4-25-24 Emerald Media Group - Gameday

LUKE BASSO: LIFE OF A LONG SNAPPER LUKE BASSO:

An inside look at one of the minute, but key, gears in the Ducks’ football machine

Long snapper Luke Basso smiles after the team runs out of the tunnel. The Oregon Ducks football team took on the Washington State Cougars on Oct. 21, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)

OREGON 2024 ROSTER

EVAN STEWART

TRAESHON HOLDEN

TEZ JOHNSON

JOSH CONERLY JR

MARCUS HARPER II

IAPANI LALOULU

MATTHEW BEDFORD

AJANI CORNELIUS

TERRANCE FERGUSON

DILLON GABRIEL

JORDAN JAMES

JURRION DICKEY

GARY BRYANT JR.

JUSTIUS LOWE

JACQAWN MCROY

DAVE IULI

CHARLIE PICKARD

NISHAD STROTHER

GEORGE SILVA

PATRICK HERBERT

DANTE MOORE

JORDAN BURCH

A’MAURI WASHINGTON

JAMAREE CALDWELL

MATAYO UIAGALELEI

JESTIN JACOBS

JEFFREY BASSA

KAM ALEXANDER

TYSHEEM JOHNSON

KOBE SAVAGE

JABBAR MUHAMMAD

JOHNNY BOWENS III

BEN ROBERTS

KEYON WARE-HUDSON

TEITUM TUIOTI

BRYCE BOETTCHER

DEVON JACKSON

JAHLIL FLORENCE

KODI DECAMBRA

KHAMARI TERRELL

DONTAE MANNING

NIKKO REED

August 7

August 11

August 14

August 18

August

August 12

August 16

August 20

August 17

August 21

WHAT TO WATCH FOR DURING OREGON’S SPRING GAME

The Ducks take the field this weekend with a couple new faces wearing green and yellow

BY JOE MOORE

DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

The Oregon Ducks football team is playing its spring game this weekend, which is more like fanfare than real football.

The spring game is a fun way to get excited for the next season. However, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. Some preseason questions will be answered, but it is important to wait until the season begins to truly assess this team. Not too much can really be gained from watching what is essentially a glorified scrimmage, but it will provide an important first look for fans at the newest additions to the team. These are some of the most important things — and players — to keep an eye on in the game.

DILLON GABRIEL VS. DANTE MOORE

It seems like forever ago now, but there was a point where Bo Nix took the field opposite Ty Thompson to fight for the starting quarterback job. Of course, that matchup — similar to this year’s — had one quarterback that seemed poised to get the start the following year. Gabriel seems to have the starting job locked up heading into next season, but Moore is a promising young quarterback who will have a chance to show what he can do when given the keys to the offense. For a quarterback room that seemed to be lacking talent with the departure of Nix before the transfer portal opened, it is a good problem to have that someone as talented as Moore will be the backup for Oregon. Watching the two quarterbacks duel in a less-than-competitive environment will be the first glimpse that the Oregon faithful have at either, and both will be looking to wow their new fan base in their first appearances at Autzen Stadium.

JABBAR MUHAMMAD

The premier transfer portal acquisition for the Ducks was stealing Muhammad from the Washington Huskies. He will help improve an already solid Oregon secondary. Lining up across from the best receiver on the other side of the scrimmage will put Muhammad straight into the fire with a chance to show what he is made of.

The Ducks have had a number of great players come through their secondary in the last few years, and Muhammad seems like he could be the latest in that list.

ATTICUS SAPPINGTON

Sappington will take over as the kicker for Oregon after Camden Lewis graduated. He will be playing both sides of the ball, taking all extra points and field goals for both Team Yellow and Team Green. That means he will have twice as many attempts as he would in an average game. Although it will be his teammates trying to block his kicks, and a less enthusiastic crowd than it will be come fall, the spring game will be the first real game experience that Sappington will have in a Ducks uniform.

Oregon showed just how important having a reliable kicker is last season when Lewis was unable to bail out the offense after some late game struggles in both games against Washington. However, those calculated risks that head coach Dan Lanning seems to love will be a whole lot safer if Sappington can be relied on to come up clutch if needed.

REPLACEMENTS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE

Losing a player like Jackson Powers-Johnson — who will likely be drafted in an early round of the NFL Draft — is a tough loss for the Ducks on the line. While Powers-Johnson was the main loss up front, he leaves a massive hole to be filled for an Oregon unit that was one of the best in the country last season. Who the Ducks will trust to take over at center to anchor that unit will be important to watch for in the game.

