Former Miami Hurricanes tight end Riley Williams will enter the transfer portal, and he could become a target for the Oregon Ducks.
The Oregon Ducks have been cleaning up in the transfer portal so far this year, picking up five high-end transfers that fill major positions of need on the 2025 roster.
On Friday, it was announced that former Miami Hurricanes tight end Riley Williams was entering the transfer portal after two seasons under Mario Cristobal. This is interesting for the Ducks since Williams is a former player from Central Catholic High School in Portland who took an official visit to Eugene and was close to committing to Oregon before making the move down to Florida to follow Cristobal.
At one point, both parties were interested, but now that we’re two years removed and Oregon has already found one tight end from the transfer portal—a major position of need with Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert graduating—is there still going to be interest?
It wouldn’t shock me in the slightest. While the Ducks did pick up Johnson to fill one spot on the TE depth chart, there still could be a need for more depth, depending on what Lanning and his staff feel they have in some of the young guys on the roster.
[lawrence-related id=70940]
Kenyon Sadiq will return next year, and Oregon brings back both Roger Saleapaga — injury status pending — and AJ Pugliano. On top of that, they have incoming freshman Vander Ploog, and Johnson as an incoming transfer. Is that enough to feel comfortable going into the new season? That’s not for me to decide.
At the very least, I would be surprised if there isn’t some contact between Williams and the Ducks. He is a talented player with 15 catches for 187 yards and 1 TD in his career. As a former 4-star recruit who was rated as the No. 4 TE in the 2023 class, the ceiling is high under the right coaching staff.
Is that coaching staff in Eugene? We will likely find out over the coming days and weeks.
The Oregon Ducks broke out some special edition Kobe VI UO PE cleats for their Rose Bowl matchup against Ohio State or Tennessee.
The Oregon Ducks don’t yet know who they will be playing in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, but they do have an idea of what they will be wearing for that College Football Playoff matchup.
On Friday morning, the Ducks unveiled the cleats that they will wear for the Rose Bowl. We don’t yet have a glimpse of the uniforms that Oregon will don, but the cleats feature a white and green color combo that should flas on the field.
These special edition Kobe VI UO PE cleats have a green sole and baseplate with a white body and yellow trim. The Kobe VI cleats are among the most coveted in the football community, so it makes sense that Oregon would break out their own PE version.
Oregon Ducks Kobe VI UO PE
Oregon has yet to release their uniforms for the big game, but expectations are that they will be wearing bright school colors, and going away from the trend of wearing neutral colors, like silver and black, in bowl games.
The Ducks will play the winner of Ohio State vs. Tennessee, which kicks off on Saturday night at 5 p.m. PT.
An updated look at potential needs for the Oregon Ducks in the transfer portal, and some names to know at those positions.
There is just about one week left in this current transfer portal window, and while movement will still take place after the window closes, December 28th’s closing date will bring some clarity for schools around the nation.
Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks have done very well in the portal so far, picking up five commitments at major positions of need. With the second-highest average-rating per commit, the Ducks have the No. 9 ranked portal class so far, and they aren’t done yet.
There are still several positions that Oregon needs to fill in the portal this offseason, but as the team shifts into game week for the College Football Playoff, things may slow down in the portal. That doesn’t mean it’s going to stop altogether, though. Let’s take a look at some other positions that the Ducks can try to hit in the portal over the next few weeks. and some names to know at each spot.
Inside Linebacker
Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
Name to Know: UCF LB Xe’ree Alexander
Name to Know: Washington State LB Taariq Al-Uqdah
The Ducks have a lot of great depth at the inside linebacker spot, but with guys like Jeffrey Bassa, Bryce Boettcher, and Jestin Jacobs graduating, the need for experience is there. Devon Jackson is the only returning player at the position with a lot of production, and while you feel confident in guys like Brayden Platt, Dylan Williams, and Kamar Mothudi, Oregon still needs to have more experience and production at this critical spot going into a new season.
Running Back
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Names to Know: Washington State RB Wayshawn Parker
Names to Know: Player to be Named
If you expect the Ducks to take an RB out of the transfer portal, don’t expect it to happen soon. I am told that Oregon won’t pursue any backs in the portal until after the playoffs are over, which would mean in the second transfer portal window. They are also looking at some players who have not yet entered the portal, but have been rumored to consider a change.
