Tag: Haloti Ngata

The College Football Hall of Fame case for Oregon tackle Haloti Ngata

Former Oregon Ducks tackle Haloti Ngata is up for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, and he deserves recognition.

The Oregon Ducks are historically well represented in the College Football Hall of Fame, with seven inductees across the school’s storied football history.

However, the team’s successes over the past two decades is hardly visible in the Hall at this point, with coach Mike Bellotti (inducted in 2014) as the only representative who wore the green and yellow this century.

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That could change this year, as the 2023 Hall of Fame ballot was released on Monday, with 80 former players and nine former coaches on the list – including a pair of Oregon legends: running back LaMichael James and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.

This article will make the case for why Ngata, widely considered one of the greatest Ducks of all-time, should be among those inducted in the Class of 2023.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Joe Robbins-USA TODAY Sports

Haloti Ngata’s Hall of Fame Case

Oregon’s reputation over the past two decades has largely been earned on the offensive side of the ball, thanks to the explosive quarterback and running back play during the end of the Bellotti era and into the coaching tenures of Chip Kelly and Mark Helfrich.

When defensive players are discussed they are often members of the secondary; guys like Patrick Chung, Walter Thurmond, and more recently Ugo Amadi and Jevon Holland.

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But perhaps the greatest defensive Duck of all time, and one of the greatest of all time, is Haloti Ngata.

Ngata became Oregon’s first consensus All-American since 1962 when he was honored after his ridiculously excellent 2005 season. He was Oregon’s first-ever Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, and his name is all over the record books for both the school and the conference.

While NFL accomplishments should not play a role in determining a player’s College Hall of Fame candidacy, it is worth noting Ngata made good on his No. 12 overall selection by Baltimore in the 2006 NFL draft, getting named to five Pro Bowls and winning a Super Bowl with the Ravens and their vaunted defense.

Ngata is one of the pillars of Oregon’s ascent into college football’s hierarchy, and he deserves consideration for the game’s highest honor.

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LaMichael James, Haloti Ngata on 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

Both Haloti Ngata and LaMichael James have been placed on the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

A pair of the best Oregon Duck football players of all time are starting to get some of the recognition that they deserve.

The ballot for the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame was released on Monday, and a pair of Ducks — RB LaMichael James and DL Haloti Ngata — were listed among the greats.

James and Ngata are included among 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, and 96 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks.

Ngata is widely considered as one of the best Ducks of all time, and was Oregon’s first consensus All-American since 1962, earning the honor after his 2005 season. He was also a two-time All-Pac-10 selection and first player in Oregon history to be named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (2005).

In the NFL, Ngata went on to win a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens and be named to five Pro Bowls.

James represents one of the most electric players to ever play in Eugene. As a two-time First Team All-American (unanimous in 2010) and 2010 Doak Walker Award winner, James took the college football world by storm under Chip Kelly as one of the best RBs in the nation. He finished 3rd in the 2010 Heisman voting (nation-leading 1,731 rushing yards) and helped lead the Ducks to two 12-win seasons, three league titles, and a 2011 BCS National Championship appearance.

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Tracking the Oregon Duck legends who will be attending the spring game

The past few days have seen an endless stream of Oregon legends confirm they will be at the Ducks’ spring game. Here’s who has RSVP’d.

In the days leading up to the spring game, the Oregon Ducks have been continually releasing more and more information about what we’re set to see in the annual scrimmage.

Whether it’s bits and pieces of the roster breakdown or a half-time gimmick that is sure to entertain, Oregon has made it clear that they’re going all out for Dan Lanning’s first official event as the new head coach of the Ducks.

Related: Oregon’s rich history will be front-and-center for spring game

One of the streams of information that has many veteran Oregon fans extremely excited is the unending list of former Ducks who have confirmed that they will be attending the spring game.

“I know this program was built on players like those guys,” Lanning said on Tuesday. “Legends, they’ve really put in blood, sweat, and tears for Duck football and we want to do everything we can to reconnect those people with our program.”

Lanning is doing a great job of getting them back in the mix early on, that’s for sure. This list may grow as we get closer to the game, but here are the Oregon legends who we know will be inside Autzen Stadium once again on Saturday.

Oregon’s rich football history will be front-and-center for Ducks’ spring game

“This program was built on players like those guys,” Lanning said. “We want to do everything we can to reconnect those people with our program.”

