Tag: Pro Ducks

Assessing Troy Franklin’s performance at the NFL Combine

A look at how former Oregon Ducks WR Troy Franklin performed at the 2024 NFL Combine.

The NFL Combine continued on Saturday with the wide receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks, conducting their on-field workouts. One of the most exciting Oregon Ducks to watch was WR Troy Franklin.

Franklin came into the day a bit undersized at 176 lbs., but he used his speed to show that he is still one of the most athletic receivers in the draft. His 40-yard dash time of 4.41 seconds was one of the fastest at the WR position and he impressed scouts with his performance in the jumping drills as well.

In his pass-catching drills, Franklin had some ups and downs. In his gauntlet drill, he dropped a pass, but he fared much better catching passes while running routes during the QB workouts.

Currently, Franklin is graded as a late first-round to early second-round pick. With his performance in the speed drills on Saturday, Franklin could climb up the draft board of several teams looking for a speed demon.

Below is an in-depth look at Franklin’s 2024 Combine performance.

Sabrina Ionescu narrowly loses to Steph Curry in inaugural WNBA-NBA three-point contest

Oregon Ducks legend Sabrina Ionescu competed in the first ever NBA vs. WNBA three point contest on Saturday night against Steph Curry.

In the first-ever competition between members of the WNBA and the NBA, former Oregon Ducks star Sabrina Ionescu was narrowly defeated by Steph Curry, the NBA’s all-time leading three-point scorer. Ionescu scored 26 and Curry scored 29 of 40 possible points.

Before Steph and Sabrina’s head-to-head showdown, eight NBA players competed in the NBA’s annual three-point contest. For the second year in a row, Damian Lillard took home the trophy, scoring 26 points in the final round. Other than Curry’s 29 points, 26 was the highest score of any shooter on Saturday night.

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The origin of this contest began after Ionescu set the all-time three-point contest record (37/40 possible points) in 2023. Minutes after her victory, she and Curry suggested a head-to-head competition between the two of them on Twitter. Then in January, the NBA announced that the competition would take place during the NBA’s All-Star weekend.

After the contest, during Ionescu and Curry’s on-court interviews, TNT’s Ernie Johnson highlighted Ionescu’s trailblazing impact on the WNBA and women in sports. This competition was the first time a member of the WNBA has competed against an NBA player in an official capacity.

“I think a night like tonight shows a lot of young girls and young boys that, if you can shoot, you can shoot,'” Ionescu said after the contest.

Sabrina Ionescu can certainly shoot, and although she couldn’t win Saturday night, she showed a lot of people that she is one of the best shooters and best basketball players in the world.

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Betting odds released for Sabrina Ionescu vs. Stephen Curry 3-point shootout

Betting odds have been released for the first-ever WNBA vs. NBA three-point shooting contest between Sabrina Ionescu and Stephen Curry.

Two of the greatest shooters in basketball history will be going toe-to-toe on Saturday night on a big stage, with Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry taking on New York Liberty star and Oregon legend Sabrina Ionescu in the first-ever NBA-WNBA crossover three-point competition.

The event will take place at NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis on Saturday night, broadcast on TNT.

It will feature a three-point contest just between Curry and Ionescu, both of whom will shoot from the NBA three-point line. As with all of the other All-Star game events, betting lines have been placed for who is going to win. Here are the latest lines from FanDuel Sportsbook:

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Every Oregon Duck to be invited to the 2024 NFL combine

A look at ever member of the Oregon Ducks who was extended an invite to the 2024 NFL Combine.

With the Super Bowl behind us, the attention of the football world transitions to the 2024 NFL draft, and all of the activity that will lead to that massive event in late April.

From pro days at major colleges to the NFL combine, multiple opportunities for prospects to try to improve their draft stock exist over the next couple of months. The marquee event is always the combine, which will take place in Indianapolis Feb. 26 through March 4.