There’s a chance that the Oregon Ducks have one of the best and most experienced running back rooms in the nation next year, or a chance that they are in desperate need of some help in the transfer portal. All of that depends on what both Jordan James and Noah Whittington decide to do.
Starting with James, the 1,000-yard rusher in 2024 has another year of eligibility remaining, should he want it, and a chance to bolster his draft stock. He could also choose to declare for the NFL Draft this offseason after the best year of his career. Similarly, Whittington has another year of eligibility as well after a medical redshirt in 2023 following his knee injury. He could be well-served by another season at Oregon before going off to the NFL.
The Ducks added a really solid tight end on Wednesday with the addition of Jamari Johnson, but I still list this position as an area of need because I think you could use some more depth here. It is no longer the top position of need, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Oregon try and find another player here, more of the blocking variety — think Casey Kelly, rather than Kenyon Sadiq.
With both Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert graduating, Oregon’s TE room is getting drained this year. There are still young players like Roger Saleapaga, AJ Pugliano, and incoming freshman Vander Ploog on the roster, but you need more proven depth and experience than that to feel comfortable going into a new season.
Wide Receiver
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
Names to Know: USC WR Zachariah Branch
Names to Know: Idaho WR Jordan Dwyer
The Ducks have to feel great about the talent that they have at the wide receiver position. However, both Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden are graduating this year, and there’s a chance that Evan Stewart goes on to the NFL as well, though Oregon is working hard to bring him back for another year. If Stewart leaves, I think the Ducks absolutely need a proven WR out of the portal. Even if Stewart stays, it still wouldn’t be a shock to see Oregon add a pass-catcher, but it becomes less of a need.
Defensive Line
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Names to Know: USC DL Bear Alexander
The Ducks don’t have a major need on the interior defensive line, but you don’t turn away talented players when they want to come play for you. That’s the case right now with former USC defensive lineman Bear Alexander, who is currently on a visit in Eugene. Alexander has expressed interest in becoming a Duck, and if Lanning and his staff are convinced that he fits the mold, then they would certainly take him.
Here are the updated transfer portal team rankings after Texas A&M’s sixth portal commitment
Texas A&M’s transfer portal strategy has been focused on offense, specifically adding wide receivers and tight ends to fill out the 2025 depth chart and help quarterback Marcel Reed develop as a passer in his second entire season as the starter.
However, the defensive line is as thin as ever after several departures to the portal. In contrast, defensive linemen Nic Scourton, Shemar Stewart, and Shemar Turner have all declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, which was expected before the end of the season.
After opening on December 9, the transfer portal will close on the 28th, meaning players currently on College Football Playoff rosters have eight days to decide, especially if their team falls in the coming days.
Concerning A&M’s defensive line issues, Coach Mike Elko is likely waiting for more defenders to enter the portal outside of the recent and future visitors, which will realistically happen in the coming days.
Rankings-wise, the Aggies are still among the top ten teams in portal success. Still, no one has matched Texas Tech so far this offseason, as the Red Raiders have landed 16 commitments, essentially rebuilding their entire roster ahead of the 2025 season.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Fox Sports college football expert Joel Klatt predicts that a Big Ten team will beat Georgia in the national championship
Fox Sports college football expert Joel Klatt has predicted who he thinks will win the national championship. Klatt made his national championship prediction on “The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast”.
Klatt predicts that Georgia Bulldogs will play against the Oregon Ducks in the national championship. Klatt has Oregon beating Ohio State in the Rose Bowl (quarterfinals) and Oregon beating Texas in the seminfinals.
“I think Oregon beats Texas. Their (Oregon’s) speed… they are dynamic. I think Oregon goes to the national championship game and they would face Georgia,” said Klatt.
Klatt predicts that Georgia will beat Indiana in the Sugar Bowl (quarterfinals). “I do like Georgia against either Indiana or Notre Dame,” said Klatt. He considers the Indiana-Notre Dame game to be a toss up.
