Personal news: I’m thrilled to announce that today is my first day as a sports journalist with
@Salem_Statesman
and
@USATODAY
. I’ll be covering a mix of Oregon State and prep athletics.
Can’t wait to get going!
Oregon safety Marko Vidackovic walked past a group of recruits who were on a visit to Ohio State and looked absolutely stunned.
“You boys better come to Oregon.”
Dana Altman didn't pull any punches during his postgame presser. Called it "embarrassing" that Oregon had just 3,300 fans in attendance on Tuesday.
“If It’s me, then make the (coaching) change. Make the change. Somebody will hire me somewhere. I’ll go coach junior college ball."
Dan Lanning was asked about the effect that injuries — particularly starting corners Khyree Jackson and Jahlil Florence — had on Oregon's defense.
"That's a cop-out for us. We have guys who practice hard and prepare all week. You're banged up — it's that point in the season."
Dan Lanning on the future of the Oregon-Oregon State rivalry:
"I'm not involved in those decisions, but I would love to play this team. If we've gotta put the ball in the parking lot, that's fine with me."
By far the most significant news to come out of the Tigers clubhouse today was Ron Gardenhire talking at length about taking his daughter’s dog, Luna, through the McDonalds drive thru every time he stays in Minnesota.
Troy Franklin originally committed to Oregon back in 2020 "to change the receiver perception up here."
On Saturday, the Ducks' star wideout surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season and now sits just 91 yards shy of Dillon Mitchell's school record.
Dan Lanning, on when his attention shifted entirely to coaching Oregon:
“Walking off the field, in the tunnel after winning the National Championship, I was on a FaceTime with a guy who can enhance our program and make us better. That moment, I was a Duck."
On the Pat McAfee Show, Dan Lanning was asked about Oregon's decision to add both Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore this offseason:
"We wanna go get great players. One thing we tell our players when they come: 'The minute you get here, we're gonna try to bring in somebody better.'"
N'Faly Dante was asked about *that* dunk over Arizona's Kerr Kriisa.
"He pisses me off sometimes. So I was gonna go for it. It felt great, especially when it's someone you don't like just to make him look embarrassed."
Mario Cristobal: “I don’t know what other coaches do or say. I just know that there’s three top-10 classes sitting there on the (Oregon) roster — and they’re all puppies.
Their best football is in front of them over the next 2-3 years. It’s revved up and ready to go."
Oregon’s Verone McKinley III is officially a consensus All-American. He becomes the 10th in school history, one day after Kayvon Thibodeaux became the ninth.
Dan Lanning said Oregon freshman EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei is OK and probably could have played today if needed.
The Ducks’ standout freshman went through warmups, but was in street clothes during the game.
Rodrick Pleasant is Oregon's latest two-sport athlete.
The Ducks' freshman DB said he intends to join the school's track team after bowl season wraps up.
"(Oregon) has had dudes who have done both here and I would love to keep that tradition going.”
Dan Lanning says Oregon's coaching staff is expecting some of the Ducks' players to enter the transfer portal when it officially opens on Monday.
But he'll leave it up to each player to make their own individual announcements.
Mark Wasikowski brought all eight of Oregon’s seniors to the podium for the Ducks’ final press conference of the year.
“This group brought interest to an Oregon baseball program that’s never had this interest.”
Ron Gardenhire was asked if he ever urged Joe Mauer to swing for the fences more often after Mauer’s 2009 MVP season.
“You know what? I was a C student in high school, but I wasn’t stupid. I didn’t mess with Joe Mauer.”
Oregon receiver Traeshon Holden announced that he is returning for his senior season.
Big day for Oregon's 2024 receiver room; Tez Johnson announced earlier today that he will be back next year, too.
Dan Lanning on the rumors linking him to the Auburn head coaching job:
"The grass is not always greener; and the grass is damn green in Eugene. I want to be in Eugene for as long as Eugene will have."
Guys, I have good news: I’ve accepted a sports reporter position with the Corvallis Gazette-Times (
@gtnews
). I’ll be covering
#opreps
and Oregon State athletics starting this week.
Can’t wait to get going!
Looks like Oregon track star Micah Williams has joined the Ducks’ football team. He’s wearing No. 84 and is listed as a receiver.
Williams is one of the fastest sprinters in the U.S. He ran a wind-aided 9.83 100m dash as a sophomore during the 2022 outdoor season.
The New York Liberty have selected Oregon forward Nyara Sabally with the fifth pick of the WNBA Draft.
She will be reunited with Sabrina Ionescu in New York.
Oregon held Utah to 326 net total yards tonight.
That's the fewest yards the Ducks have surrendered to an FBS opponent this season, and the fewest yards the Utes have totaled in any game this season.
Dan Lanning said Khyree Jakson, Jahlil Florence, and Dontae Manning all practiced today.
He expects all three to play against Arizona State on Saturday.
“To our former players, I am a servant to you,” Dan Lanning said.
That feels like a significant statement after what has occurred over the past 24 hours.
With Oregon’s senior day approaching, junior center Alex Forsyth confirmed that he will be back for the Ducks next season.
“I’m not gonna participate in senior day — I’ll be coming back this next year.”
Oregon lands at No. 4 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings.
The Ducks’ win over Ohio State in Week 2 was enough to convince the committee they should be ranked ahead of the Buckeyes.
According to
@statcast
, the longest home run hit by a
#MNTwins
player this year was Tyler Austin’s 451-foot moonshot on Friday.
Twins announced that Jake Cave’s homer in the fourth inning went an estimated 457 feet.
Rob Mullens was asked what Oregon will do to ensure its players don’t follow Cristobal to Miami.
He said Cristobal “encouraged (Oregon’s) players to continue the path that they’re on.”
