Dante Moore and Gatlin Bair are already giving Oregon fans something to watch.
The Ducks posted a practice clip that showed Moore taking a shot downfield and Bair going up through traffic to haul in the throw over a defender. It was just one rep, but it offered a clean look at why the five-star receiver has been generating buzz since arriving in Eugene in January.
Bair came to Oregon in 2024 and then stepped away for an LDS mission, which pushed his debut back. That delay has only made his first months with the program more interesting, because the Ducks appear to be giving him plenty of work as they prepare him for 2026. Dan Lanning said Oregon has been putting practice in a game-like setting to help players like Bair get real reps.
"Making practice as much as possible like a game.... We split into a Combat group, a Fighting Ducks group.
We had teams, special teams operated as if it was a game. So a lot of that operation today was to help create that.
So those guys (Bair) have had a lot of snaps in practice and those have to qualify,” Lanning said.
That workload matters for a receiver who spent two years without live football reps. Jeremiah McClellan called Bair a "speed demon," and said the offense is starting to come together for him.
“He's starting to, the offense is starting to slow down for him. He's starting to know what he's doing on all of his assignments and things like that now. So, he's really growing right now, and he has to just keep growing," McClellan said.
Drew Mehringer has already pointed out that Bair still had rust to shake off, but he also praised his size, speed, strength, toughness and work ethic. Ross Douglas offered the strongest endorsement of all, making it clear the receiver’s physical tools jump off the field.
"He's big, he's fast, he can jump. There's not much he can't do athletically," Oregon wide receivers coach Ross Douglas said.
"You see it every single day; he's one of the best athletes on our team. He's in really good condition, so he can uphold that athleticism for a very long time and repeat those efforts.
It's incredible to see."
The speed is obvious. McClellan said Bair has been clocked bursting up to 24 MPH in practice, and that kind of juice is part of what makes the connection with Moore so intriguing. One throw in practice won’t lock in a role, but it does hint at what Oregon might have on its hands.
Bair’s path to snaps won’t be simple. He’s competing in a deep receiver room that includes McClellan, Evan Stewart, Dakorien Moore and Iverson Hooks.
But his profile is hard to miss. In high school, he posted 10.15 seconds in the 100 meters, 20.47 in the 200, plus a 22-4 long jump and 45-6.75 triple jump.
That athleticism has already carried over into his reputation beyond Eugene. Bair is rated as one of the fastest players in College Football 27, with a 99 speed rating.
He was also the No. 1 player in Idaho in his class. Bair originally committed to Boise State before backing off that pledge and announcing for Oregon in February of 2024.
His first chance to face the Broncos in a Ducks uniform comes on Sept. 5, when Oregon hosts Boise State at 12 p.m. PT in Autzen Stadium.
One practice catch doesn’t settle anything. But with Bair getting more snaps and Moore already showing trust in him on a deep ball, Oregon may be starting to see how dangerous that pairing could become.
In Other News...
Oregon Suddenly Has A New Concern With A Key Defender
Oregons preseason work brought a small but notable concern into focus when the programs social media account posted photos of EDGE/LB Nasir Wyatt practicing with a club on his right hand. The images immediately stood out because Wyatt is viewed as one of the Ducks key defensive pieces heading into the season, the kind of player Oregon wants available and sharp as it continues to sort out its defense.
Wyatt was still on the field, which is the encouraging part for Oregon, and it suggests the issue may not be serious enough to keep him out of action for long. Even so, any hand injury involving a defender whose value comes from playing with force and disruption bears watching, especially at this point in camp when the Ducks are trying to build toward the opener with as few unknowns as possible. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Camp Just Raised The Stakes For Boise State And Evan Stewart
Oregons second day of fall practice brought more than just another morning session on the calendar. Defensive coordinator Chris Hampton made it clear the Ducks are treating the season opener like a real game week, saying the defense wont be holding anything back against Boise State. For a team that has spent camp building routines and sharpening timing, the message suggests Oregon is already leaning into the urgency of Week 1 rather than easing into the season.
On the other side of that buildup is Evan Stewart, whose return from injury has become one of the more compelling storylines in camp. Safety Koi Perich, who has been bonding with teammates through a golf simulator in his garage, spoke highly of Stewart while noting the receiver is expected to play his first game in more than 600 days. For Oregon, that adds another layer to an opener that already feels bigger than a typical early-season matchup, even before the Ducks take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Dakorien Moore Is Forcing A Big Oregon Receiver Question
Dakorien Moore has already given Oregon a glimpse of why he arrived with so much buzz, and it has come even while he has been working through injuries. The freshman wide receiver has flashed enough in camp to keep the conversation around him moving, including a standout one-handed grab that served as a reminder of just how naturally explosive he can be.
For the Ducks, the bigger question is not whether Moore belongs in the mix, but how quickly he can push his way toward the front of a crowded receiver room. Oregon has plenty of talent at the position, yet Moores early promise suggests he could become more than just another young option if his health and development keep trending the right way. [Read more 🡒]