Draft Scout Oregon Player News, College Football: Oregon

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Oregon

Previous 15 Notes

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07/19/21 - Bo Nix, rSr/2024, Oregon + More +

Bo Nix said he has adjusted well to changes in the Auburn football coaching staff. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound junior quarterback said he is happy on what he sees so far from the Tigers under Bryan Harsin, who took the Auburn job after spending the last seven seasons as Boise State's coach. "I think I've adapted well," Nix said while attending the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls on Friday. "They've done a great job of coming in and focusing on what we can do and what we're good at. They are feeding the offense with the players that we have." Nix said he knows Harsin, a former Boise State quarterback, has a history of developing them. Harsin was the quarterbacks coach there from 2006-10 and worked with them when he was promoted, too. Boise State had four 3,000-yard passers (Taylor Tharp, Kellen Moore, Grant Hedrick and Brett Rypien) during that time.

Nix said he sees a lot of potential in Auburn's offensive attack. "I think we're going to have a good, solid and disciplined team," Nix said. "Offensively we are going to have a downhill rushing attack and an explosive passing game with some play action stuff. We'll rely on the running game to develop some stuff in the passing game." Nix said he grew as a passer in 2020. He completed 59.9% of his passes for 2,415 yards, 219.5 yards per game, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for seven touchdowns. "I've learned a lot from last season," Nix said. "I've had a lot of takeaways from the year that I can learn from. Most of it just being consistent and well-prepared and not taking anything for granted." - The News-Star

rSr/2024

QB Bo Nix, Oregon
News Source: The News-Star
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07/15/21 - Bo Nix, rSr/2024, Oregon + More +

Auburn quarterback Bo Nix has another new opportunity thanks to the NCAA's name, image and likeness rules, and this one is a family affair. Nix will host a quarterback skills camp at Pinson Valley High School on July 28. The camp will be for children from rising third graders to rising 12th graders with a cost of $80 per camper. Auburn offensive coordinator Mike Bobo outlined what he wants the Tigers' offense to look like this fall. Nix won't be the only one at his high school alma mater showing the campers how things are done. Nix's father, former Auburn quarterback and current Central-Phenix City head coach Patrick Nix, will also help lead the camp as well as Nix's younger brother Caleb, who is a rising senior at Central. Nix's grandfather Conrad, who won 300 games as a high school coach in Georgia and Alabama, will also help lead the camp. - Opelika-Auburn News

rSr/2024

QB Bo Nix, Oregon
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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07/09/21 - *Kayvon Thibodeaux, rSo/2022, Oregon + More +

As one of the top players in college football, it was only a matter of time before Kayvon Thibodeaux got in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy that's making waves across the sport. The star Oregon Ducks defensive end announced Tuesday evening he would be collaborating with Nike co-founder/CEO Phil Knight and shoe designer Tinker Hatfield to design non-fungible token (NFT) artwork. The first piece of artwork available is posted here. The listed rate is 0.045 Ethereum, which is a little over $100 in U.S. dollars.

The partnership between Thibodeaux, Knight, and Hatfield makes perfect sense considering Nike is the focal point of athletics for Oregon. It's a great investment for Nike, based locally in Washington County. Thibodeaux, in addition to being the former Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Pac-12 selection, is widely considered to be one of the top prospects for next year's NFL draft and one of the betting favorites for the Heisman. - The Oregonian

rSo/2022

DE *Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
News Source: The Oregonian
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07/03/21 - Bo Nix, rSr/2024, Oregon + More +

Thursday marked a new era in college athletics as college athletes took to social media to announce new endorsement deals made possible by the NCAA's new NIL laws. Auburn quarterback Bo Nix was among the first to strike a deal, posting an image with a bottle of Milo's sweet tea. Alabama fans took to social media quickly with jokes about the rival star and the Milo's brand. The comparison between the sweet tea at Tuscaloosa based Taco Casa and the Birmingham restaurant Milo's quickly took over social media. - Montgomery Advertiser

rSr/2024

QB Bo Nix, Oregon
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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07/03/21 - Traeshon Holden, rSr/2025, Oregon + More +

Alabama wide receiver Traeshon Holden became the first Tide football player to announce a marketing deal early Thursday morning, shortly after state and NCAA rules were loosened to allow college athletes to be paid for endorsements. Holden, a sophomore, posted a message to Instagram shortly after midnight saying he was partnering with Yoke gaming, an app that allows people to play video games with athletes. Former Notre Dame tight end Nic Weishar co-founded the company. Holden, who did not record any stats as a freshman last season, also announced a deal with a graphic designer on Instagram who edits photos for athletes and recruits. Teammate Agiye Hall, a freshman wide receiver, joined him later Thursday. Hall also announced he is being represented by Playmaker Talent for his business deals, which is allowed under new rules as long as the agency does not begin negotiating future professional contracts. The NFL Players Association reminded its certified agents of that stipulation in a memo Thursday. - Birmingham News

rSr/2025

WR Traeshon Holden, Oregon
News Source: Birmingham News
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06/25/21 - Anthony Brown Jr., rSr/2022, Oregon + More +