The Oregon Ducks will be well represented this year. The list of invitees came out Tuesday morning, and here’s who will likely be in attendance for the Ducks:

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers enter 2025 season with favorable odds to win Super Bowl LIX

Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers have favorable odds to win Super Bowl LIX in the 2024-25 season under Jim Harbaugh.

The 2023-24 football season officially came to an end on Sunday night in dramatic fashion, with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime to win Super Bowl LVIII.

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning celebrated while his childhood team won back-to-back championships. Deommodore Lenoir and Arik Armstead — a pair of Pro Ducks on the 49ers — had to swallow the loss.

As we look ahead to the 2025 season, it’s becoming clear that more Pro Ducks are likely going to be in a pretty good spot to contend for Super Bowl LIX. According to FanDuel SportsBook, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers have favorable odds to win the championship, listed at +3000.

The Chargers have the 12th-best odds in the nation, tied with the Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

With former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh now heading up the ship in Los Angeles, there is an expectation that new life is going to be breathed into the Chargers, and there is hope among Oregon fans that Justin Herbert’s career is going to see a brighter future.

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NBA announces details for Sabrina vs. Steph three-point contest

On Tuesday, the NBA announced details for Sabrina Ionescu and Steph Curry’s head to head three-point contest on February 17th.

A few days ago, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that during the NBA’s All-Star weekend, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry will take on Sabrina Ionescu, a sharpshooter for the New York Liberty and former Oregon Ducks point guard, in a head-to-head three-point contest. On Tuesday, the NBA announced more details about the impending contest in a thread on Twitter.

The competition will take place on Saturday, February 17th, and it will follow standard three-point contest rules, which can be found here. Initially, the NBA announced that Curry would shoot with an NBA ball from the NBA three-point line, while Ionescu would shoot a WNBA ball from the WNBA three-point line — which are smaller and closer than the NBA ball and arc. But shortly after the NBA announced the guidelines for the contest, Ionescu announced on Twitter that she’ll shoot from the NBA range.

Both Ionescu’s SI20 Foundation and Curry’s Eat.Learn.Play non-profit will receive donations from the NBA and WNBA as part of the event, and State Farm has announced that they will donate a thousand dollars for each point scored in the contest to the NBA foundation, which will “support economic empowerment in the black community,” according to the NBA on Twitter.

Last season, Ionescu scored 37 out of 40 possible points in the WNBA three-point contest, the most ever in a three-point contest in either the NBA or WNBA. The previous record-holder was Curry, and it seems that the two sharpshooters’ desire to settle their score was what prompted this contest.

This historic competition is shaping up to be a must-see event. Ionescu and Curry are two of the greatest shooters in basketball’s history, regardless of gender, and they’ll certainly put on a show when they go head-to-head. Make sure to tune in on February 17th.

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A pair of former Oregon Ducks are headed to the Super Bowl

A pair of former Oregon Ducks, Arik Armstead and Deommodore Lenoir, are headed to the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.

Conference Championship weekend has come to a close, and with the Super Bowl matchup now set between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, we know for certain that a pair of former Oregon Duck legends will be playing in the big game with a chance to earn a Super Bowl ring.

Both San Francisco defensive end Arik Armstead and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir will represent the 49ers in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks after a pair of incredible seasons with their team. On Sunday night, the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions — and former Oregon legend Penei Sewell — in dramatic comeback fashion, coming back from 17 points down in the first half.

Another Duck, offensive tackle Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, had a chance to get to the Super Bowl on Sunday with the Baltimore Ravens, but they ended up losing to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

The Super Bowl will be played on February 11th in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

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Sabrina Ionescu to take on Steph Curry in three-point contest during All-Star weekend

Sabrina Ionescu and Steph Curry will battle head-to-head in a three-point contest during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Steph Curry wants revenge.

After Oregon Ducks legend Sabrina Ionescu broke his three-point contest points record with her unbelievable performance in 2023, it seems the two sharpshooters will go head-to-head in a three-point contest next month during NBA All-Star weekend.

