Tag: ProDucks

Sabrina Ionescu talks Caitlin Clark, and transition from college to the WNBA

Former Oregon Duck women’s basketball superstar Sabrina Ionescu offers some advice for Caitlin Clark and every WNBA rookie.

When former Oregon women’s basketball superstar Sabrina Ionescu went into the WNBA, the pandemic was in full swing, and the fanfare that she deserved just wasn’t there.

Ironically, Caitlin Clark is enjoying that fanfare that should have come Ionescu’s way, but that doesn’t mean Clark can’t go to Ionescu for advice when it comes to transitioning from college superstar to just another player in the WNBA.

According to the best Duck women’s basketball player of all time, every rookie is going to face some tough times early on.

“Every rookie is going to come in and have adversity from the beginning. It’s a lot different than college, so my advice to any rookie is to continue to grind and stick with it,” she said in a postgame interview. “Figure out ways to get better. That’s a big part of elevating your game and understand what you did in college was enough and you deserve to have that confidence coming into the league, but knowing there’s so much room for improvement.”

It’s difficult to fathom what Ionescu could possibly improve upon in her fourth season with the New York Liberty. But ever the professional and team player, Ionescu will continue to do whatever it takes to bring the Big Apple a WNBA title.

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Kenjon Barner recalls reaction to Oregon Ducks Hall of Fame announcement

Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens gave Kenyon Barner some news he never expected to receive.

Kenjon Barner’s career with the Oregon Ducks is interesting since his time spent in Eugene was mostly alongside legendary RB LaMichael James. When many fans think about the leading rusher on those Chip Kelly-era Duck teams, most think of No. 21 running the ball, though No. 24’s stats where right up there on the same level.

Although he was RB2 most of the time, Barner’s accomplishments and statistics don’t resemble anything of an RB2. He was one of the best running backs in Oregon history, sitting at No. 3 on Oregon’s all-time leading rusher’s list. This past year, Barner was duly recognized for those accolades by being inducted into the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.

It was a phone call that Barner wasn’t expecting, and won’t soon forget.

“I never gave it any thought. It was never on my mind that ‘I want to make the Oregon Hall of Fame,'” Barner said this week on the “Sco-ing Long Podcast” with Zachary Neel and Oregon legend Jonathan Stewart. “It just didn’t ever come to mind, for whatever reason. I didn’t play the game for an accolade like that to come. I just played the game because I loved it. There was no other reason. It wasn’t for the awards, I just loved playing the game.”

When Barner did get that call from Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens, he says that he couldn’t stop the emotions from coming out.

“I was on the freeway driving and I saw Rob (Mullens)’s number pop up on my phone, and I was like ‘why is the AD calling me, what did I do?'” Barner explained. “So I answered the phone, and when he said it, it was immediate tears. When I got that call, I broke down, I cried like a baby.”

Barner made plenty of opposing defensive coordinators cry in their car when trying to prepare for him and the Ducks’ explosive offense, so perhaps the setting was fitting. But the former Oregon tailback wasn’t thinking of himself when the news hit.

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“It wasn’t just for me. It was the fact that everything that my mother, everything that my father, everything that my sister, everything that they financially sacrificed for me to be in the space that I was in at Oregon and thereafter, it was more for them, and that everything that they had done for me wasn’t done in vane,” Barner said.

After explaining that his dad never missed a college game of his, home or away, it’s clear how much the familial support helped him along his journey. While a lot of athletes who grew up in a troubled background claim that they are a rose that grew from concrete, Barner rather says that he is a rose that grew from a loving village.

“It’s an indescribable feeling,” Barner said. “And it’s something that I’m humbled by, something that I’m grateful for. And it’s something that I’ll be able to share with my family, my kids, and everybody else from here on after.”

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Photos of new rookie Oregon Ducks at NFL minicamps

Bo Nix and other former Ducks have made an appearance in various NFL rookie camps around the league.

The NFL doesn’t waste much time in getting their rookies acclimated to life in the league.

Just a couple of weeks after the draft, former Ducks such as Bo Nix and Troy Franklin have participated in NFL rookie camps this past week. Nix and Franklin are with the Denver Broncos and defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus is with the Atlanta Falcons.

Casey Rogers and Taki Taimani have joined fellow former Duck Kayvon Thibodeaux with the New York Giants and offensive lineman Steven Jones is with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The NFL pre-season is in August with the 2024 regular season starting the first week of September with the newest class of Ducks making their impact.

Here are a few pics from the various rookie camps from around the league.

Oregon DL Casey Rogers signs UDFA contract with NY Giants

Oregon defensive lineman Casey Rogers has signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Giants.

There are a lot of players in the NFL that weren’t drafted and Oregon defensive lineman Casey Rogers just became one of those players.

Rogers signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Giants Saturday once the draft was finished.

As a senior at Oregon, Rogers played in all 14 games and made two starts in his final season where he finished with 22 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a career-high 1.5 sacks. He also played 328 total defensive snaps while earning a 72.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

One of the highlights of his career came against Colorado where Rogers ran for 18 yards and a first down on a fake punt from the Ducks’ own 17-yard line in the second quarter in the huge win over the Buffaloes.

In his junior season in 2022, Rogers played in all 13 games while making 12 starts in first season with the Ducks. He recorded a career-high 34 total tackles, 15 solo, with 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Rogers came to Oregon after playing two seasons at Nebraska.

Oregon DL Taki Taimani signs UDFA contract with Vikings

Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.

Three days and seven rounds of the NFL draft and there was no Taki Taimani.

But one doesn’t need their named to be called in the draft in order to sign with a team and Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani did just that.

