Oregon’s special teams picture is starting to come into focus in fall camp, and the biggest move is at kicker. After six practices, coordinator Joe Lorig said Monday in Eugene that redshirt sophomore Gage “Iceman” Hurych is the front-runner to replace Atticus Sappington.
Hurych, a West Linn native, has been spotless on extra points so far, going 17-for-17 over his first two seasons with the Ducks. His only field-goal attempt came in Oregon’s 56-10 win at Rutgers on Oct. 18, 2025, when he missed from 44 yards. He also handled kickoffs in nine games during the 2025 season, averaging 64.3 yards on 30 kicks.
“Gage is really a guy we've been prepping for the last several years for this spot,” Lorig stated to the media. “We've been testing him in practice over the last couple of years.
He had great mentors before him, so I'm super excited about him... Pretty confident to say that Gage is going to be the guy...
He never gets too high or too low.”
The job isn’t locked up yet, though. Nevada Wolfpack junior transfer Keaton Emmett, a Lakeridge High School product, and redshirt freshman Rocco Graziano of Sheldon High School are still in the mix before Oregon opens the 2025 season against Boise State on Sept. 5 at Autzen Stadium. Emmett is also expected to handle some kickoffs to start halves or after scores.
Punting is another spot with new faces. With James Ferguson-Reynolds and long snapper Luke Basso gone, sophomore Bailey Ettridge has moved to the front of the line. The 28-year-old from Lara, Australia, averaged 44.7 yards per punt in the Mountain West Conference last season, and Lorig made it clear where things stand.
“I think it's also clear that Bailey is in the lead. It's not a secret.
He knows that,” Lorig said to the press at fall camp. “The other players know that.
But the other players are pushing every single day to push to make him better.”
Ettridge is being challenged by two in-state walk-ons: senior Michael Sbuttoni and freshman Jack Nicoli from West Salem High School. Sbuttoni played at Albany during the 2022 and 23 seasons before moving on to Sacred Heart from 2024 to 2025.
Oregon was productive on punt returns last season, finishing No. 25 nationally with 350 yards and two touchdowns on 29 attempts over 15 games. Noah Whittington and Gary Bryant Jr. handled most of those chances on punts and kickoffs.
For 2026, Lorig said Minnesota Golden Gophers junior transfer defensive back Koi Perich has become a “viable option” as a returner. But the competition remains wide open, with Stewart, sophomore wide receiver Dakorien Moore, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan, and freshman wide receiver Jalen Lott all still in the hunt.
“This early in camp, I'm hesitant to point out just one guy because it's still certainly a competition. But I think you said it: you have got Dakorien Moore, who's really special. Just think of the guy, anybody that's special with the ball in their hands, and then they have the element of being able to catch the punt.”
“It's not everybody that's special with the ball in their hands, but I think of Evan Stewart," Lorig continued. "Coach Switz told me today that Evan Stewart's been really good.
Certainly, J-Mac's (Jeremiah McClellan) been back there. Jalen Lott, the young guy.
I think we have a lot of guys here. It's really important.”
Offensive assistant Ryan Switzer, who starred at North Carolina from 2013 to 2016, will work directly with Oregon’s punt and kickoff returners.
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