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Embracing Oregon Ducks football history hasn’t really been a feature in the last two coaching regimes in Eugene. That’s not to say that coaches like Mario Cristobal or Willie Taggart showed any disregard for Oregon legends of the past, but rather that they didn’t make an openly concerted effort to celebrate the Oregon lore.

Dan Lanning is actively changing that.

On Tuesday night, it was announced that he has invited Duck legends Alex Molden and Walter Thurmond III to come back to campus and watch the Spring Game. On Wednesday, TE Ed Dickson was added to that list as well. Lanning is also having De’Anthony Thomas, Arik Armstead, LaMichael James, and Haloti Ngata on the field as honorary coaches during the game.

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According to the first-year head coach, it’s all about recognizing what came before and celebrating those who took the Ducks to new heights.

“I know this program was built on players like those guys,” Lanning said on Tuesday. “Legends, they’ve really put in blood, sweat, and tears for Duck football and we want to do everything we can to reconnect those people with our program.”

I asked Lanning if this was a new wrinkle in the spring game that he expects to continue years down the road, assuming that it will be a success.

“I don’t completely know that answer,” Lanning said. “Obviously, they’ve gone on to have great careers and we’re gonna have a lot of players in the future that go on to do the same thing. And we want them back around our program as much as possible.”

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The Oregon Spring Game on April 23 will be just one of many athletic events on campus throughout what is being called “Duck Day.” Track and Field will host the Oregon Relays throughout the day at Hayward Field with the first event set for 10 a.m., and fans can watch the soccer team’s 11 a.m. spring exhibition vs. Seattle U at Papé Field before walking over to Autzen Stadium.

Fans can then stroll on over to PK Park following football for the Oregon baseball team’s game against Washington State at 3 p.m., and then over to Jane Sanders Stadium to watch the Ducks’ softball program take on Washington at 5 p.m.

For his first official event as the Ducks’ head coach, Dan Lanning and the Oregon program are going all out. A host of the top recruits in the nation will be on the sideline for the game to soak in the Autzen Stadium atmosphere, and while there is an emphasis on getting the young guys to fall in love with the program, the old guard will be in attendance as well, watching on and hopefully appreciating a bit of what they helped to build in Eugene.

Contact/Follow us @Ducks_Wire on Twitter, and like our page on 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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Four Oregon legends of the gridiron will return for the Spring Game

The Ducks are pulling out all of the stops for the spring game, announcing that 4 Oregon legends will be honorary coaches.

De’Anthony Thomas, LaMichael James, Arik Armstead, and Haloti Ngata have several things in common. They’re all Oregon Duck football legends that helped propel the program to achieve unprecedented success.

Now they all have one more thing in common …  being coordinators for the annual Spring Game on April 23.

The game will be split between the Green Team and the Yellow Team. Thomas will serve as the offensive coordinator and Ngata will be the defensive coordinator for the Yellow team. On the other sideline, James (OC) and Armstead (DC) will be honorary coaches for the Green Team.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these four legends and so many other incredible alumni back to Autzen Stadium,” Oregon head cooach Dan Lanning said. “This program is built upon the foundation that all of our former Ducks have established, and we’re honored that they are returning to Eugene for this event. We need our fans to pack Autzen Stadium to welcome these guys back and create an awesome atmosphere for the Spring Game.”

The football game will begin at 1 p.m. with the Autzen Stadium parking lots set to open at 10:30 a.m. and gates opening at noon. As for the game itself, the first three quarters will simulate a real game between the Yellow and Green teams, with rosters set to be released at a later date. The honorary coaches will call plays for the teams during the fourth quarter, with other on-field activities planned to get fans involved in the action.

The football Spring Game will be one of many athletic events on campus throughout what is being called “Duck Day.” Track and field is scheduled to host the Oregon Relays throughout the day at Hayward Field with the first event set for 10 a.m., and fans can watch the soccer team’s 11 a.m. spring exhibition vs. Seattle U at Papé Field before walking over to Autzen.

But wait! There’s more.

Fans can go to PK Park following the football game for the Duck baseball team’s game against Washington State at 3 p.m., and then if one should find the fancy, go over to Jane Sanders Stadium to watch Oregon softball take on Washington at 5 p.m.

