giddy.

Not only do the Ducks have two young four-star guys on the roster in Dont’e Thornton and Troy Franklin, but the next recruiting class is already starting to blossom, as well. Look no further than the impressive one-handed grab brought down by Oregon commit Stephon Johnson, a 3-star prospect out of DeSoto, Texas.

Johnson is part of a 2022 recruiting class that is already ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12, and has a chance to get a lot better as more commits start to flow in the door. The Ducks already have verbal agreements from 4-star safeties Trejon Williams and Landon Hullaby, as well as 4-star QB Tanner Bailey, and 4-star DL Gracen Halton.

On top of those commits, Oregon is seemingly in the driver’s seat when it comes to some of the other massive names in this recruiting class, including 4-star DL Cyrus Moss, and 5-star tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. If Mario Cristobal can continue to work his magic, then Oregon will be fielding a team of elite talent that stacks up with the best in the nation in no time.

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In Detroit, Penei Sewell and Tyrell Crosby will compete for starting spot amidst trade rumors

After becoming friends while playing at Oregon, Tyler Crosby and Penei Sewell will now be competing for a starting spot on the line in Detroit.

Entering a contract season, fourth-year offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby could have been salty when the Detroit Lions drafted what seems to be his replacement on the offensive line. However, when the former Oregon Duck learned that his college teammate Penei Sewell would be joining him in the Motor City, there was nothing but smiles.

“Seeing him when he got drafted, I was probably one of the happiest people on Earth, because that was my friend who got drafted and I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Crosby said, via SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit.

However, that happiness could lead to turmoil for Crosby, who has now been involved in some trade rumors as the Lions look to fill out their offensive front. With Taylor Decker at the left tackle spot, there is a strong belief that Sewell will switch over to right tackle, taking the position from Crosby.

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Instead of taking it personally, Crosby is choosing to control what he can, and let it all play out on the field.

“Really haven’t heard much from the front office or anything about it,” Crosby said. “So I’m just here excited and thankful to be here and just compete.”

Crosby’s contract with Detroit is up after this season, and his future remains unknown. Whether he gets a chance to further prove his worth on the field this season is yet to be seen, but he is going to do whatever is asked of him, and enjoy the company of his close friend, in the meantime.

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These 3 true-freshmen in Oregon are expected to have a huge impact in 2021

After their showings at the Spring Game, the trio of Dont’e Thornton, Troy Franklin, and Kingsley Suamataia are being tabbed as freshmen to watch.

There is one thing that the Oregon Ducks surely aren’t lacking as they head into the 2021 college football season — immense talent across the field.

With defensive players making a push for the Heisman Trophy, and an offensive skill group that has loads of experience and reps under the belt, there is very little doubt that Oregon will be one of the most talented teams in the Pac-12 conference, and there’s a good chance that they can make some noise at the national level as well.

However, if you look deeper into the roster, a few young players will stand out as real threats to have an impact in the first year of their careers. Those players are offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia, and wide receivers Troy Franklin and Dont’e Thornton.

We all saw them impress at Oregon’s annual Spring Game about a month ago, and now those three have been listed as ‘Freshmen to Know’ ahead of the season, according to 247 Sports.

Here’s what they had to say about Suamataia:

Penei Sewell would be nearly impossible to replace at most programs. At Oregon, his potential successor is a higher-ranked recruit who played his high school ball in the same state as Sewell. Suamataia, the highest-rated lineman ever to sign with the Ducks, is already drawing plenty of hype: “I think he’s got the potential to be a first-round pick down the road. That I will say and I won’t shy away from that,” Oregon o-line coach Alex Mirabal said earlier this spring.

With five returning starters on the o-line (the one bright spot of Sewell opting out), Suamataia isn’t exactly a lock to start. But he’s already the team’s second-string left tackle. Given that none of Oregon’s tackles finished with better than a 72 PFF College grade last year, there’s an argument to be made that Suamataia is the type of player who can elevate the o-line from good to great.

We don’t know if we will see Suamataia at all this season, especially with the high expectations that everyone currently holds for LT George Moore. Regardless, it is never a problem to have loads of talent and depth at one of the most important positions on the field.

Here is 247’s take on the two stud receivers on the roster:

Oregon returns its three leading receivers from last year with Johnny Johnson, Devon Williams and Jaylon Redd projected as starters. But Franklin and Thornton are very much looming, and the expectation is they’ll play plenty as true freshmen. Franklin (No. 40 in 2021) and Thornton (No. 56 in 2021) were two of the top seven receivers in the country for the 2021 cycle and both of them had really strong spring, including dominant spring game efforts. Given that none of Oregon’s receivers had even a 70 PFF College receiving grade last year, there’s room for Franklin and Thornton to siphon some snaps from the starters.

