I think the 3d guy is Hartman. Man, he looks pretty short whoever it is. Sounds like Bo is a first rounder on most mock drafts, perhaps pretty high.

Login to view embedded media

I guess now that it's official they can chime in. Very exciting read. Well done staff.

Please take a look:

Took a look at Gatlin bair's film, plus a rundown on some of the big time visitors in town this past weekend:

Being held @ Nike HQ. Football staff and team will all be there as well as ex-players.

Kayvon is slated to be there.

There is also another one in Eugene @ MKA on Monday, 2/12. I will be at that one.

Much more here:

Login to view embedded media

The song reference this week is to a Dishwalla song from their album Opaline. A LONG time ago I was one of their mods for their fan message board and we used to have a few drinks together after local shows, so I have always wanted to use one of their songs as a subtitle for Flock Talk.

Today in a big Flock Talk, looking at another big recruiting weekend, plus the give and take of the transfer portal.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
The Ducks remain in the picture for five-star Texas receiver Dakorien Moore, and this weekend he was sporting Oregon cleats at a passing tournament in Miami. 👀

Which QB transfer will have the biggest impact in 2024?​

Luginbill: Dillon Gabriel at Oregon. Gabriel has been playing for so long he's practically an AARP member. He brings a wealth of experience and, over the past two seasons at Oklahoma, he amassed 55 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. His style -- quick decisions, decisive accuracy and feel for the RPO game -- is a perfect match for the Ducks, and they should not see a drop-off in offensive production with the addition of receiver Evan Stewart coming over from Texas A&M and Division II All-America running back Jay Harris who rushed for 1,433 yards and 14 touchdowns on 244 carries last fall for Northwest Missouri State. Gabriel is going to have really good players around him and will hold off UCLA transfer Dante Moore for one year.

VanHaaren: Gabriel. With the Ducks moving to the Big Ten next season and needing to replace a ton of talent -- namely a Heisman finalist in Bo Nix -- Gabriel is the type of player who can take over the Ducks' offense and be successful. He is efficient and accurate. Gabriel had a career-high completion percentage (69.3%) in 2023 to go along with an 87 QBR, which was fourth in the country.

Rittenberg: Cameron Ward at Miami. Ward, who received significant transfer interest around the country, appeared NFL-bound before changing course and picking the U. Miami couldn't take the next step with Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback, but Ward could truly thrive in the Air Raid-style system under coordinator Shannon Dawson. Miami finished 42nd nationally in pass offense in 2023 but should easily rise into the top 25 with Ward at the helm. I'm also really excited to see what Aidan Chiles can do at Michigan State after following coach Jonathan Smith there.

With JPJ getting so much ink, it's nice to see Evans get some. Sounds like he has a future.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Gatlin Bair is headed to Oregon as he picks the Ducks over Michigan upon the departure of Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. Oregon continued to make its push and now has another future playmaker as part of the class. He is expected to take his LDS mission, so he won't be on campus for a bit, but still a big pickup nonetheless.

1. Ole Miss
2. Oregon
3. TOSU
4. TAMU
5. FSU
6. Louiville
7. Colorado
8. NC State
9. Texas
10. Missouri

2. Oregon Ducks​

The Ducks ranked ninth in our previous update. They have since dipped back into the portal to rise in these rankings. With Heisman finalist quarterback Bo Nix moving on, Oregon went back to the portal and landed two more quarterbacks. Dillon Gabriel has been productive at previous stops with Oklahoma and UCF and brings a wealth of experience. He can act as a bridge as they develop 2023 five-star Dante Moore, who is transferring from UCLA. Moore was a one-time Oregon commit but flipped to UCLA late in the 2023 cycle. He still possesses elite skills and has eligibility, making him an ideal candidate to be the Ducks' future QB.

Whoever wins the quarterback job will have a new five-star receiver at his disposal. Oregon landed Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart, the No. 13 high school prospect in the Class of 2022. He was of the Aggies' top performers over the last two years and hauled in nearly 100 receptions. Offensive linemen are always at a premium and Matthew Bedford is a strong pickup. He has limited eligibility but brings starting experience and valuable versatility from his time with Indiana, having logged starts at four of the five spots on the offensive line. He should immediately improve depth.

The Ducks will beef up their interior defense in 2024 with DL Jamaree Caldwell. He was a second-team All-Big 12 performer at Houston with 6.5 sacks last season. Oregon can rely on him to both provide pressure and stout run support against Big Ten offenses. Oregon also brought in CB Jabbar Muhammad from rival Washington. He started for the Huskies in 2023 and should step into the same role for the Ducks in 2024.

Two leagues are forming an advisory group.

From CBS Sports

SEC, Big Ten 'advisory group' stands as coded threat to NCAA: Figure it out, or we'll go off ourselves​

The power conference may well reshape college athletics in their image​

https://www.cbssports.com/writers/dennis-dodd/

By Dennis Dodd






Getty Images
The SEC and Big Ten delivered a coded, read-between-the-lines message to college athletics in a 259-word release on Friday: We got this.
Essentially, the two most powerful conferences on the planet told everyone else to step aside. They're going to figure out the future of college athletics themselves. They're done waiting for Congressional intervention or NCAA action.
The future of college athletics will be at least influenced -- but probably dictated -- by the SEC and Big Ten. They have most of the money, talent, recruiting, facilities and brands at their disposal.
If the process hurts feelings or damages egos, so be it. If that means collectively bargaining with players and paying them for their athletic ability through revenue sharing ... well, that's on the table, too.





