Fall camp is in the books for Oregon, and the Ducks are shifting fully into Boise State prep as the season opener approaches. With camp over, the real battle for snaps figures to move into the non-conference portion of the schedule.
That’s why Dan Lanning’s final camp media availability stood out. Coaches usually keep a tight lid on praise for young players, especially now with the Transfer Portal watching everything. Lanning did the opposite, openly highlighting a freshman receiver group that could give Oregon’s offense another layer.
When asked about the younger wideouts, Lanning pointed to the progress of several newcomers, including UAB transfer Iverson Hooks. He said: "Yeah, I mean, several of these guys are stepping up every single day.
I mean, I think Messiah's [Hampton] really come on the last few days. You know Jalen's [Lott] certainly had some flash plays that stick out.
Gatlin's [Bair] had those. I mean, there's several guys that have been able to do that.
Iverson [Hooks], I mean, all in all, we've got a really good group of wideouts. It's going to be, okay, how do we figure out how to use these guys to their best ability and, you know, where do they fall in?"
Dan Lanning
That kind of public praise is notable coming from Lanning, who has been clear that he usually avoids going too far when talking up players. He even told Pat McAfee that he normally sidesteps questions like that.
For Oregon, the encouraging part is obvious: Messiah Hampton, Jalen Lott and Gatlin Bair all sound like they’re making noise at the right time. The Ducks have already seen Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart and Jeremiah McClellan make plays in games, but the freshmen are still the unknowns until they actually get on the field.
The early burden will still fall on the returning receivers and Hooks, but the freshmen bring different tools to the mix. That matters on a roster chasing a National Championship, where depth and variety can turn a good offense into a dangerous one.
The real proving ground comes when the games start and the snaps are live. If any of the freshmen can earn Dante Moore’s trust, along with the coaching staff’s, there’s room for them to carve out a role. Malik Benson showed last season that the door is open for a young player who makes the most of his chances.
And if those freshmen can take even a little pressure off Evan Stewart, who is coming off a major injury, or Dakorien Moore, who has dealt with injuries, that could pay off in a big way over a long season.
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