If Oregon wants to replicate the success Nix had, setting up Gabriel with a stellar offensive line is an important first step. During his two years with the program, Nix had two incredible offensive lines keeping him safe. Luckily, there will be a lot of continuity this season on the offensive line, so filling the holes should not be too hard.

Quarterback Dante Moore (5) looks to throw the ball down the field. The Oregon Ducks football team took the field at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex for a practice in Eugene, Ore. on April 18, 2023. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)

BASSO’S ROAD TO EUGENE

BY JACK LAZARUS • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

As the Ducks begin another season as title contenders, Luke Basso remains one of the Ducks’ best, but least talked about, pieces

Luke Basso (43) looks to his teammates as practice begins. The Oregon Ducks football team took the field at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex for a practice in Eugene, Ore. on April 18, 2023. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)

When someone asks you to think of a football player, what position do you think of?

Most will say quarterback, wide receiver or running back. Maybe a linebacker, kicker or cornerback.

Across all three facets of the game, in 25 positions, the last one you’d name is the most niche: the long snapper.

That logic also applies when talking about Oregon’s star-studded roster. With big names like Tez Johnson and Dillon Gabriel, someone like Luke Basso flies under the radar. Basso, Oregon’s long snapper, is renowned by teammates and those close to the Ducks for his elite yet very specific talent.

As a Lake Oswego native, Basso wanted to play for the Ducks for as long as he could remember. However, his route was not typical. As a sophomore, Basso couldn’t even spot a long snapper on the field.

“I didn’t even know what a long snapper was,” Basso said. “I thought up until my sophomore year of high school that the long snapper was the center who just had to do it.”

As a reliable linebacker at the high school level, he never even imagined he would be changing positions — that was until his Lakeridge High School head coach approached him.

“One day at varsity football practice, one of my coaches came up to me and said ‘Hey, we need a long snapper next year for varsity,’” Basso said, “so he just asked me because he assumed I knew how to snap.”

Basso had no experience snapping. He had played a small amount of center in middle school, and noted how he was always slightly talented with snapping a ball. So, Basso, along with the guidance of his father, decided to give it a shot.

“My dad was a receiver, and he played for Lewis and Clark [College] … he just supported me and would always catch for me,” Basso said. “Whenever we would go out on the field, he would help me with my technique and made sure I was ready to go.”

His talent translated to getting a few looks, but nothing major except an invite to a recruiting camp for long snappers.

“I went to a camp called Rubio Long Snapping,

and at this camp, you get starred [and] you get ranked … [based] off of your speed and your spirals and accuracy [and] athleticism,” Basso said. “I went and I loved it and I did well. It felt like it was something natural.”

It was more than natural.

“Basso was very solid at the Rubio Long Snapping Fall Camp in WA on Oct. 20, 2019. First off, he has one of the best attitudes you will ever see,” the Rubio Camp’s official website said. “Basso is literally always smiling. His ball might be the smoothest in his class. Form is good and will be great once he gets fully set … great potential on Basso.”

What was most important about this experience was being named a six-star long snapper by the camp’s official rankings — the highest classification given.

“A six-star long snapper is someone that’s consistent — the understanding of it is able to play right away,” Basso said. “Someone that’s agile, someone that can snap hard, snap fast and snap well.”

It was only a matter of time before the national powerhouses started reaching out, but Basso had his heart set on one school — his beloved Ducks.

“UO got involved my junior or senior year. I reached out to the special teams coordinator at the time and just kinda gave it a shot. I knew Oregon was where I wanted to be,” Basso said. “I called, I texted [and] I reached out on Twitter.”

By December of 2020, the Oregonian got that offer, and within a week, he accepted — officially fulfilling his dream.

After two seasons on the sidelines, Basso finally got his chance in 2023 as a redshirt sophomore. He became the fourth long snapper at Oregon since 2014, so the position has been in great hands for the last decade.

The passing of the torch ended up as smooth as it could have been, as Basso settled in much better than his predecessors had.

In 2023, Basso snapped in all 14 games, reaching 10 snaps in three separate games and totaling 115 snaps throughout the season.