The SEC and Big Ten are among those who have waited too long. Now they have the ability to change the landscape themselves.
The joint announcement used careful wording like forming an "advisory group" to address "significant challenges in college athletics." This isn't the announcement of a scheduling agreement or another version of an ill-fated "alliance." The duo is targeting some more significant matters; they made sure to reference "recent court decisions, pending litigation, a patchwork of state laws."
That's really what this is about -- eliminating the consternation about an endless conga line of litigation regarding name, image and likeness, antitrust, transfers, etc.

In essence, the two leagues are aiming to remodel what is left of the collegiate model. Don't like it? Well, you don't have to. If NCAA membership doesn't agree to their reforms, the SEC and Big Ten have the leverage to take their 34 teams and stage their own national championship. The networks and the market itself have told them that is possible, and it's a path which SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has already hinted at in the past.
If that means a velvet hammer -- Friday's release -- leading to a chaotic breakaway of the two leagues, that's an option, too. It's just unlikely to be one that is explored right away. Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti would certainly like to affect change within the system first.
The SEC commissioner has left breadcrumbs leading us to this day. In June 2023, he criticized the composition of the NCAA Board of Governors, calling them out for having too little Power Five representation.

The state of Tennessee this week filed a lawsuit against the NCAA that exposed a horizon where you can see an end to the NCAA if it doesn't change. And if there is no change, the "Power Two" will change it for them.
For his role, Petitti probably just needed time to get on board after taking over as conference commissioner in May. The irony is that, historically, the SEC and Big Ten have been rivals. Former respective commissioners Mike Slive and Jim Delany viewed each other respectfully from a distance, but their legislative and financial interests were strictly their own.
Now, there is too much money and power at stake for them not to join brands. The best rivalries worth watching mostly now reside in these two conferences. Those rivalries translate to television ratings, which translate to revenue. Thank you, conference realignment.


The landscape has forced them together to flex at this moment, so let the mind wander as to the extent of their power grab.

• They could easily combine to carve out a piece of their media rights revenue to share with athletes.
• They could decide -- essentially on their own -- to offer 100 scholarships instead of 85.
• They almost certainly will demand an unequal share of revenue when the new College Football Playoff media rights contract is signed.
• They could sign up a title sponsor for their endeavors to draw in even more revenue. The CFP and Final Four don't even do that.

These behemoths are ready to take over college athletics. If the NCAA can't manage the current mess, they will take it upon themselves. And it's becoming increasingly obvious the NCAA can't handle the current mess, mostly because a large part of the oil spill has been caused by the governing body overseeing college athletics.
The NCAA likes to say it is only enforcing rules as voted on by membership. As sports law attorney Mit Winter recently noted: That doesn't matter when the rules themselves break federal law.

Not a good thing when there are two not-so-new sheriffs in town.

From ESPN:

Which QB helped his stock the most?​

Out of the quarterback group, Oregon's Bo Nix helped himself the most after a strong final day of practice. He showed solid accuracy and connected with multiple receivers on Thursday for touchdowns during the red zone one-on-one period. I wanted to see Nix outside of Oregon’s scheme, where he threw for 4,508 yards and 45 TD passes in 2023. And while his accuracy in the underneath areas is still where he stands out, he impressed in this setting. Nix didn't have many reps under center this season, but he appeared comfortable with dropback concepts from that pre-snap platform this week.

My updated QB Hot Board comes out on Friday morning, and Nix is probably the biggest beneficiary from the Senior Bowl. I previously had a mid-to-late Day 2 grade on him, but he’s now trending toward an early-Round 2 pick ... or even higher. -- Reid

Is killing it at the Senior Bowl practices and several draft/talent eval. people have said he's among the fastest risers at the Sr Bowl. Up to 334 official weight, he's leveling DT's and NT's. I wonder if he's being underrated because he's "just a Center." A team could probably slide him over to either G position, but either way, he's still getting better. A couple of many examples:

ESPN's Matt Miller
"The talk of the town in Mobile, Alabama, on Tuesday night was Oregon center JPJ. The 6-foot-3, 334-pound snapper is a powerful operator in the run game but showed remarkable technique and pacing during the first National practice. Scouts throughout the Senior Bowl events have been labeling Powers-Johnson as a potential late first-rounder -- already a solid improvement to his draft stock. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills have been mentioned as potential landing spots inside the top 32 picks

Login to view embedded media

Now this would be funny and could further damage Bama, at least you'd think.

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning announced the promotion of defensive analyst Brian Michalowski to the role of inside linebackers coach on Wednesday

Lanning also announced that co-defensive coordinator Chris Hampton – who coached the Ducks’ safeties in his first season at Oregon in 2023 – will now oversee all defensive backs, and graduate assistant Rashad Wadood will take on an elevated role working with UO’s cornerbacks.