Anthony Brown will be attending the Manning Passing Academy. The Oregon senior is among the college quarterbacks who will serve as counselors on the campus of Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La. from July 15-18 for the 25th annual Manning Passing Academy. It will be the first time at the MPA for Brown, who threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 40 yards and two scores in Oregon's final two games of last season. - The Oregonian

rSr/2022

QB Anthony Brown Jr., Oregon
News Source: The Oregonian
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06/22/21 - Bo Nix, rSr/2024, Oregon + More +

According to SportsBettingDime's strength-of-schedule formula, Auburn has the third-toughest schedule in the nation behind only Arkansas and Kansas. Texas and Oklahoma State round out the five toughest schedules in the country; UTEP, meanwhile, has the nation's easiest schedule followed by Hawaii, Charlotte, Florida International and UTSA. SBD's rating system is based upon opponents' efficiency ratings from last season minus the production lost from the 2020 team along with recruiting rankings and major transfers added and lost. The formula is then adjusted for each game based upon home and road status.

Auburn opens the season with home games against Akron on Sept. 4 and Alabama State on Sept. 11 before traveling to face Penn State on Sept. 18. The Tigers then host Georgia State on Sept. 25 before traveling to LSU on Oct. 2, hosting Georgia on Oct. 9, traveling to Arkansas on Oct. 16 then having a bye week. The Tigers finish October with a home matchup against Ole Miss on Oct. 30 before traveling to Texas A&M on Nov. 6, hosting Mississippi State on Nov. 13, traveling to South Carolina on Nov. 20 then hosting Alabama for the Iron Bowl on Nov. 27. - Opelika-Auburn News

rSr/2024

QB Bo Nix, Oregon
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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06/18/21 - *Kayvon Thibodeaux, rSo/2022, Oregon + More +

Kayvon Thibodeaux is a preseason All-American. The Oregon edge rusher was named to the Walter Camp first team of preseason All-Americans on Thursday, the only Pac-12 player to receive the honor. Thibodeaux had 38 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and three pass breakups in seven games last season en route to being named an FWAA and AP All-American and winning the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12's top defensive lineman. It's the second straight year Thibodeaux, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound third-year sophomore, was named to the Walter Camp preseason All-America first team. - The Oregonian

rSo/2022

DE *Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
News Source: The Oregonian
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06/10/21 - Verone McKinley III, rJr/2022, Oregon + More +

McKinley had 41 tackles with two pass breakups, a forced fumble, recovered fumble and interception last season and if he hadn't missed time due to a targeting penalty, would've done even more. His football IQ is invaluable at the position and with new starters coming in at boundary corner and boundary safety, vital to Oregon's defense. McKinley will make the calls in the backfield and cover the most ground. "He's a coach on the field," safeties coach Marcel Yates said. "He's doing a good job with him being here and playing so much of not being - it's easy for a young man like him to say, 'OK I've been here I don't want to work hard.' For him he comes out every day and he works hard. He's learning the defense still but he knows it the best probably out of anybody in the room. That's always good to have somebody on the sideline helping us out." His size isn't a detriment but if McKinley were 2-3 inches taller he'd offer that much more by way of coverage. - The Oregonian

rJr/2022

FS Verone McKinley III, Oregon
News Source: The Oregonian
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06/01/21 - Mase Funa, rSr/2024, Oregon + More +

The schematic changes coming to Oregon's defense are less pronounced at the strong-side linebacker spot, where Mase Funa returns. The Sam linebacker plays on the boundary side in Tim DeRuyter's defense and is similar to the Stud end in Andy Avalos' system. There are some differences though. "I would say it would be more of the edge more so like 9 (techniques)," Funa said. "I feel like we're playing more of a true outside linebacker position with More Coverages, more drops, while also keeping our edge rush and playing inside on the 6 and (one spring practice) they also had us running in through the 3 tech."

Funa is a multi-year starter and gets somewhat overlooked compared to Kayvon Thibodeaux, Noah Sewell or Isaac Slade-Matautia but is in their same caliber of importance to the Ducks defense. Funa is one of Oregon's players who actually was more productive in the short 2020 season, with 31 tackles, than he was in 2019 (26) despite there being half as many games. That's due in large part to the increased number of reps and portion of snaps for Funa, who should be in for just as big a role this fall. "There's some similarities to it with Avalos' defense, but with all the new installs and everything else, I love it," Funa said of the new defense. - The Oregonian

rSr/2024

DE Mase Funa, Oregon
News Source: The Oregonian
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05/31/21 - Popo Aumavae, rSr/2024, Oregon + More +

Replacing a four-year starter is never easy and that's what Popo Aumavae will be asked to do for Oregon. Fortunately, this wasn't a plan hatched over a few months or via the transfer portal. The Ducks have loaded up the interior of their defensive line over the years in order to be ready to replace Jordon Scott, Austin Faoliu and others and Aumavae was among the early additions. He's had multiple years to play as the No. 2 nose tackle, closing 2019 strong and getting limited action last season. As important as Aumavae's readiness for the increased rep count will be at the top of the depth chart, the rotation behind him will be nearly as critical as several players vying to be on the two-deep have little game experience.