Mario Cristobal said he thinks “there’s a good chance” Oregon senior linebacker Dru Mathis could return for the postseason.
“It won’t be in the next couple weeks or so, but he’s working really hard. We’d love to see that for him.”
Oregon defensive back Cole Martin is entering the transfer portal.
Big loss for the Ducks — he was one of their top true freshmen this season. Saw significant playing time at nickel and safety.
Breaking: Oregon receiver Traeshon Holden has been dismissed from the Ducks' program, according to a statement from Dan Lanning.
Holden was arrested Wednesday morning and is in custody, according to Lane County records.
Dan Lanning was asked if Oregon’s quarterback position will be an open competition after the addition of Bo Nix.
“We’re going to have competition across the board, quarterback included.”
Oregon ends the day with the highest-rated signing class in program history.
The Ducks signed 25 players, including 18 four-stars.
“I just think it speaks to the consistency of our approach."
Mario Cristobal said Noah Sewell, Mykael Wright and DJ Johnson are all “good to go” for the Pac-12 title game.
Keith Brown will be a game time decision.
N"Faly Dante: 28 points and 20 rebounds in 48 minutes.
Jermaine Couisnard: 32 points and eight rebounds in 43 minutes.
Both were absurd in the final game of their respective Oregon careers.
Troy Franklin is just the second Oregon receiver in program history to be named a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, and the first since Demetrius Williams in 2006.
Dan Lanning said he was "extremely disappointed" in the nine penalties Oregon committed against Hawaii.
"If you're going to get a penalty, you can't be on the field. It's that simple."
Dillon Gabriel announced that he has committed to Oregon.
The Ducks have their quarterback for the 2024 season. A massive pick-up for Dan Lanning and Will Stein.
Oregon’s Board of Trustees has approved a three-year, $5.1 million contract for Tosh Lupoi to become the Ducks’ defensive coordinator.
The Board voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the deal, which will pay Lupoi a base salary of $1.7 million annually.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning said Popo Aumavae, Brandon Dorlus, and Justin Flowe are all doing well after dealing with injuries during spring ball.
"We definitely think they're gonna be a big part of what we're doing this season."
Dan Lanning on Bo Nix:
"I can't say enough about our quarterback. ... For him to go out and have a gutsy performance was really important for this team."
And there it is: Dante Moore is an Oregon Duck (again)
The former 5-star signee is Oregon's second quarterback addition of this transfer cycle, along with Dillon Gabriel.
The Ducks have seemingly found their QBs for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Now fully recovered from the knee injury that wiped out the majority of his freshman season, Oregon's Jurrion Dickey is ready to make up for lost time.
"It wasn’t a setback to where I wasn’t gonna work. I’m always gonna still work."
Brandon Dorlus was asked how it felt for Oregon's defense to produce seven sacks against Colorado:
“We were f***ing happy — sorry for my language. We were happy to finally get the chance to hit this guy, man. To get the result like that, seven sacks, it just makes me happy."
Oregon played 14 true freshmen against Cal. Offensive lineman Iapani Laloulu logged a season-high 50 snaps.
Quick rundown here of where the season game totals stand for each of the Ducks' 2023 signees.
The Pac-12 all-conference teams have been announced.
Oregon gets six first-team selections:
QB Bo Nix
WR Troy Franklin
TE Terrance Ferguson
OL Jackson Powers-Johnson
DL Brandon Dorlus
CB Khyree Jackson
Dan Lanning and the Oregon football team taking the court and throwing out t-shirts midway through the first half.
Loudest I've heard this place in awhile.
Oregon linebacker Jestin Jacobs announced that he is returning for his senior season.
With all-conference junior Jeffrey Bassa also slated to return, the Ducks are set at inside linebacker for 2024.
BREAKING: A Benton County public health official said Oregon State has received approval to resume contact practices.
That was the last barrier standing between OSU and an approved return to football.
No player on Oregon’s roster has played in front of a home crowd in Eugene. That will change Thursday when the Ducks open their season against Saint Martin’s.
"I can’t wait to have our crowd back,”
@GoDucksKG
said. "It really does make a difference."
Some personal news: this week is my last with On3.
Couldn’t be more excited for what comes next — will have some details on that soon.
For now, thanks a ton to everybody who has tuned into my Oregon coverage over the past few years. It’s been a blast.
BREAKING: Former Texas A&M WR Evan Stewart has Committed to Oregon, he tells
@on3sports
The 6’1 175 WR is ranked as the No. 1 WR in the Portal (No. 2 Overall Player)
Was a 5-Star Plus+ Recruit in the ‘22 Class & will have 2 years of eligibility remaining
Joe Moorhead on Anthony Brown: “I think AB is doing a solid job in his role. He’s not Marcus Mariota. He’s not Dennis Dixon… You can nitpick stats, but I’ll go into a game with AB as my quarterback and believe in his abilities and what he can do. I’m proud to be coaching him."
Oregon standout defensive end Jordan Burch announced that he is returning for his senior season.
Massive news for the Ducks.
Burch led UO with 7.5 TFLs in 2023 and was second with 27 pressures. Was really disruptive during the final month of the season.
Oregon’s pro day participants:
Anthony Brown
Jordan Happle
Johnny Johnson III
Verone McKinley III
George Moore IV
Kayvon Thibodeaux
CJ Verdell
Devon Williams
Mykael Wright
Former players:
Devon Allen
Nick Pickett
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Jeremiah McClellan tells me he has Flipped from Ohio State to Oregon!
The Top 55 Recruit in the ‘24 Class had been Committed to the Buckeyes since August
“Let’s go to work!” 🦆
Oregon has rebuilt its quarterback room this offseason with the additions of Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore.
Even still, blue-chip freshman Austin Novosad said he is committed to playing for the Ducks in 2024.
“It’s a great opportunity."