I will be adding to this as other names are announced

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Watching You

A year ago at this time, the offense was light years ahead of the defense in practice. At the time, many thought that was really good news for the team as the defense was expected to be better than the offense – especially given the questions at quarterback last spring.

Fast forward to 2023 and there seems to be less distance between the two. People who have seen some closed portions of practice have said that this defense seems to be on a different level and playing with the kind of tenacity and fire we did not see as much a season ago.

But these are also somewhat scripted coach-speak moments that come out to us generally and there is a reason that the defense may appear ahead of last year – changes on offense. Though the QB is much more settled, the running backs as deep as Oregon has ever seen, and the receiving corps looking very good, the offensive line is a very new unit as a whole. While the players on the two-deep are as talented – maybe even more so than last year’s group – they also lack the consistency and cohesion of that group. That is not a reflection on talent, coaching, scheme, or even teamwork; instead, it is the reality of a group of athletes who have not played together as much and do not have the same level of communication and cohesion as a team that was very, very good a season ago.

On the plus side, this offense has not been prone to turnovers or sacks, it is just that there are fewer big plays, and the team is not being as effective in the moments that they were a season ago.

By the time this offense gets to mid-season in 2023 – if they are healthy – I think that the offensive line is better than last season, but there are going to be some growing pains with the offensive line. I think it is a good season to break in a new offensive line because they will have time to work out those kinks before getting to the meatier part of their schedule.

We may not see those kinks early because the Ducks offense should be able to score plenty of points against their first four opponents and that will help to disguise any flaws.

On the other side of the ball, we should see how far the group has come much earlier as Texas Tech has a good offense that will test the Ducks on the road.

The Distance

I don’t know that I have ever seen a Duck running back group as deeply talented as this group. Given that the 2011 team had LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, Tra Carson, and De’Anthony Thomas on the team, that sounds almost absurd to say.

I am not sure that anyone in this group wins a Doak Walker award like James; or breaks Kenjon Barner’s single-game record, Royce Freeman’s career or single-season rushing record, or career touchdowns record. I am not sure that anyone in this group will have the explosive capacity of Thomas, but as a group, this is a very deep set of running backs.

We already know just how good Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington were last season – and they look even more comfortable this season. Jordan James – from all reports I have heard – is much better this season and is going to be more than a short yardage back. He is now an every-down back capable of making big plays and carrying a bigger load. Dante Dowdell is already turning heads and looks like he could be an elite running back and somehow, four-star Jayden Limar is also catching a lot of praise.

It will be interesting to see how running backs coach Carlos Locklyn manages the carries for this group and keeps them all engaged throughout the season.

Much more here:

Van Buren returning for the Spring Game:

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Was recruited by Lupoi when he was at Alabama

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Arizona State ultra-athletic forward Devan Cambridge has announced his commitment to the Ducks today after a recent visit to Eugene. Cambridge began his career at Auburn where he played in 91 games with 33 starts for the Tigers. He then made his way to Tempe where he made 34 starts and averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds last season. He scored at least 15 points in five different games and gave the Sun Devils a versatile presence in its lineup. The 6-foot-6 forward is expect to contribute at multiple positions for the Ducks giving Dana Altman another key piece to the rotation.

Cambridge is the second transfer addition of the day for Altman after Georgia transfer guard Kario Oquendo announced his decision Friday as well. Cambridge, a Nashville native, will have one season of remaining eligibility. He is rated as a three-star transfer by Rivals.

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Elite edge rusher Elijah Rushing is currently in Eugene for another visit with the Ducks.

I thought that I’d fill in the idle time with an ironic bit of trivia.

Although he is used to portray the image of a “ died in wool University of Oregon Duck” , he is really just a guy who grew up in Eugene and was an Oregon fan as a kid.

Here is the truth:
Matt Kearney went to Chico State. I’m flattered that he claims us but he isn’t a Duck. He probably couldn’t even tell you which building is PLC.

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Scrimmage was of course entirely closed to media.

Will have a story up ASAP.

Saturday the Oregon men are scheduled to step onto the U of Arizona track! Oregon’s top sprinters are listed to start in the 100, 200, and the 4X100. This group is supposed to include Micah Williams.

