Oregon’s first fall camp practice brought the usual buzz of a new season, but Dan Lanning made sure one newcomer stood out right away.
After Wednesday’s opening workout, the Ducks coach spoke with real energy about UAB transfer Iverson Hooks and what his speed could mean in Oregon’s slot receiver role. Lanning said the staff came into the search with a specific job in mind.
“We thought we were looking for somebody to play the A position for us, which is generally that. We weren’t necessarily looking for somebody that was smaller, right?”
He then pointed to the traits Hooks brings instead of focusing on size.
“Obviously, you could make that quick attribute. We were looking for somebody that had the play skill set that he has, and it's shown up.
He’s got shorter, quickness bursts. Those are the things that really paid off for us at that position in the past.”
That kind of burst is exactly why Hooks is getting early attention as Oregon builds toward its Sept. 5 season opener against Boise State at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks are entering 2026 with championship ambitions, and the receiver room is part of the reason optimism is so high.
Hooks joins a group that already includes Evan Stewart, Jeremiah McClellan and Dakorien Moore. Oregon believes all four can help shape one of the top receiving units in college football, with Hooks expected to bring a different kind of speed from the slot.
The comparisons have already started, too. Ahead of the opener, Hooks is being mentioned alongside former Oregon standout Tez Johnson, who put up 2,080 yards and 20 touchdowns in two seasons after arriving from Troy.
Hooks arrives in Eugene after four seasons at UAB, where he emerged as one of the AAC’s better receivers. He finished his time with the Blazers with 97 catches for 1,225 yards and 10 touchdowns. His biggest production came last season, when he totaled 72 receptions for 927 yards and seven scores.
For Hooks, this first season in an Oregon uniform is about carrying that momentum into a bigger stage.
He also steps into a program that has made a habit of finding real value in the transfer portal, especially at receiver. Stewart is one example.
Before coming to Oregon in 2024, he spent two seasons at Texas A&M and recorded 1,163 yards and six touchdowns. In his lone season with the Ducks, Stewart caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns before a torn patellar tendon injury wiped out all of 2025.
His last game action came Nov. 30, 2024, against Washington.
Malik Benson is another transfer success story for Oregon. After stops at Alabama and Florida State, he led the Ducks’ receiver group in his only season in Eugene with 43 catches for 719 yards and six touchdowns, then added value on special teams. That performance helped get him selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 195 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now the question is whether Hooks can add his name to that list. He has the speed, and he has the production.
Oregon will start finding out how it all fits when the Ducks open the season against Boise State on Sept. 5.
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