If the Spring Game told us anything, it’s that the Ducks will be absolutely loaded at the WR position. Thornton and Franklin had stand-out days, and though we didn’t see much from the incumbent starters, there’s great faith that they will produce when the time comes.

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Penei Sewell signs rookie deal worth $24 million guaranteed with Detroit Lions

The former Duck will now get over $24 million guaranteed as part of his rookie contract, securing Sewell’s massive pay-day.

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We’ve known for the better part of a month which NFL team former Oregon Ducks left tackle Penei Sewell would be playing with to start his professional career, but it was made official this week as the first-round pick finally signed his rookie contract and assured his major pay-day.

As the No. 7 overall pick, Sewell guaranteed himself a massive contract thanks to the rookie wage scale, and his four-year contract comes with over $24 million guaranteed.

While the Lions already have left tackle Taylor Decker signed for the next few years, there are some questions about where Sewell will play at the start of the season, but it’s hard to believe that he will even sniff the bench, especially with that number next to his name.

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What’s next for Oregon football as we head into the offseason?

With the Spring Game behind us, the Ducks are getting set to begin their last stretch of strength and conditioning before school gets out in June.

The buzz and excitement that come from spring practice and ultimately the Spring Game for the Oregon Ducks football team is now behind us. The early installations of the offense and defense have been put into place, a first look at the depth chart has been accomplished, and Mario Cristobal has his team feeling confident about where they stand going into the fall.

So now what?

Well, according to Cristobal, there is some time for a quick break to get everyone back to full health, and then it’s time for the fourth quarter program to get players through the summer.

“There is not much rest, these guys have a couple of days to get their bodies back,” said Cristobal, via 247 Sports. “It’s lifting, its walk-through, it’s meeting time. It’s really high progression, development, learning cycle.”

Though the weeks of diving into game plans are gone for now, the Ducks will use the ensuing weeks to focus primarily on strength and conditioning, being led by coach Aaron Feld, the program’s lead Strength and Conditioning Coordinator.

“After a couple of days next week, they’ll come in. We’ll screen them from a functional standpoint. We will put them through a series of movements that we will put them through strength standpoint, mobility standpoint,” said Cristobal. “We’ll put them through a series of movements.”

As we get closer to June, players will be given a week to go home and visit family if they’d like after school gets out, but then they are to come back to Eugene and enroll in summer school, jumping into the full summer program and getting ready for the season to kick off.

We have seen this four-quarter program work well over the past few years under Cristobal, and there is no reason to believe that’s going to change any time soon.

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Oregon Ducks are hopeful that fans can be at Autzen Stadium to watch games this fall

Oregon AD Rob Mullens says that he is hopeful that fans will be allowed at Autzen Stadium when the Ducks kick off their season this fall.

It has been well over a year since the stands at Autzen Stadium were packed with fans, watching the Oregon Ducks play in front of an endearing crowd. The loss of fans at the Spring Game earlier this month was a brutal reminder of that, as Oregon’s new and improved squad showed flashes of greatness in front of an empty stadium.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, though, and as more of the public gets vaccinated and our country continues to climb out of this hole caused by the coronavirus pandemic, hope is on the horizon.

For the Ducks, that means the potential that there can be fans in the stadium this fall when Oregon kicks off the football season, according to athletic director Rob Mullens.

“We’re planning for all scenarios, including having a full stadium,” Mullens said, via an interview with The Athletic. “You’ve seen that our football season ticket sales are out there and we’re planning for groups and single games and all those things. We’re continuing to work closely with public health and our campus leadership, and we’re looking at all scenarios. Fingers crossed that the vaccinations continue and that we can get back to a packed stadium when we host Fresno State in September.”

There was originally a plan to allow approximately 8,000 fans into the Spring Game, but just days before the event, Lane County was placed in the ‘Extreme Risk’ category, and the plug was pulled. Of course, just a few days later, Lane County went back down to ‘High Risk,’ which would have likely opened the door back up for limited spectators.

Regardless, there is a world in which the seats at Autzen are packed full this fall as Oregon looks to make its run at a College Football Playoff appearance. A lot of things can happen between now and September, but hope is all that we can ask for.

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