The No. 20 Oregon Ducks got exactly what they needed out of their 84-0 rout of Portland State: a chance to let the freshmen run. And several of them made the most of it.
For a team about to open Big Ten play with a top-25 matchup, that kind of breakout from the 2026 recruiting class lands at the right moment. Three offensive newcomers showed up in Pro Football Focus’ top-10 freshmen grades for Week 3, and all three turned in firsts in the win over the Vikings.
Receiver Messiah Hampton led the way with an 87.5 PFF grade, good for No. 2 among the top-rated freshmen in Week 3. Tight end Kendre Harrison checked in at No. 4 with an 83.7 grade, and running back Brandon Smith landed at No. 10 with a 76.4 rating.
Hampton was especially productive, catching six passes for 71 yards and scoring twice. His 11.8-yard average reflected how dangerous he was after the catch and down the field, and it marked a sharp jump after he recorded his first reception the previous week at Oklahoma State, finishing with three catches for 31 yards.
Harrison added four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown, averaging 13.3 yards per catch. Smith chipped in a rushing score of his own and finished with 71 yards on 16 carries.
The freshmen production didn’t stop there. Safety Jett Washington came away with two interceptions and forced a fumble, while cornerback Davon Benjamin picked off his first career pass after showing sticky coverage through the first two games.
Oregon also got positive signs from offensive linemen Tommy Tofi and Immanuel Iheanacho, who impressed in second-half snaps. Running back Tradarian Ball and receiver Brady Bidwell both found the end zone as well.
That wave of young contributors matters because Oregon may need them. Harrison and Hampton have already been called on with tight end Jamari Johnson and receiver Jeremiah McClellan dealing with injuries, and more confidence from the freshmen gives Dan Lanning and his staff more answers when the pressure rises.
The Ducks have seen this formula work before. In 2025, true freshmen stepped up when Oregon needed them most, including Dierre Hill Jr., who produced 94 yards of offense and a critical touchdown against No.
3 Penn State, and Brandon Finney Jr., who grabbed two interceptions against No. 4 Texas Tech.
Lanning pointed to Fox Crader as an example of how those early-game reps can pay off later. Speaking Monday before USC, he said, “I always think back to past experiences for us,” Lanning said during his Monday press conference ahead of USC.
“Fox Crader's a guy starting for us right now. At tackle a year ago, he got 10 reps in a Montana State game, right?”
“And then a couple weeks later, he's starting against USC. That's what you get.
You get game experience,” Lanning continued. “That's the first college game for a lot of players in our program.
The opportunity to evaluate that, and then there's things that we were attacking from the previous week that we said, ‘Hey, we have to be better at.’”
Now those freshmen get another stage. Oregon heads to the LA Memorial Colisieum on Saturday to face No. 12 USC, and the Ducks will be looking to see whether the confidence they built against Portland State carries into Big Ten play.
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For Oregon, the timing is worth watching because Stewart has the kind of presence that can change how an opposing offense has to operate inside. His return is not here yet, but the fact that it is moving in that direction gives USC another threat to consider as both teams head into a game with plenty riding on the early-season Big Ten race. [Read more 🡒]
Dante Moore Faces A Bigger Oregon Test Than Fans Wanted
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Now comes a different kind of pressure point with USC on deck, and it is one of those games where Oregon will need more than efficiency from its quarterback. Moore will have to elevate his play even as the line issues remain unresolved, because the Ducks are about to find out how much margin for error they really have when the opponent can force them to operate under stress. [Read more 🡒]