We’ve waited a long time. Let the show begin!

Safety Trejon Williams has been dropped from the roster. I haven't seen any news about a possible transfer. Hate losing local players. If true.

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The Ducks add an important piece to the roster for next season with Georgia transfer guard Kario Oquendo picking Oregon over a final group that included Auburn, Utah and Nebraska. The Florida native is currently listed as the 104th-best transfer by Rivals and a three-star prospect.

He began his career at Florida SouthWestern State where he averaged 13.5 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Last season he was second on the Bulldogs in scoring after averaging 12.7 points over 29 games.

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Three-star (likely to rise soon) defensive lineman Jericho Johnson has been one of the hottest names among prospects at his position out west this spring. The Fairfield (Calif.) Armijo standout two-way lineman recently made a swing through the Southeast allowing him to take visit to Georgia and Miami. He already visited USC earlier in the spring and he'll take a visit to Washington this weekend. Oregon will host him on campus tomorrow, and the Ducks are among the schools keeping in contact with him the most up to this point. He was at SNL last summer and really built a nice bond with Tony Tuioti that has continued to build through this spring.

I caught up with him recently to discuss the Ducks ahead of his visit this week. Read the full update above.

He'll be an early enrollee, so he's trying to knock out a bunch of visits this spring with an expected decision coming in December.

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RECRUITING NOTES:

- We are a week out from the Spring Game and more players have been added to the visit list. The first name I really like to see is not a 2024 recruit but 2023 signee Ashton Porter. He will be visiting along with current commits Jordan Anderson and Jaxson Jones. That is a really solid “peer recruiting” trio that is going to help Oregon a lot during the weekend.

- Also scheduled to make a visit is priority LB target Kamar Mothudi. Mothudi is thought by many to be leaning toward Oregon and visiting along with so many elite recruits – including a signee and multiple current commits – is going to be a very big visit for the Valley Village (CA) Campbell Hall standout.

- Safety Jason Mitchell from St. John Bosco is also scheduled to make a visit for the Spring Game. The 6-3, 190-pound safety is thought by some to be a heavy lean to USC, but the Ducks getting him to Eugene for the spring game is going to be critical. It is clear that the Oregon defense is working to get an elite safety in this group and the staff really like Mitchell. I do think that the Trojans have an edge right now, so let’s see how this visit goes.

- TJ Lindsey – a 6-5, 265-pound defensive end from Bryan (AR) is also scheduled to be in town for the Spring Game. The four-star has been to Texas A&M on multiple occasions and it is thought that the Aggies might have a lead in his recruitment, Lindsey has not set a top list yet, but the Aggies are recruiting him harder than anyone else at the moment. Watch out for Texas and USC, though, as they start to put on some heat as well.

- Lewisville (TX) four-star safety Jayden Hardy put out a top five that includes Oregon. He will be in Eugene for the Spring Game. While I think the Ducks will do their best, right now, Oklahoma seems the odds-on favorite to land the elite playmaker. Hardy has been to Eugene before and was impressed with the level of the Oregon scheme. He was able to sit in on some meetings and learn about the scheme and came away with the thought that this group is ready to take the defense to the next level. Getting him on campus again is a big step; but he is also close with Peyton Bowen and the thought of pairing up with him in Oklahoma might be too much for the Ducks to overcome.

- Julius Pope – a four-star athlete from Batesville (MS) currently committed to Arkansas – was originally scheduled to visit this weekend. I have not been able to confirm whether he is still going to make it to town. The feeling is that once he committed to Arkansas earlier this month, it might have shut down a little for him.

- The biggest visit for the Spring Game might be Brandon Baker. Once thought to be a lock for Oregon two things have changed. First Adrian Klemm left for the New England Patriots and then his recruiting profile really exploded. I still think that the relationships with Oregon can win out and if A’lique Terry and the rest of the staff are able to show him as a top priority, I think in the end, that the Ducks should still be in a really good spot. I like getting him on campus with current commits as well as other elite players.

All for now!

I considered leaving out the word track on the title… but I just couldn’t give you the head fake LOL

This was posted by Chile on Trackducks.

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