Long snapping is precise work, as the margins for comparison often range within hundredths of seconds. According to the Rubio Camp, Division-1

programs generally aim for snap times (the time between the snap and hitting the kicker or punter’s hands) under 0.78 seconds. At the same time, snappers cannot sacrifice even a quarterinch of accuracy.

Basso rarely fails to hit those marks consistently and has remained accurate throughout his time in Eugene. He has also come to love his day-to-day — a lot of which includes some more menial tasks.

“Practices are two to two and [a] half hours long, so while we’re out there, we’re trying to make sure we stay warm, not get distracted, but help out however we can and just do our jobs,” Basso said. “Sometimes it’s helping out other periods, or helping out by assisting our coaches doing drills. A lot of times we’re stretching … warming up the punters.”

There’s only so much time a team can afford to devote to special teams in a given practice, so the specialists have to go to the field half an hour before practice starts in order to get a sufficient amount of reps.

“We go out in the morning early,” Basso said. “We warm up with the other snappers and punters and just get ready for our opportunities in the day.”

Basso’s poise translates off the field, as his inactivity has forced him to really appreciate being able to do anything he can for the team. Whether that be his usual snapping duty or, as Basso remembered, receiving three-yard flat routes at tight end, he does it without hesitation and with enthusiasm.

“The most fun is when I’m in a neutral state, not getting too high, not getting too low and just reminding myself that every person I’m working with is a friend of mine,” Basso said.

The long snapper is the underrated hero of any football team, but Basso shines above the rest, which is something you’d never gather from speaking to him.

“You can’t let the moment be bigger than it is,” Basso said, “and you just have to be where your feet are.”

Luke Basso (43) snaps the ball to his teammate. The Oregon Ducks football team took the field at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex for a practice in Eugene, Ore. on April 18, 2023. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)

MARCUS HARPER II’S UNCONVENTIONAL PATH TO FOOTBALL

BY JOSEPH KRASNOWSKI • DESIGNED BY ADALEAH CARMAN

The initial task was questioning Marcus Harper II on how Oregon was adjusting in Jackson PowersJohnson’s absence.

See, Powers-Johnson or “JPJ” wasn’t just the team’s Rimington — best center in the nation — award winner. He was the strength of the Ducks.

One moment he could be on a mean-streak, laying down one of his patented pancake blocks. The next he could be running across the end-zone with his arms spread wide like a sprinter.

“I like to practice breaking the tape because I think I’m fast,” Oregon’s 6-foot-3, 320-pound former center said of his photo finish, “If the Oregon track team wants me I think I’d be good at the 100 meter or shotput … I think if there was a ten meter I’d be good at that one too.”

Mean, gritty but full of personality. Those simple but brutish wings on Oregon’s helmets? That was him.

But to learn about Harper II and the rest of Oregon’s o-line’s adjustment to “Big Jax’s” absence, Tom Cicero would have to temporarily take center stage.

Entering high school, Harper II had never played football.

His parents had enrolled him in any and everything, but didn’t want him to play the sport until high school, and —quite simply — Illinois is a basketball state.

“Around like sixth and seventh grade, I was just itching to play football.” Harper II said with a smile.

Starting freshman year, Harper’s itch finally went away, but it’s safe to say his transition to football wasn’t seamless….in more than a few ways.

“The first time I put my pads on, my helmet

MARCUS HARPER II HAD NEVER PLAYED THE SPORT — THEN HE MET TOM CICERO

buckle was all the way up to my forehead. It was so bad, I was very new to the sport,” Harper II said with a laugh.

That’s where Cicero comes in, the offensive line coach at Homewood-Flossmoor High School took the then-freshman Harper II under his wing.

He made 15-year-old Harper II sit and watch practices and become a “sponge” for information. Harper II describes Cicero as a “great fundamentals and technique coach,” something key in his success now in Eugene. However, Harper II also admits Cicero could be “crazy hard on him.”

“I had never been in the football world,” Harper II said. “Obviously I’m thankful for it now, but when I was 15, 16, I hated it.”

Harper II saw varsity playing time his sophomore year and took off, earning his first D-1 offers. His third season? Oregon came calling and once he visited it was a “no-brainer” to commit.

“He knew what I was capable of,” Harper II said of his former coach, “When I didn’t even know what I was capable of.”

It wasn’t always easy for Harper II — being a second-year on varsity tends to be difficult — but Cicero always believed in him.

“One, you didn’t have to do that,” Harper II said. “Two, there were times I wanted to give up on myself and he wouldn’t budge, he wouldn’t give up on me, he explained why, but I’m honestly glad he didn’t.”