Contact/Follow us @Ducks_Wire on Twitter, and like our page on 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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Ravens HC John Harbaugh recalls impression of former Baltimore DL Haloti Ngata

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talked about first impressions of former Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata

The Baltimore Ravens have had many phenomenal players walk through their doors over the course of their franchise history. One of those greats is former defensive lineman Haloti Ngata, who had many amazing years playing with the Ravens.

During halftime of Baltimore’s Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts, Ngata will be inducted into the Ravens’ Ring of Honor. On Thursday when asked about if people remember their first impression of the defensive tackle, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh mentioned both his dominance as a player as well as his personality.

“Yes, you do. I had seen him on the field before that too, so I knew just what a dominant player he was. His personality, I thought, was interesting. [He’s] just a softspoken, very classy person [and] a very humble guy.”

Ngata played for nine years with the Ravens, accumulating 447 total tackles, 25.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and five interceptions. He was a member of Baltimore’s 2012-2013 Super Bowl winning team, and will always have a place in Ravens history.

Ravens to induct former DT Haloti Ngata into Ring of Honor

Former Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will be inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor during “Monday Night Football” in Week 5

The Baltimore Ravens have had many all-time greats play for them over the course of their franchise history. Some players such as offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed and more have already gone down as some of the greatest players ever at their positions. However, there are plenty of other Baltimore legends that still made huge impacts for the team.

On Tuesday, the Ravens announced that five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will be inducted into the Ravens’ Ring of Honor during halftime when the team hosts the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 of the 2021 season.

Over the course of his NFL career, Ngata spelled doom to any offensive lineman that lined up across from him. A 2006 first-round draft pick out of Oregon, he is the epitome of what it means to “Play Like A Raven.” In nine seasons with Baltimore, Ngata notched 447 combined tackles, 25.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries with one coming for a touchdown and five interceptions.

The Ravens traded Ngata to the Detroit Lions in 2015 where he would spend the next three years under then head coach Jim Caldwell. Ngata finished his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.

In March 2019, Ngata announced his announcement from atop Mount Kilimanjaro recognizing all three of the NFL franchises he once played for.

A few months later Ngata officially retired as a Raven.

Many greats in Baltimore history have been enshrined into the team’s Ring of Honor. Ngata becomes only the eighth former Ravens player to be included. The last member of the organization to be inducted was former head coach Brian Billick in 2019, while the last former player inducted was Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed in 2015.

Former Oregon Ducks legend Haloti Ngata to enter Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor

Former Oregon Ducks defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will be entered into the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor on Oct. 11 during MNF.

Former Oregon Ducks defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will be inducted into the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor at halftime during the Monday Night Football showdown between the Ravens and Colts on October 11.

Ngata was a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro who played nine seasons in Baltimore from 2006-2014. He totaled 528 tackles (sixth in franchise history) along with 25.5 sacks and five interceptions.

Baltimore went to the playoffs seven times while he was with the team, securing a Super Bowl win in 2012. The Ravens allowed the fewest points per game and fewest total rushing touchdowns during Ngata’s run with the squad as well, cementing his legacy as a key run-stuffer in the trenches.

Baltimore made Ngata the 12th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft out of Oregon, following a 2005 season in which he was named a consensus All-American and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Ngata finished his NFL career with three seasons in Detroit from 2015-2017, and one final year in Philadelphia in 2018.

Ngata becomes the 20th member of Baltimore’s Ring of Honor, joining NFL legends like Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden, and Johnny Unitas.

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The best pick from each NFL draft class in Ravens history

We take a look back at each of the Baltimore Ravens’ drafts to find the best selection the team made.

The Baltimore Ravens have long been considered one of the best teams in the league when it comes to scouting, drafting, and developing players. The Ravens have been a part of 25 NFL drafts since being founded in 1996 and have earned their reputation by finding some real gems at a variety of rounds. In that time, Baltimore has drafted 31 players who have been to a Pro Bowl, 14 players who were named to the All-Pro team, and three players currently enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

However, not every pick or even draft year has been outstanding for the Ravens, with some selections having clearly been better than others. But instead of looking at which players were the best overall, we want to break it down year-by-year to find the best player Baltimore grabbed in every draft throughout franchise history.

Let’s kick it off with that inaugural 1996 season . . .