“You just can’t quit Kirby Smart,” said Klatt. “When Kirby Smart gets into these situations… they win the game. Do we think that James Franklin and Penn State will be able to beat Georgia (in the playoff semifinals) on a neutral? Oh man, that’s a tough one. I think it could be close, but I’ve got Oregon and Georgia as the national championship game as Dan Lanning takes on his former team.”
Klatt has Oregon winning the national championship over Georgia, which is a bit of a surprise since Georgia would have a significant crowd advantage for the game.
“Remember, the first game that Dan Lanning coached at Oregon was against Georgia and they weren’t close. And now, I’ve got Oregon winning the national championship, beating Kirby Smart, beating Georgia in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium down there in Atlanta,” Klatt said. “The same stadium UGA beat Oregon 49-3 in that first game back in 2022.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]
Georgia has a tall task ahead with back up quarterback Gunner Stockton, but the media is not necessarily doubting the Bulldogs after UGA topped Texas to win the SEC championship game.
The Oregon Ducks saw 5-star WR Dallas Wilson flip his commitment, so here’s how that fallout could impact the program.
Oregon Duck fans woke up to the unfortunate news on Thursday morning that one of the best players in their 2025 signing class, 5-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson, was requesting to be released from his papers and leave the school.
Wilson, who is rated as the No. 20 overall player and No. 3 WR in the 2025 class, signed with Oregon earlier this month on National Signing Day after being the longest-tenured commit in Oregon’s class, giving his verbal back in January of 2023.
There were bumps along the road, with rumors swirling that Wilson would flip to the Florida Gators in the late hours before signing day began. In the end, Wilson did end up pulling the rip-cord, and will likely end up with the Gators now.
So what does this mean for the Ducks? That’s the only question that matters now. Let’s dive in.
Where the 2025 Recruiting Class Stands
Photo Courtesy of Na’eem Offord
Before the news broke about Wilson, Oregon had the No. 2 ranked recruiting class in the 2025 cycle, sitting behind only the Texas Longhorns. With the loss of the 5-star, the Ducks saw their ranking slide down to No. 5 in the nation.
Still pretty great, considering.
There aren’t many teams in the nation that could withstand the loss of the No. 3 WR in the class and still be set up for success, but Oregon was uniquely positioned to do so. The Ducks signed 5-star WR Dakorien Moore in this cycle, the No. 1 WR in the nation and No. 4 overall player. They also have 4-star WR Cooper Perry signed in this class as well.
Oregon’s Current WR Outlook
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
In most cases, the loss of a true freshman might not have a significant impact on the depth chart, but when you’re talking about a player as talented as Wilson, it’s something to consider. There’s no telling how big of a role he was going to have in 2025, but it will be interesting to see how the Ducks treat the WR position now this offseason.
With the loss of Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden, there was already a good chance that Oregon would try to find a receiver in the transfer portal, mainly dependent on the future of Evan Stewart, who is considering a return to Eugene for one more season. Does the loss of Wilson further increase the need to add a WR in the portal? It’s tough to say. If the Ducks were looking to add a receiver before getting this news, then nothing changes. If they were on the fence about it, then this might have pushed them into the “take” category.
Regardless, the Ducks have a lot of talent at the WR position, both young and old, and should be able to withstand this blow with ease in 2025.
Oregon’s Future WR Outlook
(Photo courtesy of Zachary Neel)
The biggest impact that Wilson’s departure will have is on the future of the WR room in Eugene, and once again, it’s hard to argue against the fact that the Ducks are uniquely positioned to withstand this. Under wide receivers coach Junior Adams, Oregon has recruited the WR position as well as anyone in the nation, and they have stocked the coffers for years to come out wide.
Not only do they have Dakorien Moore and Cooper Perry in this class, plus Jeremiah McClellan, Ryan Pellum, and Dillon Grisham from 2024 — all players ranked in the top 200 nationally — but fans often forget about the commitment of 5-star WR Gatlin Bair last year. The No. 27 player in the 2024 class is currently on an LDS mission and is set to join the program a year from now. Bair is considered one of the fastest players in the nation, holding a 10.15-second time in the 100 meters.