Fast forward to 2024, Harper II recorded an outstanding 81.1 Pro Football Focus passblocking number in 2023, a number he looks to improve on but knows wouldn’t be possible without his former coach.

“Any chance I get, I want to say, ‘I really appreciate you,’” Harper II said. “No one in my

family knew how to mold me, he saw a raw guy and took me and molded me into the offensive lineman I am today. He laid down that foundation of what it looks like.”

Now back in Eugene for his senior season, Harper II hopes to get to “phase three” of his development.

Harper is regaled for his personality and frequently greets reporters with a smile. All 320 pounds — a weight that he is experimenting with this spring to see what benefits his style of play most — of him, standing above average-sized humans.

He’ll talk about Iapani (Poncho) Laloulu’s impressive emergence as a freshman, and how he expects a big step out of his play in his senior season. He’ll be sure to mention that the o-line will be fine, regardless of JPJ’s absence. But most of all he’ll smile, laugh and “always make sure to thank Cicero for what’s gotten him here.”

This is who Harper II is, an easygoing person with a job meant for maniacs. A huge dude with a big smile who loves to hit other people.

And talk about the man that has gotten him to this point.

“I love him,” Harper II said of Cicero. “And I think he loves me too.”

“I

Marcus Harper II (55) drops back to defend against the pass rush. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the University of Washington Huskies in an away match at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Oct. 14, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

BIG CHANGES COMING

Previewing the 2024 Oregon football coaching staff

A new era of Oregon football is upon us.

The Ducks will play in a new conference in 2024 with a new starting quarterback. Among other changes, Oregon will welcome a handful of new faces in the coaching staff — while old ones will take on new roles.

It’s time to break down the names that are exiting head coach Dan Lanning’s staff and find out who’s coming in ahead of the 2024 Spring Game.

OUT: CARLOS LOCKLYN

Locklyn joined the coaching staff in January 2022, shortly after Lanning took over as head coach. He announced during spring training that he’s leaving the Ducks for Ohio State University.

Locklyn played a part in bringing in Bucky Irving from the University of Minnesota and Noah Whittington from Western Kentucky University. Jordan James, Jayden Limar and Dante Dowdell were other running backs that he helped sign. Oregon was ranked top 30 nationally in rushing yards per game in Locklyn’s two seasons. It led the Pac-12 in total rushing yards in 2023 under Locklyn’s guidance.

IN: RA’SHAAD SAMPLES

Samples will take over as running back coach following Locklyn’s departure. Samples previously served as the wide receiver coach at Arizona State in 2023. He also worked as the running back coach for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

Samples already has quite the resume at only 29 years old. He played a key role in the development of Rams’ Kyren Williams who ended up in the NFL Pro Bowl last season. He also assisted receiver Elijah Badger to an all-Pac-12 honorable mention.

Now, he’ll inherit a deep running back room.

“I think we’ve just got to continue to be detail-oriented, be detail-focused and build on our weaknesses,” Samples said at practice. “We talk about being the first ones on the field and one of the last ones off.”

Samples said that the depth of the Oregon coaching staff influenced his decision to come to Eugene. He’s expressed the desire to become a head coach somewhere in the future.

OUT: DEMETRICE MARTIN

BY LILY CRANE • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

Like Locklyn, the Ducks will see Martin on the opposite sidelines in 2024. Martin is departing for Michigan State University after two seasons as the cornerbacks coach.

Martin coached five different Pac-12 programs throughout the years. He coached Evan Williams, Khyree Jackson and 2023 NFL first rounder Christian Gonzalez at Oregon. Ultimately, he left the Ducks for the same position at his alma mater. Oregon has big shoes to fill since he took on the role of both cornerbacks coach and passing game coordinator.

PROMOTING: RASHAD WADOOD, BRIAN MICHALOWSKI AND CHRIS HAMPTON

Wadood is taking on an increased role of working with the cornerbacks after Martin’s exit. He was one of the graduate assistants in 2023. Wadood first joined the staff as the director of community engagement in 2022. He worked with the cornerbacks last season but will take on a bigger role with the unit.

Hampton spent last season as the safeties coach, but will have an expanded role coaching all the defensive backs. He entered the program in 2023 after a couple of years as the defensive coordinator at Tulane University. He’ll maintain his role as co-defensive coordinator for the Ducks.

Michalowski served as the defensive analyst in 2023, but was promoted to inside linebackers coach. He previously was the outside linebacker coach at Colorado for three years. Michalowski also worked with Lanning earlier in his career at a few different programs. One program that they were both graduate assistants for was ASU back when Wadood played there.

“In terms of our defensive staff chemistry, we have a lot of continuity,” Michalowski said at practice. “We worked incredibly well together last year and just really look forward to continuing that build this year with coach Tosh [Lupoi] and coach Hamp[ton] and the rest of the defensive staff.”

Other names such as former Oregon lineman Ryan Walk and defensive analyst Kamran Araghi will join the staff in graduate assistant roles. A handful of names have moved in and out of the coaching staff since Lanning took over as head coach, but he seems to only see it as a positive move forward.

“Transitions give you an opportunity to get better, right? So that’s our goal,” Lanning said after practice on April 2. “We’re gonna go get better. We’re going to bring some men in here who can do a really good job with our organization. We got a lot of young coaches right now in our organization that do an unbelievable job.”

Head coach Dan Lanning watches his team warm up. The Oregon Ducks football team took on the Washington State Cougars on Oct. 21, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)

RISE OF THE RECEIVER

With the Ducks on their way to the Big Ten, Oregon’s receiving core will take center stage

BY OWEN MURRAY

DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

There’s always one position in the spotlight.

Last year, it was all about the quarterbacks. The Pac-12 was full of them: a movie-like combination of Heisman candidates, playoff engineers — or perhaps the architects of a team’s downfall. The QB. The signal caller. The man. There was no one, no position, that could hold a candle to their influence.

But it’s a new year, and this time, there’s a new position on the football throne.

Offense is in demand more than ever. Those quarterbacks who rose so far above the rest have departed for professional pastures. Oregon’s move to the Big Ten has dropped the Ducks in the middle of a wideout powerhouse — a year removed from Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Troy Franklin, it’ll be on the new crew to push the Ducks into a successful first year.

Make no mistake: This conference is built in the trenches and along the line of scrimmage, but it’s defined out wide. It demands points, necessitates explosive plays and presents the stage for the receivers to shine.

Yes, Franklin — purveyor of arguably the best single season by a receiver in Oregon history — is gone. Admittedly, so is the quarterback who got him there.

Oregon doesn’t care.

It retained veteran receiver Tez Johnson, who will eat up targets after a 1,182-yard, 10-touchdown year. It went to the portal and got the best wideout

available in former Texas A&M standout Evan Stewart. Nearly every single receiver who made Oregon either No. 1 or No. 2 nationally in total offense, scoring offense, passing offense, first downs and yards per play (per USA Today) is back. Everyone in Oregon (and a growing number nationwide) is flaunting this as the best wide receiver core in the country.

“Our receiver room is definitely loaded,” fourth-year wideout Traeshon Holden told GoDucks. “All that matters is going out there [and] competing everyday. I’m going to come out there and be the same every day — give it all I got. Our whole room is a family.”

A family they are: Transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel took the offensive group to California in the spring to work through the playbook, Holden said, and their connection was obvious.

“It’s important because it’s continuity,” Gabriel told GoDucks. “You’ve got to be able to create connection off the field to be able to have it on the field. There’s [also] a lot of veterans in this offensive unit, and they knew the time is not on our hands and we’ve got to make the most of it.”

First in line was Stewart, the A&M transfer. “Evan [comes] to work every day,” Holden said. “He’s still learning the plays, but he’s definitely a ball player. I love watching him work. We’re going to be real good — that’s all I’ve got to say.”

And Stewart is the headliner, but behind himself and Johnson are a bevy of pure athletes waiting to make their big play. Holden is joined

in the room by Gary Bryant Jr., former 5-star recruit Jurrion Dickey, Ohio State flip Jeremiah McClellan and more.

“Talent’s not going to be our limitation,” Gabriel said. “To us, it’s always ‘How can you be one-up in the mental game?’ [It’s] knowing your job cold, whether it’s on the fly [or] pre-snap communication, I think that’s something that you can never be too good at.”

On Saturday, it’ll be a rare opportunity to see most (if not all) of Gabriel’s options in one day. As Oregon pits two teams against each other in a scrimmage, keep an eye on who’s getting targets out of that secondary group. It’s anyone’s game — and one that the Ducks are looking to win early and grab an advantage in their new conference.

There’s four true freshmen on the spring roster as well — that’s McClellan (11), Dillon Gresham (80), Ryan Pellum (81) and Jack Ressler (84). They’re competing against the upperclassmen for a slot on the fall roster, and the spring game is one more chance for them to strut their stuff.

They’re here, like every receiver in the conference, to make big plays. It’s what this year is going to be about, and it’ll get to that point in conference play. For now, though, relax and watch the preview of this year’s best picture: Rise of the Receiver.

Washington State defensive back Sam Lockett III (0) dives to tackle Oregon’s Tez Johnson (15). The Oregon Ducks football team took on the Washington State Cougars on Oct. 21, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)

OREGON RUNNING BACKS, NEW COACH RA’SHAAD SAMPLES LEARN TOGETHER

After the departure of Carlos Locklyn for Ohio State, the Ducks’ backfield is ready to get even better alongside a new mentor

Spring is the time for cleaning house, and for Oregon football that has meant enduring changes to a staff that managed a successful 2023 and finding new faces among a crowded preseason.

The Ducks managed to retain most of their staff from last season’s 12-win outing. Head coach Dan Lanning announced that he would stay amidst rumors of a move to Tuscaloosa, and highlytouted offensive coordinator Will Stein remains on the sidelines at Autzen Stadium.

The piece Oregon has lost, however, is former running backs coach Carlos Locklyn. The former tailbacks’ leader spent two years in Eugene and ruffled a few feathers on his way out. Lanning and his staff acted quickly, though, and picked up a replacement: Ra’Shaad Samples from Arizona State.

“You always lean on relationships of people who know guys,” Lanning told GoDucks. “There’s several guys on our staff who knew Ra’Shaad well … Will [Stein]’s worked with him, [tight ends coach] Drew [Mehringer]’s worked with him in the past. We spent a lot of time trying to find the right guy.”

And take time they did. The position was vacant for nearly a week in the middle of spring practices between Locklyn’s departure and Samples’ arrival. For Lanning, though, the wait was worth it.

“The pieces that he adds to our program — his experience, even as a young up-and-comer [and] the multitude of positions he’s worked

with made him a really great fit for us,” he said after Samples’ first day.

The Texan is only 29 years old — after his career as a collegiate wide receiver was curtailed by concussions, he turned to the sideline. He rose through the ranks at Southern Methodist University. After starting as a recruiter, he became the running backs coach and eventually assistant head coach in under two years. He’s got pro experience, too. Between stints at Texas Christian University and ASU, he spent 2022 with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams as their tailbacks position coach.

“Being with Sean for that year was invaluable,” Samples said. “I got to work with [Rams running back] Kyren Williams, I got to teach how different guys look and what you want going towards the next level.”

“I’ve said it before: You can’t eat an elephant in one bite,” Lanning said, mentioning that Samples was already watching film on his flight up. “He’s going to learn as quick as he can.”

Samples is fully bought in.

“You don’t sleep,” he told GoDucks. “You just be relentless about your approach — you spend all night here and then you wake up and you come here early in the morning. You use the outlets you have, you lean on the players, you lean on the coaches and you just spend the time grinding.”

He’ll have a strong backfield to teach. Despite losing feature back Bucky Irving to the NFL Draft, the Ducks return junior Jordan James and redshirt junior Noah Whittington. Oregon

BY OWEN MURRAY DESIGNED BY ADALEAH CARMAN

also picked up transfer Jay Harris, a Division II All-American with Northwest Missouri State, to compete with second-year back Jayden Limar and a bevy of freshmen.

“We’ve had to work through it,” James told GoDucks. “Obviously, with the unexpected loss of Coach Lock, but I think we’ve done a great job within ourselves, holding each other accountable and still doing the things we’re supposed to do.”

James rushed for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023 after taking over the role of coconspirator to Irving in the wake of Whittington’s Week 4 injury.

“He knows what he’s talking about,” James said. “He’s going to help us win games, [and] he’s going to help us get better at every aspect of our game. There’s not much of a change as far as the way we practice — I feel like we always practice with high intensity, but Coach Samp has definitely brought a different aspect of the game to us.”

For now, that means keeping an eye on who’s making waves. Both of the feature backs could potentially depart at season’s end for the NFL, and it’ll be a proving ground for those behind them.