For some context, in 2023, Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty set the record for most points in a three-point contest — across the WNBA and NBA. She scored 37 out of 40 possible points, missing only two shots along the way. Curry holds the NBA record with 31 out of 40 points.

The upcoming contest was announced Thursday evening, after Curry dropped some hints while mic’d up before the Warriors vs. Kings game.

While mic’d up before the game, Curry quizzed Warriors teammate Brandin Podziemski on who holds the record for most points in a three-point contest (Podziemski passed the test). Curry then said, “I think I got to bring out… we’ve got to settle this once and for all.”

Ionescu responded on Twitter, saying this:

Both players should be at the top of their shooting game for this matchup. Curry is shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc in the 2023-24 season, an elite figure. If he holds that pace through 82 games, it will be his 13th season with a three-point percentage greater than 40. Ionescu had an amazing year in 2023, shooting 44.8% from downtown, the highest mark of her career and an increase of 11% from 2022.

After Sabrina’s spectacular performance in the 2023 WNBA three-point contest, a lot of people pushed back on the legitimacy of her record. They argued that since the WNBA ball is smaller than the NBA ball, and the WNBA three-point line is closer to the basket, Ionescu’s claim to the inter-league record was invalid. Whether or not Sabrina is the true record holder for three-point contest points is for you to decide, but what better way for Ionescu to prove her skill than a head-to-head matchup with the greatest shooter the NBA has ever seen?

This competition will be historic, as it is the first-ever competitive event between the WNBA and NBA. The NHL did something similar in 2017 when Kendall Coyne Schofield became the first woman to participate in an NHL All-Star Skills competition. Since then, premier female hockey players have continued to participate in the NHL’s All-Star events, which has helped grow the market for women’s hockey in North America.

This matchup could go either way, and the nature of basketball is that some shots just don’t fall, while others find a way to go down. There’s only so much you can control. But whoever you’re rooting for, this, will be must-see TV.

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Five Pro Ducks set to play in NFL conference championship

The Oregon Ducks will be well represented in the NFL playoffs next weekend during the conference championship games.

Championship weekend has been set in the NFL, and the Oregon Ducks are well-represented.

Over the weekend, the Divisional Round in the NFL Playoffs took place, sending the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs on to the next round.

The Chiefs are the only remaining team without a pro Oregon Duck on the roster, which guarantees that a former Oregon Alum will appear in the Super Bowl.

The team with the most former Ducks is the 49ers, who have players like Arik Armstead, Deommodore Lenoir, and Terrance Mitchell playing big roles. The Detroit Lions are anchored on the right side of the offensive line by Oregon great Penei Sewell, and the Ravens have former Oregon OT Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu on the roster.

A trio of former Ducks on the Houston Texans roster — Chase Cota, Brady Breeze, and Juwan Johnson — all got knocked out of the playoffs in their loss to the Ravens on Saturday.

The Chiefs and Ravens will kick off Championship Sunday next week at noon PT, with the Lions and 49ers following it up at 3:30 p.m. PT.

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10 players we want the Chargers to take in the 2024 NFL draft for Justin Herbert

The Chargers have the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Here’s who we want them to take for Justin Herbert’s sake.

Besides Marcus Mariota, who backs up Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert is the only quarterback for Oregon Ducks fans to root for in the NFL.

Sadly, it has been hard to watch the Los Angeles Chargers in recent years. Head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco were fired during the 2023 season, and the Chargers need to make big changes before they can start to contend for the playoffs.

The benefit of another losing season for Los Angeles is quality draft capital. In the 2024 NFL draft, the Chargers have the No. 5 pick and a pick in every subsequent round. This year’s draft will be key to the Chargers’ future, and their selections in the first two rounds will be especially important.

Below is a list of the 10 players I’d like to see the Chargers select to improve Justin Herbert’s chances on offense. Los Angeles has plenty of defensive needs as well, but I’m focused on how the Chargers can give Herbert the best tools to succeed in the next few seasons.