If you had the option of keeping Wilson or not, obviously you would want him on your team. However, the Ducks have recruited at WR as well, if not better than any team in the nation over the past few years, and they continually hit the transfer portal as well. By no means is this a death blow to the program.
Six Oregon Ducks are named in ESPN’s list of the Top 50 College Football Playoff Players.
We are just a few days away from the first round of the College Football Playoff, and in less than two weeks the Oregon Ducks will hit the field in Pasadena, facing Ohio State or Tennessee in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks are the No. 1 seed in the bracket, which gives them the first-round bye to the Rose Bowl.
All 12 programs in the field are filled with talented players, but some players shine brighter than the rest. On Wednesday, ESPN published a list of the 50 best players in the 2024 College Football Playoff, and as the only undefeated team in the country, the Ducks had several representatives.
Three Oregon footballers are ranked in the 30s. At 37 is running back Jordan James, 36 is Matayo Uiagalelei, and 34 is Josh Conerly Jr. All three have been instrumental for the Ducks this season, and at the end of the regular season, they all seemed to be playing their best ball.
James, Uiagalelei, and Conerly weren’t the only Ducks named to ESPN’s list. Oregon had two players in the teens: wide receiver Tez Johnson at 15 and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon at 14. Harmon is a transfer from Michigan State and with 42 tackles and nine TFLs — five of which are sacks — he has dominated this season for Oregon.
Tez Johnson is one of the best receivers in the country, with 78 catches for 866 yards and 10 TDs this season. If he racks up 13 more catches, no Oregon pass-catcher will have caught more passes than Johnson.
At the very top of ESPN’s list is Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. This is Gabriel’s sixth year in college and the Ducks are his third team. Gabriel has been good all six seasons he’s played in college, but he certainly seems to have saved his best for last. This season, Gabriel was a finalist for the O’Brien Trophy (given to college football’s best QB) and he is the leader of the Ducks’ team.
Gabriel became the NCAA’s all-time TD leader this season, and he’s closing in on the all-time passing TDs and passing yards records. the only player ESPN ranks better than Gabriel: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Oregon still has a long stretch before their first College Football Playoff game since 2014, but their roster is talented enough to beat any team on any field. The games will come down to how well each team can execute.
Oregon Ducks 5-star WR Dallas Wilson has officially asked to be released from his signing, and is expect to join the Florida Gators.
Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks got dealt some rare unfortunate recruiting news this week, with one of their top players in the 2025 recruiting class asking to be released from his papers with the University just a couple of weeks after signing them.
According to multiple reports, 5-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson has officially requested to be released from his financial aid agreements that he signed to join the Ducks earlier this month. Should he be granted that release, which is expected, he plans to sign with the Florida Gators, his hometown school.
Wilson was the third highest-rated player of Oregon’s 2025 class, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 20 overall player in the nation and the No. 3 WR.
There were rumors of Wilson’s potential flip to Florida early on the morning of signing day, but he ultimately decided to put pen to paper with the Ducks, which many thought signaled the end of his recruitment, which was the longest of any in this class after he committed to Oregon back in January of 2023.
While this is a major blow for the Ducks, it’s not a death blow, by any means. Oregon still has a commitment from the No. 1 WR in the 2025 class, Dakorien Moore, and one of the top overall classes in the nation, even without Wilson. Where they go at the WR position after this will be interesting to see, but Lanning and his staff have known about this development for a bit now and were not caught off guard by the news on Wednesday.
The Oregon Ducks picked up the No. 1 ranked offensive tackle in the transfer portal, landing former Nevada Wolfpack OT Isaiah World.
Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks went into the transfer portal in 2024-25 with a major need to likely replace both start offensive tackles after the season ended.
So far, they’ve done a fantastic job of filling those spots.
On Tuesday, Oregon landed a commitment from former Nevada Wolfpack offensive tackle Isaiah World, the No. 1 ranked OT in the transfer portal this year. World stands at 6-foot-8, 310 pounds, and now comes to Oregon with one year of eligibility remaining.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Ducks also got a commitment from former Texas State OT Alex Harkey, the No. 6 ranked OT in the transfer portal. Now with those two players, Oregon can feel confident going into the 2025 season with a replacement for right tackle Ajani Cornelius, and likely with a replacement for left tackle Josh Conerly Jr., who is expected to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.