Additionally, Lanning announced that defensive analyst Kamran Araghi will move into a graduate assistant role with Oregon’s outside linebackers, former offensive lineman Ryan Walk has returned to the program as an offensive line graduate assistant, and Zach Tinker has rejoined the staff as a special teams analyst. Former student assistant Jack Smith has also been elevated to an offensive graduate assistant role.

The Ducks went 12-2 in 2023 while boasting one of the most improved defenses in the country, ranking ninth nationally in scoring defense (16.5 PPG), 11th in rushing defense (102.57 YPG) and 22nd in total defense (318.4 YPG) while also leading the Pac-12 in passing defense (215.9 YPG). Oregon was one of just three teams in the nation (Michigan, Ohio State) to hold opponents to 10 points or less at least seven times.

Michalowski joined the Ducks in 2023 after spending the 2022 season as a defensive quality control analyst at Oregon State. He was previously the outside linebackers coach at Colorado from 2019-22, and he worked with Lanning at Georgia as a defensive quality control analyst in 2018 and at Memphis as a graduate assistant in 2016-17. He was also a graduate assistant at Arizona State alongside Lanning in 2012.

“We are excited to elevate Brian to a full-time coaching role on our staff,” Lanning said. “I have a great relationship with Coach Michalowski having worked with him previously, and he has done a tremendous job since arriving in Eugene. He is one of the brightest defensive minds in college football and a terrific teacher of the game, and he does a phenomenal job of connecting with our student-athletes. We are thrilled to have Coach Michalowski here as we continue to elevate our program and build a championship culture.”

A 2011 graduate from Arizona State, Michalowski got his full-time start in 2011 as a defensive quality control analyst at his alma mater. He was a defensive graduate assistant at ASU in 2012 and at Wyoming in 2013, before going overseas to serve as the defensive coordinator for the Cologne Falcons in the German Football League. Michalowski then spent 2015 as the defensive coordinator at Garden City Community College, after which he joined Lanning at Memphis as a graduate assistant.

"I am extremely appreciative of Coach Lanning for this opportunity,” Michalowski said. “The past year in Eugene has been a tremendous experience for me and my family, and I am so excited for the future as we continue along the path that Coach Lanning has created. Oregon is one of the truly elite programs in all of college football and I can't wait to work with our student-athletes as we prepare for the upcoming season."

Hampton made an immediate impact at Oregon in his first season in 2023, coaching safety Evan Williams to second-team all-Pac-12 honors and a team-high 82 tackles to go along with 4.5 sacks. Tysheem Johnson was third on the team with 70 tackles while adding 4.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions, and Steve Stephens IV ranked fourth with 46 tackles and a pair of picks.

Hampton joined the Ducks in 2023 following two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tulane, helping the Green Wave to a 12-2 overall record in 2022 and a win over USC in the Cotton Bowl. He engineered a remarkable defensive turnaround at Tulane – the Green Wave jumped up 82 spots to No. 32 in scoring defense (22.2 PPG) in 2022, and 55 spots up to No. 46 in total defense (360.4 YPG).

Wadood came to Oregon in 2022 as the director of community engagement before transitioning into a defensive graduate assistant role in 2023. A former cornerback, Wadood began his collegiate career at Arizona State in 2012 – with both Lanning and Michalowski on staff as graduate assistants – before transferring to Eastern Washington for 2014-15.

Wadood spent 2020 and 2021 as a defensive backs coach at Long Beach Polytechnic High School before joining Lanning’s staff at Oregon.

Araghi joined Lanning’s initial Oregon staff in 2022 as a defensive analyst, following a year as a defensive quality control analyst at the University of Buffalo. Araghi graduated from Nebraska in 2020 with a degree in business administration.

Walk rejoins Oregon’s program following a year as an offensive analyst at Miami (Fla.). Walk was a three-year starter for the Ducks from 2020-22, and he played 1,637 total snaps throughout his Oregon career. Walk was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection in 2020 before earning honorable mention status in both 2021 and 2022.

Walk started 12 games as a senior in 2022 under Lanning, helping Oregon lead the nation with just five sacks allowed. He will now assist Oregon offensive line coach A’Lique Terry, who guided UO’s O-line to a FBS-leading five sacks allowed for the second year in a row in 2023.



Tinker worked on Lanning’s inaugural staff in 2022 as a special teams analyst before spending 2023 at California in the same role. Tinker was the offensive coordinator at Central Washington in 2020 and 2021 before initially coming to Oregon, a role he took after serving as the head coach at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology from 2016-19.

Strangest CFB pod I ever saw. The guest didn't even know how to pronounce his host, On3...or is it ONE?
Says one thing then admits he didn't see UO all that much...very strange.
Just the sheer odds are tough to meet this guy's (apparent) thesis. I hope he's right, but he's obviously desperately looking for subscriptions/clicks while the On3 dude stays neutral.

Login to view embedded media

Lots of more weekend returns here: