Which Pac-12 football teams have the most excitement this offseason?
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It can seem puzzling, standing in the semi-circle media scrum when former Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez has the floor. The outward aggression he showcases to overwhelm opponents on the football field just doesn’t match the persona he puts forth to the public.
It’s not that he detests public speaking, he’s just as laid back as they come. In fact, the whole Gonzalez crew is. Maybe not to the extent of Christian.
His older sister Samantha is the most “passionate” of the group, as their mom Temple described it. The youngest, Lily, is more outwardly spoken, as well. And the oldest, Melissa, is a lot like Christian.
“Nothing really rattles [Christian],” Samantha said. “We would always joke that nothing would embarrass him.”
As a man of few words, one might describe Christian as quiet. Samantha sees it as his maturity is beyond his years.
But they’ve surely seen the other side come out.
“I think when he’s playing football, he doesn’t look like a reserved, quiet kid,” Melissa said. “He’s aggressive. He’s leading his team. I think that’s when I see him really step into his personality. He knows when he needs to speak up, and it’s on the football field.”
They’ve also been the ones to extract that competitive side out of him.
Growing up with three sisters, two of whom have pursued successful track careers, and one who’s well on her way, there was a constant argument over who was the fastest of the four.
It was the first time Christian beat his sisters –– the last time they even had a chance.
“It was a crazy moment when our brother first beat us,” Samantha said. “For quite a while, my sister (Melissa) and I could still beat him, but toward when he was starting high school, that was when he really started gaining on us and starting to beat us and that was quite an experience.
Melissa added: “At that point, we were like, ‘Okay, he’s not our little, tiny brother anymore.’”
Melissa claims they haven’t raced much since.
That sibling rivalry never turned malicious. Instead, the Gonzalezs use what they learn from athletics and impart that knowledge onto one another. It’s been especially relevant to Christian throughout the last few months as he’s prepared for the NFL Draft.
It’s a process that included the NFL Combine and Pro Day at the University of Oregon — events meant to validate what he showed throughout the season, and what appears to scouts on tape. His physical tools and on-field abilities were tested and measured through a slew of challenges such as the 40-yard dash and individualized positional drills.
In no way do they mimic the mid-season practices that Christian experienced at Oregon.
“It’s a different type of training,” Christian said. “You’re going to train like a track athlete.”
Lucky for him, he had some experience, and some quality teachers. At the combine, he ran a blazing 4.38-second 40-yard dash, good for No. 6 at cornerback. And here’s the catch: both Melissa and Samantha think there’s vast room for improvement in his speed.
At Oregon, he played most snaps as a shadow cornerback, completely cutting the water off one side of the field, each game. He racked up four interceptions, seven pass-break-ups and was tied for second on the team with 35 solo tackles.
His speed and that physicality to wrap up a ball carrier helped vault him into being a potential top-10 draft prospect.
But even as his stats improved, and he moved to a school with a nationally-publicized footprint, Christian remained the same humble, reserved kid he’s always been. It’s exactly what NFL teams will get when one calls his name on April 27 during the first round of the draft.
Except when he’s leading them on the field — or competing with his siblings — that is.
Talk about Colorado is up. Washington State is slipping. Who else is getting attention in the Conference of Champions? Spring football season is here!
While it obviously doesn’t have the same glamor or excitement that the actual season does, spring football, scrimmages and games help coaches and players get a grasp of what the team looks like, what its strengths are and what might need some attention before September.
As each Pac-12 team looks ahead to the
BY BRADY RUTH • TWITTER @BRADYRUTH10
next season, it makes sense to talk about who’s getting the most attention and hype from the media and fans. Disclaimer: I’m not ranking off of talent here. This is purely about who’s on the radar and where the eyes of the nation fall.
Colorado Buffaloes
If you’re familiar with my writing, you know that I tend to be –– maybe unfairly –– harsh on my hometown Buffs. But head
coach Deion Sanders has single handedly changed the way that most college football fans look at Colorado. Now, I’m not one of the –– perhaps delusional –– fans that think the Buffaloes are immediate contenders for a conference championship, but Colorado is undoubtedly on the rise and will make headlines across the country over the next few seasons. The Buffs sold out their spring game, and it will be aired on ESPN as Colorado looks to build off a miserable 1-11
2022 season. Sanders’ squad can only work up, but it’ll be under the microscope in his first year at the helm.
Hype Rating: “I’m bringing my baggage” / 10
Lincoln Riley is entering his second season as the Trojans’ head coach and quarterback Caleb Williams is coming off a Heismanwinning season. There’s understandably a lot of hype around USC. Riley’s roster is still loaded. It’s USC’s final season in the Pac-12 and Williams is likely playing in his last collegiate season before he’s –– probably –– the most obvious No. 1 NFL Draft pick since Trevor Lawrence. Fox Sports talk show host Colin Cowherd was in attendance at USC’s spring game and he said in a Tweet that the Trojans are his pick to win the whole dang thing next year. 2023 is a farewell tour for both Williams and the Trojans in the conference. It’s possible that it’s boom or bust this season for USC, but Riley always seems to find a way to keep his squads relevant.
Hype Rating: 9.5 / 10
Last season, we got to see what Dan Lanning could do with a roster that wasn’t his recruiting class. Many of the rostered players were recruited here by former head coach Mario Cristobal. This season, Lanning’s first –– real –– recruiting class comes to Eugene. The Ducks had a phenomenal recruiting season and National Signing Day. The defense is bringing in some serious competitors to add to an already impressive team that won 10 games in 2022. Couple the new-look defense with one of the best offenses in Oregon’s recent memory, and you’ve got a team who’s ready to make a trip back to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Championship Game. There are still some small holes –– tight end Terrance Ferguson’s injury contributes to an already shallow TE room –– but the Ducks were up last year, and seemingly only got better.
Hype Rating: “Progrum” / 10
Many –– myself included –– believe Washington was just a few plays away from playing in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The Huskies are good. They were last year, and they will be this year. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is back and the Washington offense has landed some key transfers at wide receiver and running back. The Huskies scored the second most points in the conference last season (USC) and will likely continue to take steps forward in 2023. The Pac-12 may run through Seattle this season, and Washington is getting the attention that it deserves.
Hype Rating: I really hope they’re underwhelming, but they’re probably very good / 10
We’ve all seen the picture of former Oregon commit Dante Moore working out with NFL quarterbacks Trey Lance and Patrick Mahomes, right? Yeah… this recruit flip might come back to seriously bite the Ducks in the tail. Moore’s collegiate debut is highly anticipated, especially in a Chip
Kelly offense. UCLA is also preparing for its final Pac-12 season before it goes to the Big Ten with USC. The media is curious to see what the Bruins can achieve in Moore’s first season, and UCLA’s last shot at winning the Conference of Champions.
Hype Rating: 7.5 / 10
The Beavers were one of the main surprises of the 2022 college football season. Oregon State won 10 games and dominated Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl. It landed a key transfer from former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. I think the Beavers would be receiving a lot more hype if they weren’t in such a small market. As much as they love to boast that Corvallis is the “best college town in the Pac-12”, they don’t get the media attention that most of the conference gets. The Beavers will be good. Those that pay close attention to the conference know it. Head coach Jonathan Smith just signed a huge extension, and he will continue to make his team a force to be reckoned with in the Pac-12.
Hype Rating: 7 / 10
I’m surprised I haven’t heard more about the back-to-back Pac-12 Champs (and back-to-back Rose Bowl losers) during the offseason. But I feel like the Utes didn’t make a big splash during recruitment, and I have to think that by now, Pac-12 defenses will have figured out how to stop Cameron Rising right? …right? I think people expect Utah to be good, but there just isn’t much conversation surrounding the Utes. Everyone just knows what to expect from Utah by now: a solid team that’s beatable, but you’ll likely have to score 40 to do it,
Hype Rating: 6 (and Rising) / 10
Arizona State Sun Devils
Kenny Dillingham led one of college football’s most entertaining offenses at Oregon last fall as its offensive coordinator. Shortly after the Ducks lost to Oregon State, Dillingham announced that he would become the next head coach of the Sun Devils. So, I suppose there is some level of excitement and media hype around Arizona State, but for the most part this is still the same team that lost to Eastern Michigan and Stanford just a season ago. Dillingham
challenged students to sell out the ASU spring game. They didn’t come close. For now, it looks like the media is challenging Dillingham to give fans something to get excited about.
Hype Rating 5 / 10
Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats won five games last season –– as many as the previous three seasons combined –– and had one of the more surprising offenses in the conference. Arizona has landed some key transfers such as linebacker Justin Flowe from Oregon, and the defense should be better this year. I don’t think anyone expects the Wildcats to make a whole lot of noise in 2023, but they could mess around and make a bowl game or upset a contender and ruin their season.
Hype Rating: 4.5 / 10
Washington State Cougars
I haven’t heard much from Pullman during the offseason. Quarterback Cameron Ward is back, and the Cougars could be a solid team and win a bowl game in 2023. I think Wazzu –– like Oregon State –– is being undercovered by the media. This team could be fun to watch next season –– the Cougars certainly gave Oregon a run for its money in 2022 –– but I just haven’t heard any conversation surrounding them.
Hype Rating: 4 / 10
Stanford Cardinal
We’ve reached the teams that should be relegated from the conference. Outside of hiring new head coach Troy Taylor, I haven’t heard much about Stanford during the offseason and they have very little hype surrounding the program in 2023. “We will be champions here,” Taylor said in December 2022. Maybe he’s talking about Stanford women’s basketball? I think they should be solid again next year.
Hype Rating: 2 / 10
California Golden Bears
I dare you to try and name three Cal players without using Google. The Bears were bad last year –– they were the only team to lose to Colorado –– and they’ll be a bottom feeder again in 2023. Spring game attendance should reflect regular season attendance: empty and quiet.
Hype Rating: Yawn / 10
Not all Oregon Ducks football players succeed after their time in Eugene, but these guys did. Over several decades, the University of Oregon has been well-represented in the National Football League, but which have had the best careers?
In this top-five ranking, we’ll go through the best Duck talent the NFL has had to offer over the past several decades.
Disclaimer: These players are ranked on their NFL success thus far, not overall skill.
Fouts may be the oldest player on the list, but his feats should be among the last forgotten. He was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 1972 NFL draft, having spent 1970-1972 in Eugene. At the time of his decision to enter the draft, Fouts had ranked second in Pac-12 history in passing yards and total offense, only behind Jim Plunkett. He was inducted into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 1992.
In the NFL, Fouts was truly before his time. He was one of the first quarterbacks to master a pass-first scheme, led by revolutionary head coach Don Coryell. Due to his mastery of the “Air Coryell” scheme, Fouts managed to lead the NFL in passing yards four straight years, still a record to this day. The passing pioneer was rewarded with six Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro selections and was named a member of the NFL’s 1980s All-Decades Team. He’s also considered among the best quarterbacks to never win a Super Bowl.
Our first defensive lineman on the list is none other than Haloti Ngata. A torn ACL early on in his college career didn’t stop him from reaching his potential. He was still able to become arguably the most disruptive defensive lineman in the country during the time, racking up 107 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. This led to him becoming a consensus All-American and the Pac-10 defensive player of the year in 2005.
His college dominance got him selected No. 12 overall in the 2006 NFL draft. He went on to have a stellar career, becoming one of the league’s best run stuffers. In 2012, he was key to stopping a dominant 49er rushing offense en route to a Super Bowl victory. Throughout his 13-year career, Ngata was a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time First Team All-Pro and member of the Baltimore Ravens ring of honor.
One of the most iconic players in Ducks history lands at No. 3. While this take may catch heat for placing Herbert so low, it’s extremely impressive that he’s even on the list just three years into his professional career. The Eugene native played in all four seasons, proving more in each that he was among the most talented quarterbacks in the nation. In his senior year, he led the Ducks to a 12-2 record and a Rose Bowl win. Herbert took home the game’s offensive MVP with his three rushing touchdowns. All this was enough to get him drafted No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL draft. He burst onto the scene immediately, being named Offensive Rookie of the Year. All he’s done since then is prove that he’s among the best at the position in the whole league, effectively making his case to become one of the highest-paid players of all time.
Buckner lands at No. 4 on the list before his professional career is even close to being over. During his time at UO from 2012-2015 he solidified himself as an unstoppable force. Playing 12 games as a true freshman in 2012 foreshadowed how important he would be to the team. He continued to improve each year statistically, reaching career highs in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (17) as a senior in 2015. That same year he was voted the Pac-12 Defensive
Player of the Year by fellow coaches, joining Ngata as the only Ducks to ever win the award.
He went on to get selected No. 7 overall in the 2016 draft and lived up to the hype. He made his presence known in the interior, racking up 30.5 sacks during his stint in San Francisco. His success would lead him to sign the second highest-paid contract ever for a defensive tackle with the Indianapolis Colts. Entering his age-29 season, Buckner is still considered top five among his position.
5: Max Unger
He is possibly the least-known player on the list but one every Duck fan should know. While playing center for Oregon from 2005-2008, Unger was named First Team All-Pac-10 twice with a First Team AllAmerican selection in 2008. He started all four years during his time in Eugene. He later got selected by the Seattle Seahawks No. 49 overall in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. His blocking translated immediately into NFL success, which eventually landed him a contract in 2012 that made him one of the top five highest-paid centers in the league at the time. His run-blocking prowess in 2013 helped make Marshawn Lynch one of the most feared runners in the league and a Super Bowl champion that same year. Years later, he was part of a trade that sent himself to New Orleans and Jimmy Graham to Seattle. He retired in 2019 with the honors of being a three-time Pro Bowler, twotime First Team All-Pro and a 2013 Super Bowl champ.
Oregon wide receivers, Troy Franklin (11) and Khris Hutson (1), pose with the Holiday Bowl trophy during the postgame celebration. The Oregon Ducks face the North Carolina Tar Heels in the annual Holiday Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego, CA, on December 28th, 2022.
(Jonathan Suni, Emerald)
The performance of the Oregon offense in 2022 brought a buzz to Autzen Stadium. The additions of Dan Lanning as head coach and former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, as well as star quarterback Bo Nix via the transfer portal, brought about a new offensive scheme.
With several key players graduating or transferring and Will Stein taking the mantle of offensive coordinator, the offense will feature many new faces, but it won’t be lacking in talent.
The wide receiver position is one of the main areas of interest ahead of the 2023 spring game and fall season.
The Ducks lost a pair of 2022 receivers — Chase Cota to the NFL Draft, and Dont’e Thornton transferred to Tennessee — but with the arrival of freshmen and new players from the transfer portal, the depth at the position remains strong.
Troy Franklin and Kris Hutson return to the squad, while Traeshon Holden and Keyonteze “Tez” Johnson have arrived via the transfer portal. Redshirt freshman Kyler Kasper and 2023 commit Jurrion Dickey are other names who have an opportunity to contend for a big role in 2023.
Franklin is almost certainly a lock for a starting position in 2023. In 2022, he tallied 61 catches for 891 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He earned All-Pac-12 second-team honors.
Franklin is still working to elevate his game to an even higher level. Wide receiver coach Junior Adams said that Franklin was in the film room figuring out what to improve on as soon as the season was over. Franklin said that he’s trying to stay consistent in the things he did well last season while also honing in on the little errors.
Hutson is another returner from the 2022 season that will look to have a prominent role. He recorded 44 catches for 472 yards in 2022 for the Ducks.
While Hutson started in 10 of the 13 games in 2022, his starting spot isn’t guaranteed. His experience will likely still get him the nod, but the talented newcomers are vying for the start.
Both Adams and Nix said that Huston doesn’t shy away from the
competition. Like Franklin, Hutson appears to be taking the spring seriously and making steady improvements in his game to solidify his spot as a starter in the 2023 season.
Holden is one of the notable transfers at the position. He is coming from Alabama where he experienced playing in the National Championship in 2021 as well as an SEC championship. He started in five of his 10 appearances in 2022. He caught 25 passes for 331 yards and six touchdowns.
Holden transferred in December 2022, so Adams said that he is still getting acclimated to the Oregon offense. Adams said that he brings a wealth of experience having played in big games at Alabama. Adams also praised his work ethic, saying that Holden puts in the extra work to be great.
Johnson is the other portal addition at wide receiver transferring from Troy. Last season, he finished with 56 catches for 863 yards and four touchdowns.
“The cool thing about Tez is that he’s consistent,” Adams said. “What I mean by consistent is that he’s consistently the same person every day. He comes in at 6:30 a.m. He’s got a big smile on him.”
Johnson also has a close relationship with Nix. He was adopted by Nix’s parents and the two played together in high school. Despite their relationship, Nix shut down the idea of any favoritism with Johnson.
“The first thing that I did was call Troy Franklin and Kris and those guys and make sure, ‘Hey, we’re trying to provide competition in the room. We’re trying to provide explosive playmakers,’” Nix said. “The thing is, when you talk to a guy like Troy and Kris, they love that. They don’t shy away from it.”
In the era of the transfer portal, if there’s too much competition at a certain position a lot of players will transfer to a school where they can be the star. Instead, this Oregon group is embracing the competition.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Nix said. “When they’re getting better, we’re all getting better.”
College athletes at Oregon and across the nation are now able to make money off of their name. What does that mean for professional sports?
BY NINA-GRACE MONTES AND EMMA LOGANAcross the NCAA, athletes have opted to stay in college for as long as possible since the rise in NIL deals. With the resources that Division I programs provide to its athletes — such as training facilities, gear, nutritionists, tutors, etc. — they’re able to get everything they need, and a majority of the time, it’s free.
The odds of being drafted by a professional sports team currently sit at less than 10%, and the chances of having a successful career are even lower.
Recently, a lot of athletes have come out and said that they’re going to stay in college as long as possible because it doesn’t make sense for them to leave everything that they’re offered with their college team if they’re not being forced to. Louisiana State center Angel Reese, who made multiple headlines throughout the women’s March Madness tournament, said she’s not in a rush to make it to the WNBA.
“The money I’m making is more than some of the people that are in the league that might be top players,” Reese said.
Following North Carolina’s 2022 National Championship appearance, center Armando Bacot decided to stay in college after the tournament ended, despite scoring at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in the six tournament games and being projected to be drafted into the NBA.
“Usually, at the end of a Final Four run, your best players leave,” Bubba Cunningham, the athletic director for UNC, said. “In this case, NIL was the reason why he stayed.”
Since NIL has only been around for a few years, colleges are still learning how to adapt to it. Some recruits are solely looking for programs that will give them the most money, and more athletes are entering the transfer portal for the same reason.
With NIL being less than five years old, there are a lot of kinks that need to be worked out within the NCAA and college athletic programs. But, overall, allowing the athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness has given them more opportunities than before. Most of the money that they receive during college is more than they’ve seen in their lives, which allows them to help their families as well as provide comfort for being on their own for the first time.
“Ducks of a Feather” is a student-athlete brand supported by former and current Oregon athletes such as Marcus Mariota, Sabrina Ionescu, Haley Cruse Mitchell and Bo Nix. This brand was created by Oregon student athletes and proceeds of the sales go back to those same athletes.
“The Oregon brand has always stood for innovation and been immersed in culture, so it was natural for us to create the first unique online platform dedicated to representing and benefitting studentathletes,” Division Street CEO Rosemary St. Clair said about the creation
of this unique brand.
Ducks of a Feather was created in partnership with Division Street, a group of Oregon alumni and donors, including Phil Knight, to help Oregon athletes make the most of their brand.
Their consistent merch, which can be purchased at any time, includes black hoodies and shirts with a simple duck logo and writing, featuring the brand name. It has been popping up on campus, worn by students, fans and most of all supporters.
Ducks of a Feather recently collaborated with GOAT — a resale site — to drop a limited edition redesigned version of Nike Dunk Low. This limited edition shoe was made possible by Tinker Hatfield, Nike’s Vice President for Design and Special Products. Hatfield is one of the most legendary shoe designers because of his work creating numerous versions of the Air Jordan collection.
He brought his creativity back to his alma mater and helped to design multiple pairs of shoes with defining qualities specific to University of Oregon culture. There were only 1,000 pairs in this drop released exclusively through GOAT on April 10th and sold out quickly.
“I have such a passion for the school and the athletes — it’s a dream to work on something unique like this that directly supports them,” Hatfield said on his contribution to one of the first collections of Ducks of a Feather called Flying Formations.
This first collection was a collaboration with the Oregon football team and Hatfield where he created “one-of-one digital art pieces” that were based on the Oregon Duck logo. The NFT’s were represented on the tongue of limited special-edition Nike Air Max 1s.
These shoes were auctioned on the Ducks of a Feather website, and 70% of the revenue from the auction went to football athletes that were contracted to provide content. While 10% of the revenue went to Division Street which was distributed to other teams.
“We continue to focus on creative and distinct ways for Oregon athletes to monetize their brands, and we think Ducks of a Feather will serve as a long-term platform to do that,” St. Clair said about the Flying Formations collection.
Oregon football program has seen 26 players depart, while they’ve brought in 40 new scholarship athletes.
BY KEIJI PATTERSON TWITTER @PATTERSON_KEIJI105 tackles, 12.5 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, five pass deflections and an interception that he returned for a touchdown.
In 25 games for the Ole Miss Rebels, Johnson displayed a knack to find the football, as he secured 125 tackles — eight for a loss — four pass deflections, an interception and a sack. With Johnson enrolling this spring, he brings a wealth of high-level experience after playing in the SEC. Look for him to secure one of the safety spots along with veterans Bryan Addison, Steve Stephens and newcomer Evan Williams.
If that last name looks familiar, you don’t have to look too far into the Ducks’ archives to find his older brother Bennett’s highlights. The younger Williams posted 226 tackles, 12 pass deflections, four interceptions and forced fumbles in 33 career contests. The graduate transfer should be a major contributor in the secondary this fall. Duck fans witnessed his nose for the ball in his 10 tackles and one pass deflection performance in his 2020 matchup versus Oregon.
IOWA LINEBACKER - JESTIN JACOBS
Jacobs’ arrival to Eugene was a pleasant surprise after he shockingly entered the portal on Dec. 5, 2022. His departure was a big blow to the Hawkeye program, after his promising 53 tackles, two pass deflections, one interception and a forced fumble in his redshirt freshman season. He was on the 2022 Butkus Award preseason watch list before suffering a seasonending injury versus Rutgers. Look for Jacobs to prove his Butkus worth and perhaps deem himself worthy of an early round draft selection in 2024.
ALABAMA CORNERBACK - KHYREE JACKSON
When the clock hit zero in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022, the Oregon Ducks football team had closed the yearbook on the 2022 season, and opened a new one for 2023.
By this time, the Ducks had signed 27 prep recruits in their No. 8 ranked recruiting class and had begun looking at the transfer portal to get the athletes needed to fill their roster holes.
The 2022 team struggled to create a constant pass rush as they only secured 18 sacks, which made the defensive backfield cover for what felt like an eternity. They also saw their linebacking unit struggle in coverage.
As a whole, Oregon’s defense ranked outside of the FBS’ top-50 rankings. This doesn’t come as a surprise with the staff overhaul last year, however due to the pedigree of the defensive coaches there should be vast improvement this season and beyond.
While their offense was a bright spot in 2022, they often failed to get off the field with their 46% third down conversion rates. When they elected not to go for it on fourth down — which didn’t happen often — they punted for modest numbers, a mere 35.3 average.
Here’s how head coach Dan Lanning and staff have addressed these needs thus far (all colleges listed are players’ previous schools):
The former 5-star defensive lineman was a huge — literally and figuratively— addition for the Ducks program this offseason. Burch enrolled at Oregon for the winter quarter as he looks to dominate the trenches with returning starters Brandon Dorlus, Casey Rogers and Popo Aumavae, who returns from injury. In 34 games, he posted
Jackson fits the part physically with his 6-feet3, 197 pound frame. In minimal action for the Crimson Tide, Jackson contributed 14 tackles, two pass deflections and a sack. With Christian Gonzalez off to the NFL and Jalil Tucker in the transfer portal, look for Jackson to make a positive impact on the Ducks’ 2023 secondary as he competes with the likes of Dontae Manning, Jahlil Florence and Trikweze Bridges.
TROY WIDE RECEIVER - TEZ JOHNSON
In 2022, Johnson earned All-Sun Belt honors and was graded as the best group of five wide receivers by Pro Football Focus with his 874 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. The speedy slot receiver will add the ability to take the top off of a defense, as he gets reacquainted with his high school quarterback. Johnson is a native of Pinson, AL, like quarterback Bo Nix, his adopted brother.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. The reality is the base of our roster is our roster right now. We’ll certainly look to make additions if it fits… our culture and our scheme,” Lanning said. “We’re going to try to make our team better given the opportunity, but we also feel really good about the guys we have here right now.”
It is evident that Lanning has his eyes on prototypical athletes for his system and is always looking to improve in the ever changing landscape of modern college football.
Moving forward the Ducks could add to their special teams and tight end room, with there being three scholarship tight ends available this spring.
Tune into the 2023 Spring Game on April 29 where former Duck legends Marcus Mariota and Jevon Holland will be honorary coaches of the new-look Ducks. More importantly, several of Oregon’s 40 new scholarship recipients will be able to showcase their talents for the Autzen faithful.