Taimani signed with the Minnesota Vikings once the draft finished as a free agent.

At Oregon, the 6-foot-3, 330-pounder from Salt Lake City played in all 14 games in his final season while making nine starts. Taimani also finished with 22 total tackles, 1.5 tackle for loss and a fumble recovery and was ranked second among all Pac-12 interior defensive linemen with an 82.3 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus.

Taimani was one of very few players to transfer from Oregon most heated rival Washington, but he was able to win over the fan base quickly with his hustle, effort and huge smile. Now he’ll get to do the same thing with another fan base in the NFL ranks.

Houston Texans draft Oregon LB Jamal Hill in the sixth round

Jamal Hill is headed to the Houston Texans as they drafted the Oregon linebacker in the sixth round.

Better late than never.

It took a while, but Oregon linebacker Jamal Hill heard his name called in NFL draft. The Houston Texans selected him in the sixth round.

It has been a productive third day of the draft for the Ducks. They have had several players selected in the later rounds, and Hill was the most recent.

At Oregon, Hill started in the secondary, but moved to the linebacker spot out of necessity. Hill played in all 14 games as a senior, making seven starts. He finished with 31 tackles (13 solo) while adding 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He also managed to get his first tackles for loss and sacks of his career.

As a sophomore, Hill was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers select running back Bucky Irving in 4th round of the NFL draft

Bucky Irving is headed to the Buccaneers with the No. 125 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Welcome to Tampa Bay, Bucky Irving.

The former Oregon running back was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the NFL draft. Irving is the seventh Duck to be chosen behind teammates Bo Nix, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Troy Franklin, Khyree Jackson, Brandon Dorlus and Evan Williams.

After transferring to Oregon from Minnesota, Irving was stellar for two seasons. He was one of Dan Lanning’s first transfer portal acquisitions, and the 5-foot-9 running back flourished in the Green and Yellow.

As an Oregon Duck, Irving gained 2,238 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He also showed the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, which made Irving attractive to many NFL teams. He caught 87 passes for 712 yards and five more touchdowns.

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Troy Franklin, Brandon Dorlus named among best available in last day of NFL draft

It’s a bit of surprise that WR Troy Franklin, DL Brandon Dorlus and other Ducks are still available in the draft.

Mock drafts are fun to poke around on and get a sense of what the real thing might be like, but they are just mock drafts, predictions, and no guarantees of how the 2024 NFL draft might actually go.

Several Ducks who were highly thought of in the mock drafts, such as Troy Franklin and Brandon Dorlus, are still available as the third day of the draft approaches.

According to the analytical site PFF.com, Franklin and Dorlus are near the top of the list of the best available players and should be taken quickly when the selection process begins once again Saturday. PFF says Franklin is a steal at this point of the draft.

Franklin might get lost in the shuffle of a loaded wide receiver class, but he shouldn’t. His smoothness comes from his athletic profile and his confidence in knowing how to win at the position. He needs to continue to get stronger, but he is a competitive player who can be a good WR2 for a vertical NFL offense.

Dorlus, a defensive tackle, comes in at No. 5 on the list. This was PFF’s assessment.

“Though a bit of a tweener, Dorlus has 3-4 and 4-3 versatility with a strong power profile to be a rotational player and potential spot starter,” says PFF.

Also on the list of the top 100 best available are Bucky Irving at No. 10, corner Khyree Jackson at No. 14.

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Jackson Powers-Johnson leads list of Ducks among best available players in 2024 NFL Draft

Jackson Powers-Johnson and Troy Franklin are among the best players available in round 2 of the NFL Draft, per PFF.

It was Bo Nix’s time to shine in the first round and the first night of the NFL draft as the Denver Broncos selected the Oregon quarterback No. 12 overall.

Of course, Nix isn’t the only Duck that will be a part of the selection process. According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson Powers-Johnson leads the list of best Ducks still available as the draft goes on for Friday and Saturday.

Overall, JPJ comes in at No. 5 in the best available. This is what they had to say about the Oregon center.

“Powers-Johnson possesses starting-caliber power and finesse traits at center or guard for both zone or man/gap-blocking concepts,” PFF said.”He is dominant enough at his position to be considered a top-20 talent.”

Next on their list of 100 is Oregon receiver Troy Franklin, who would be a great addition for any team. Franklin is listed as the No. 6 best available player, per PFF.

Franklin might get lost in the shuffle of a loaded wide receiver class, but he shouldn’t. His smoothness comes from his athletic profile and his confidence in knowing how to win at the position. He needs to continue to get stronger, but he is a competitive player who can be a good WR2 for a vertical NFL offense.

Also on the list is defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus at No. 35, running back Bucky Irving at No. 48 and defensive back Khyree Jackson at No. 56.

We will see where everyone ends up getting drafted, and whether they hear their names called on Friday or Saturday, but it should be an entertaining couple of days for Duck fans.

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Oregon legend Penei Sewell becomes highest-paid OL in NFL history with Detroit Lions

Former Duck and current Detroit O-lineman Penei Sewell is about to become the richest O-lineman in the history of the NFL.

We knew Penei Sewell is a large human and now his contract will match the former Oregon Duck’s size.

According to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter, the Detroit Lions is set to extend Sewell for another four years worth $112 million, $83 million guaranteed, making it the largest contract for an offensive lineman in league history.

Sewell will be entering his fourth season in the NFL after being drafted No. 7 overall by the Lions, who were floundering at the time. But in three short seasons, Detroit is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They narrowly lost in the  NFC Championship Game a year ago.

Sewell has been to the Pro Bowl twice already and has made one All-Pro team as well.

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