In Saturday’s scrimmage, keep an eye out for who’s in favor and what looks Samples might offer. Whittington and James are expected to carry the bulk of the load, but with a packed season — potentially longer than most in recent history — on the horizon, it seems inevitable that backs like Harris and Limar will see ample time as the Ducks prepare for the 2024 season.

The Duck poses for a picture. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinals in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

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RUTH: WAY TOO EARLY BIG TEN FOOTBALL HIERARCHY

As spring football comes and goes, which squads are built for success in 2024?

BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

New season, new team and new conference.

That’s the storyline for Oregon football right now, and it likely will be for quite some time. But as the Ducks spend spring football season preparing for a rigorous Big Ten slate, which of their opponents are the most formidable? I’ve constructed a hierarchy list with the four different tiers I see existing in the Big Ten in 2024.

THE JUGGERNAUTS: OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN, OREGON AND PENN STATE

This isn’t that bold of a claim, but I’ll state it anyway: the 2024 Big Ten Champion will be one of these four teams. Each of these squads is coming off a dominant, 10-plus-win season in 2023, and each has left its mark on the class of 2024 recruiting class. According to 247Sports, Oregon has the No. 3 2024 recruiting class, Ohio State is No. 5, Penn State ranks No. 15 and Michigan is No. 16.

Michigan, obviously, is coming off a 15-0 season that saw the Wolverines with the National Championship. While they’ve lost some major offensive pieces and their head coach, it would be foolish to think Michigan will be “down” next year. Ohio State and Oregon look like the most put-together teams in the conference, and their meeting at Autzen Stadium will be one of the biggest games in college football next season. It would also be foolish to sleep on the Nittany Lions in any given season. It’s fortunate they aren’t on the Ducks’ slate in 2024.

The Ducks look to be high in the conference’s standings, but should be aware of the realities that recent teams changing conferences have faced. The Big Ten is going to be a whole different beast. It may be a tameable one, but Oregon will have to be elite to survive its inaugural year.

THE RISERS: WISCONSIN, NEBRASKA, IOWA AND MINNESOTA

I’d be careful overlooking any of these four squads. Wisconsin will be in its second season under Luke Fickell and landed transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. Frankly, this is the road game that scares me most for Oregon next season. The Ducks will have to have it, and the Badgers will be a powerful team. Nebraska seems to finally be on the rise and has found its future in quarterback Dylan Raiola — the topranked quarterback in his class.

Iowa’s offense was a joke last season, so there’s really only one way for it to go. The defense will still be stifling. Minnesota had a down year last season, but head coach P.J. Fleck isn’t known for having consecutive losing seasons. The Golden Gophers played a lot of highcaliber teams tough last season.

THE FALL OFFS: WASHINGTON, RUTGERS, MARYLAND, USC AND NORTHWESTERN

Aside from USC, whose 2023 was comically underwhelming, these teams are all coming off pretty decent seasons. However, I see all of them taking a major step back in 2024. Washington is amidst a mass exodus of NFL draftees and NCAA transfers (heartbreaking, I know). The Huskies might be bowl-eligible in 2024 even after landing transfer quarterback Will Rogers. Caleb Williams is leaving USC and the Trojans’ championship window appears to have slammed shut. These two former Pac-12 squads are in for rude awakenings in their first seasons in the Big Ten.

Rutgers and Maryland had pretty decent seasons in 2024. However, Taulia Tagovailoa will be leaving the Terrapins and Rutgers has a brutal upcoming schedule. It’s hard for me to imagine either of these teams keeping stride with their impressive 2023 campaigns.

Northwestern may have been the biggest surprise of 2023. The Wildcats were supposed to be terrible and then they fired their coach amidst a scandal. Then, remarkably, they won eight games! It was a heartwarming season and storyline, but it’s not one that will repeat itself as the Big Ten expands.

THE BAD AND UGLY: PURDUE, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN STATE, INDIANA AND UCLA

These teams either suck, sucked last year or will suck this year. UCLA finds itself on the wrong side of the portal. Purdue, Illinois and Indiana seem to be stuck in football purgatory, refusing to take substantial steps toward complacency. Michigan State just landed former OSU head coach Jonathan Smith. I think time will show that it was a good signing for the Spartans, but I don’t see them taking any major steps in 2024.

Evan Williams (33) and Casey Rogers (98) celebrate following a big tackle. The Oregon Ducks football team took on the Washington State Cougars on Oct. 21, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)