World was among the most coveted players in the portal this year, with teams like the Ohio State Buckeyes,Texas A&M Aggies, and Nebraska Cornhuskers vying for his services. In the end, it was the Ducks who were able to win him over, thanks to the direct path to playing time, and the West Coast connections for the former San Diego player who went to high school at Lincoln, and was teammates with Oregon cornerback Jahlil Florence before going off to college.
The Oregon Ducks picked up a pair of big commitments on Wednesday, so here is an updated look at their transfer portal needs going forward.
Once the transfer portal opened last week, Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks were in a slow burn, but the fire has been lit over the last week.
The Ducks picked up their first commitment of the class over the weekend with the addition of former Purdue Boilermakers safety Dillon Thieneman, the No. 1 available S. Thieneman chose the Ducks over the likes of Ohio State, Georgia, and LSU.
On Sunday, Lanning and the Ducks followed that up with another addition, getting a commitment from former Northwestern Wildcats cornerback Theran Johnson, a redshirt junior with 103 tackles and 3 interceptions in his career.
There are still several positions that Oregon needs to fill in the portal this offseason, but the Ducks are off to a good start, filling major needs on the roster at big positions of need. Let’s take a look at some other positions that the Ducks can try to hit in the portal over the next few weeks.
Offensive Tackle
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
We always knew that Oregon was going to need to add one offensive tackle through the portal this year, and with the elite play we’ve seen from Josh Conerly over the last couple of months, it’s becoming pretty clear that they’re going to need two of them.
Both Ajani Cornelius and Conerly are likely going to head off to the NFL this offseason, so the Ducks need help on the edges of the offensive line. They got a great piece in Alex Harkey on Wednesday, the No. 6 OT in the class, but they still need another blocker.
Fortunately, it seems like they are in a good position to get one. Former Nevada OT Isaiah World, the No. 1 OT in the portal, put the Ducks among his top schools and is currently on a visit in Eugene. Should Oregon get a commitment from him, they would be sitting pretty going into the new season.
Inside Linebacker
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Ducks have a lot of great depth at the inside linebacker spot, but with guys like Jeffrey Bassa, Bryce Boettcher, and Jestin Jacobs graduating, the need for experience is there. Devon Jackson is the only returning player at the position with a lot of production, and while you feel confident in guys like Brayden Platt, Dylan Williams, and Kamar Mothudi, Oregon still needs to have more experience and production at this critical spot going into a new season.
Running Back
Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
There’s a chance that the Oregon Ducks have one of the best and most experienced running back rooms in the nation next year, or a chance that they are in desperate need of some help in the transfer portal. All of that depends on what both Jordan James and Noah Whittington decide to do.
Starting with James, the 1,000-yard rusher in 2024 has another year of eligibility remaining, should he want it, and a chance to bolster his draft stock. He could also choose to declare for the NFL Draft this offseason after the best year of his career. Similarly, Whittington has another year of eligibility as well after a medical redshirt in 2023 following his knee injury. He could be well-served by another season at Oregon before going off to the NFL.
Tight End
The Ducks added a really solid tight end on Wednesday with the addition of Jamari Johnson, but I still list this position as an area of need because I think you could use some more depth here. It is no longer the top position of need, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Oregon try and find another player here, more of the blocking variety — think Casey Kelly, rather than Kenyon Sadiq.
With both Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert graduating, Oregon’s TE room is getting drained this year. There are still young players like Roger Saleapaga, AJ Pugliano, and incoming freshman Vander Ploog on the roster, but you need more proven depth and experience than that to feel comfortable going into a new season.
Wide Receiver
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
The Ducks have to feel great about the talent that they have at the wide receiver position. However, both Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden are graduating this year, and there’s a chance that Evan Stewart goes on to the NFL as well, though Oregon is working hard to bring him back for another year. If Stewart leaves, I think the Ducks absolutely need a proven WR out of the portal. Even if Stewart stays, it still wouldn’t be a shock to see Oregon add a pass-catcher, but it becomes less of a need.
