Oregon freshman wide receiver Messiah Hampton was arrested Friday and is facing two felony charges tied to a police chase earlier this month, according to The Oregonian.
Hampton was booked into Lane County Jail on Friday afternoon, then released later that day, the jail confirmed to The Oregonian. The charges against him are attempting to elude police, along with one misdemeanor charge of reckless driving.
Springfield police said the case goes back to a high-speed pursuit on October 18, when two vehicles were chased and ultimately got away from officers. On Friday evening, Springfield Police deputy chief George Crolly said, “Mr. Hampton has been identified as the driver of one of the vehicles,” and added, “We are still working to identify the driver of the other vehicle.”
The same night also involved other Oregon players. Wide receiver Evan Stewart was arrested on DUI charges, though police said he is not a suspect in the abandoned-car case from the chase. Tight end Jamari Johnson was cited for speeding, but police confirmed he is not a suspect either.
Hampton’s arrest came on the same day Oregon listed him as OUT on its availability report ahead of Saturday’s game against Northwestern. He joins wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan and quarterback Dante Moore on that list.
On the field, Hampton has been one of Oregon’s more productive freshmen this season. He ranks sixth on the team with 18 catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns. His strongest outing came against Portland State, when he hauled in six passes for 71 yards and both of those scores.
Hampton entered Oregon as a four-star recruit from Rochester (NY) James Monroe. The 6-foot-1 receiver was ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 148 player in the 2026 class and the top-ranked player in New York. He had drawn interest from Penn State and Miami before committing to Dan Lanning and the Ducks.
Oregon enters the Northwestern game at 4-3, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
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Oregon Fans Now Wait For The Programs Response To Messiah Hampton
Messiah Hamptons arrest has put Oregon in an uncomfortable spot as the Ducks sort through the fallout from a case that began with a high-speed chase in Springfield on Oct. 18. The freshman wide receiver was booked on charges of reckless driving and eluding police after being identified as the driver of one of the vehicles involved, and he has since been released from the Lane County Jail.
For Oregon, the next question is how the program chooses to respond to a situation that now sits well beyond the field. Other Ducks players were mentioned in connection with the incident, but they are not considered suspects, leaving Hampton as the central figure in a developing story that could still bring further attention from the school. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Thin Offense Just Took Another Troubling Late-Season Hit
Oregons already thin offensive depth took another jolt this week when freshman wide receiver Messiah Hampton was arrested by Springfield police on charges that include two felony counts of attempting to elude police and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving. The arrest stems from a high-speed chase on Oct. 18, and it comes at a time when the Ducks are trying to piece together an offense that has already been dealing with injuries and the disruption of coaching changes.
Hampton has been ruled out for Oregons upcoming game, leaving the Ducks with one less option as they try to keep the late-season offense on track. For a team that has had to manage personnel turnover and a shrinking margin for error, losing another young receiver only adds to the challenge of getting through the final stretch intact. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Ground Game Just Took Another Scary Turn
Oregons offense was already navigating a thin margin, and the ground game took another hit in the first half against Northwestern when Jordon Davison left the field with an injury and headed to the locker room. Before exiting, Davison had 17 yards on three carries, giving the Ducks another reason to keep an eye on a backfield that has been asked to absorb plenty of pressure.
The bigger concern is the broader picture around the offense, where Oregon is already dealing with multiple injuries at wide receiver and quarterback. With Davisons status unclear, the Ducks are left waiting on another key piece while trying to piece together enough healthy options to keep the attack moving. [Read more 🡒]