"These guys are truly competing," defensive line coach Joe Salave'a said. "We really have a real high competition going on within our defensive front room but it needs to be for us to grow and get to the level that we know we can be. That's the only way. Those guys have embraced that and they're helping each other, they're challenging each other." Aumavae had 10 tackles in just five games last season but there's not as much to make of his play in the short year until the last couple of weeks. He showed flashes of the kind of impact he can make as a starter during the 2019 season, when he had 15 stops with five for loss, including 3.5 sacks. - The Oregonian

rSr/2024

DT Popo Aumavae, Oregon
News Source: The Oregonian
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05/30/21 - Brandon Dorlus, rSr/2024, Oregon + More +

The interior of Oregon's defensive line is the position group seeing the biggest overhaul this offseason. Austin Faoliu and Jordon Scott are both gone, off to the NFL as undrafted free agents, and Brandon Dorlus is the most prominent contributor returning to a deep group of defensive tackles. Dorlus, whose 12 tackles were third among Ducks defensive tackles last season, offers a lot of flexibility. He can play anywhere from nose or shade all the way to a traditional end at 4i, 5 or 6 technique depending on the personnel grouping. Third-year redshirt-freshmen Kristian Williams and Keyon Ware-Hudson are both going to see significant increases in playing time and could be among the bigger contributors up front.

Dorlus had seven of his 12 tackles in Oregon's final three games, including both of his stops for loss and sack. He's quickly developed into one of UO's better interior linemen and a legitimate every-down player. His performance in the Pac-12 Championship game, mainly lined up against USC's Alijah Vera-Tucker, a first-round draft pick, was spectacular. For a former three-star recruit who the coaching staff more or less discovered thanks to recruiting Ge'mon Eaford out of the same high school, Dorlus is already outperforming his recruiting ranking. He was starting by the end of last season and should be the most widely-used defensive lineman on the roster next season. "Finally be part of the equation and to be counted on, it's a big responsibility but I think I'm ready for it," Dorlus said. "I can't wait for the season to start." In base, he'll play a 2i or 3 technique but Dorlus shouldn't leave the field on third-and-long and that wasn't said for Faoliu or Scott. - The Oregonian

rSr/2024

DT Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
News Source: The Oregonian
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05/30/21 - Dillon Gabriel, rSr/2025, Oregon + More +

Gabriel has averaged 3,611 passing yards through his first two seasons and it's safe to assume when he wraps up the 2021 campaign, he could wind up holding several of the school's career records. He cut his interception percentage from Year 1 (1.76%) to Year 2 (0.97%) in half while increasing his touchdown-to-interception ratio from 4.14 to 8. To put it in perspective, during his Heisman Trophy season in 2019, former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow's interception percentage was 1.14% and his touchdown-to-interception ratio was 10. Gabriel will be a junior so there's always a chance he returns in 2022 but another solid season could be enough to draw his interest at the next level. - Orlando Sentinel

rSr/2025

QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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05/19/21 - T.J. Bass, rSr/2023, Oregon + More +

One of the bigger changes to Oregon's starting lineup last season, T.J. Bass asserted himself at left guard despite a limited offseason and was a consistent performer in his first year as an FBS starter. Bass had the unenviable task of replacing Shane Lemieux, who was drafted higher than any of the graduating UO offensive linemen from 2019. Yet the junior college transfer was able to earn Pac-12 offensive lineman of the week in just his second game. Now Bass is one of six returning regular contributors up front and even without playing in the spring game it's evident that he'll remain a starter in the fall. Mario Cristobal's take..."T.J. Bass is a very physically dominant player. I think his name gets lost out there, he doesn't get much of the credit but he's really becoming something special." - The Oregonian

rSr/2023

OG T.J. Bass, Oregon
News Source: The Oregonian
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05/19/21 - Alex Forsyth, rSr/2023, Oregon + More +

Forsyth took over as the starter in the spring of 2020 and hasn't looked back. He makes the protection calls up front for a group that allowed 11 sacks over seven games, which ranked 29th nationally. Considering Oregon's entire line was new starters, that's an impressive debut albeit in a shortened season. However, there is room for improvement for the group. The Ducks didn't face three of the top five teams in the Pac-12 in sacks last season and their run protection is an area of emphasis this offseason. "We always say five men, one mind," Forsyth said. "You got to be on the same page. Whether I'm making the call the tackle has got to know why is he making that call versus what front. Everybody's got to know the holistic picture of everything if we want to be five minds as one. I think that's a big thing we're trying to emphasize this spring, five guys got to play as one. That's when we're most powerful."

Forsyth is a critical piece for Oregon to improve in those areas in 2021 and also in aiding Jonathan Denis and Jackson Powers-Johnson while they serve with the second and third-teams. Mario Cristobal's take..."Alex Forsyth, of course as a leader because he's a guy that's started for us. Dawson Jaramillo has done a really good job...The young guys still continuing to shine; Jonathan Denis, I got to single him out because he's jumped in there, him and Marcus Harper, at multiple positions and they are playing hard for playing time." - The Oregonian

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