That would be huge! (No pun intended)
From The O:
Oregon defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell (#90) and linebacker Teitum Tuioti (#44) rush Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (#9) as the No. 1 Ducks host the Maryland Terrapins in a Big Ten college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
LOS ANGELES — Oregon nose tackle Jamaree Caldwell is open to returning in 2025.
One of three Ducks impacted by the NCAA granting former junior college players an additional year of eligibility, Caldwell played at Independence Community College in 2021. He has a career-high 28 tackles (3.5 for loss) with three pass breakups and a forced fumble this season and is open to returning for a sixth season.
“It’s a blessing, coming from all JUCO players in the country,” Caldwell said. “As of right now I don’t really know where I want to start. That was something I want to think about after the season. Yeah, I do consider coming back.
Caldwell accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl, but that doesn’t mean he’s absolutely moving on once the season ends.
“That would be a good place to showcase a lot of things I could do on the field, a lot of things I know on the field,” Caldwell said. “My mindset was to focus on winning now and I think about that later. Everybody that plays this game, it’s always a dream to go to the NFL. It’s a lot of things about draft grades and see where you’re going. If things don’t add up for me and I know I could probably do better my next year, I for sure consider coming back.”
The Ducks, who are losing defensive tackle Keyon Ware-Hudson after the season, added former USC defensive tackle Bear Alexander this month. If Caldwell returns, Oregon is projected to have 10 scholarship interior defensive linemen in 2025, with defensive tackle Derrick Harmon yet to announce his plans for next season.
“I think we’ll cross that bridges when it gets there,” defensive line coach Tony Tuioti said. “Been so focused on the task at hand and this game most importantly. If we can get another year of Jamaree Caldwell, that’s like the best Christmas gift I can ask for. Right now it’s looking at the future, how can we build the roster where we’re always going to have depth — that’s the most important thing — and have quality depth. It’s one thing to have depth, but quality depth because in the interior you got to be able to have at least four guys that can roll and play and there’s no drop off.”
Caldwell is is one of three Oregon football players impacted by the NCAA granting a waiver allowing athletes in a similar situation as Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia to play in 2025-26, if their eligibility was set to expire following the current academic year. The NCAA is appealing the injunction in the Pavia case.
From The O:
Oregon football nose tackle Jamaree Caldwell open to returning in 2025
- Updated: Dec. 30, 2024, 11:16 a.m.
- |Published: Dec. 30, 2024, 11:04 a.m.
Oregon defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell (#90) and linebacker Teitum Tuioti (#44) rush Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (#9) as the No. 1 Ducks host the Maryland Terrapins in a Big Ten college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
LOS ANGELES — Oregon nose tackle Jamaree Caldwell is open to returning in 2025.
One of three Ducks impacted by the NCAA granting former junior college players an additional year of eligibility, Caldwell played at Independence Community College in 2021. He has a career-high 28 tackles (3.5 for loss) with three pass breakups and a forced fumble this season and is open to returning for a sixth season.
“It’s a blessing, coming from all JUCO players in the country,” Caldwell said. “As of right now I don’t really know where I want to start. That was something I want to think about after the season. Yeah, I do consider coming back.
Caldwell accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl, but that doesn’t mean he’s absolutely moving on once the season ends.
“That would be a good place to showcase a lot of things I could do on the field, a lot of things I know on the field,” Caldwell said. “My mindset was to focus on winning now and I think about that later. Everybody that plays this game, it’s always a dream to go to the NFL. It’s a lot of things about draft grades and see where you’re going. If things don’t add up for me and I know I could probably do better my next year, I for sure consider coming back.”
The Ducks, who are losing defensive tackle Keyon Ware-Hudson after the season, added former USC defensive tackle Bear Alexander this month. If Caldwell returns, Oregon is projected to have 10 scholarship interior defensive linemen in 2025, with defensive tackle Derrick Harmon yet to announce his plans for next season.
“I think we’ll cross that bridges when it gets there,” defensive line coach Tony Tuioti said. “Been so focused on the task at hand and this game most importantly. If we can get another year of Jamaree Caldwell, that’s like the best Christmas gift I can ask for. Right now it’s looking at the future, how can we build the roster where we’re always going to have depth — that’s the most important thing — and have quality depth. It’s one thing to have depth, but quality depth because in the interior you got to be able to have at least four guys that can roll and play and there’s no drop off.”
Caldwell is is one of three Oregon football players impacted by the NCAA granting a waiver allowing athletes in a similar situation as Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia to play in 2025-26, if their eligibility was set to expire following the current academic year. The NCAA is appealing the injunction in the Pavia case.
