Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
5 Impressions From The Spring Game
04/27/24 | Football
The Ducks held the showcase event of their spring practice schedule Saturday in Autzen Stadium.
Spring football is all but in the books for the Oregon football team, after the Ducks hosted their annual Spring Game on Saturday in Autzen Stadium.
The UO football team is preparing for year three under head coach Dan Lanning, and will have a new look after having eight key members of the 2023 team selected in this weekend's NFL Draft. The team will hold its 15th and final spring practice Monday, a light workout to clean up elements of their play in the Spring Game.
Following the spring game, Lanning and several players met with local media. Video of those interviews is embedded below.
Some impressions follow from the Spring Game, which the Green squad won 28-17 against the White team before an estimated 40,000 fans in Autzen Stadium.
1. As usual, the Spring Game was a celebration of Oregon football's past, present and future. All-time UO greats Troy Dye and Kenjon Barner were honorary captains, two of about two dozen alumni of the program on hand.
Following the Spring Game, Mat Kearney gave a concert on the field for several thousand fans who stuck around. And the game itself was a showcase for the Ducks who will lead the 2024 team, and also younger players who are the stars of the future.
"I saw some smiles on some guys' faces," Lanning said. "Being a recruit and being a player are two different things. Getting to wear that uniform for the first time and to see our fans and how passionate they are about what we're doing here, I think that was a lot of fun for those guys. Next time, it's the real deal."
2. Oregon has arguably the deepest quarterback room in the nation, and fans got their first look at all the talent on hand Saturday.
Senior transfer Dillon Gabriel led the Green squad to its victory, completing 14-of-21 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns — one to Justius Lowe in the third quarter and another to Jay Harris in the fourth. Another transfer, Dante Moore, was 11-of-16 for 87 yards with the White team, Austin Novosad was 12-of-22 for 177 yards while getting reps with both teams, and freshman Luka Moga completed 2-of-3 passes for 48 yards plus had an eight-yard rushing touchdown.
"I think all of our quarterbacks had some really positive plays," Lanning said. "A couple plays, that series would have probably kept going if the ball was caught. But I have to go back again and watch the film to get a really clear look. I think we saw some good things from Luke and Austin as well (as Gabriel and Moore). I feel really good about our quarterbacks though. I really liked the group that we have there. I think we have talent in that room."
3. Of the eight players drafted from Oregon over the weekend, two were defensive backs, and the Ducks used the transfer portal to bring in some experienced players to compete for those spots.
But some young Ducks made it clear Saturday they're talented enough to challenge for playing time as well. Solomon Davis led the White squad with seven tackles, Aaron Flowers had four tackles and almost had an extremely athletic, diving interception early in the day, and Dakoda Fields returned an interception 54 yards.
"It's really hard to be able to come in and compete, especially as a freshman in this defense and what we ask these guys to do," Lanning said. "There's a lot they have to absorb, and sometimes days like today are awesome days to see those guys go out there and play fast. Dakoda (Fields) had a big play. Aaron (Flowers) had some big tackles. We've signed good football players and it's our job to continue to develop them; but, excited about their growth."
4. The Spring Game provided a preview of some new rules that will be in play for the 2024 season, including a 2-minute warning before the end of each half.
College teams also now are able to utilize in-helmet communications, as NFL teams do. Saturday, the Ducks got a chance to incorporate that with tens of thousands of screaming fans in Autzen Stadium.
"It went pretty good, pretty swell," linebacker Jeffrey Bassa said. "That's something we try to simulate in practice, with the crowd noise. So, no problem. We're still signaling a little bit, but it went swell."
5. Following Monday's final spring practice, the Ducks won't officially practice again until preseason camp opens in the summer.
But between now and the time fans pack Autzen again, for the 2024 opener against Idaho on Aug. 31, there's still much work to be done. Players can get together on the practice fields, and work out in the weight room. The pillars of Oregon's culture under Lanning are connection, growth, toughness and sacrifice, and all can be bolstered between now and the start of preseason camp.
"I'm just excited to see these guys continue to work," Lanning said. "Just because spring ball ends doesn't mean we don't continue to improve."
Senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel
Senior receiver Tez Johnson
Senior linebacker Jeffrey Bassa
Senior defensive back Tysheem Johnson
Sophomore quarterback Dante Moore
The UO football team is preparing for year three under head coach Dan Lanning, and will have a new look after having eight key members of the 2023 team selected in this weekend's NFL Draft. The team will hold its 15th and final spring practice Monday, a light workout to clean up elements of their play in the Spring Game.
Following the spring game, Lanning and several players met with local media. Video of those interviews is embedded below.
Some impressions follow from the Spring Game, which the Green squad won 28-17 against the White team before an estimated 40,000 fans in Autzen Stadium.
1. As usual, the Spring Game was a celebration of Oregon football's past, present and future. All-time UO greats Troy Dye and Kenjon Barner were honorary captains, two of about two dozen alumni of the program on hand.
Following the Spring Game, Mat Kearney gave a concert on the field for several thousand fans who stuck around. And the game itself was a showcase for the Ducks who will lead the 2024 team, and also younger players who are the stars of the future.
"I saw some smiles on some guys' faces," Lanning said. "Being a recruit and being a player are two different things. Getting to wear that uniform for the first time and to see our fans and how passionate they are about what we're doing here, I think that was a lot of fun for those guys. Next time, it's the real deal."
2. Oregon has arguably the deepest quarterback room in the nation, and fans got their first look at all the talent on hand Saturday.
Senior transfer Dillon Gabriel led the Green squad to its victory, completing 14-of-21 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns — one to Justius Lowe in the third quarter and another to Jay Harris in the fourth. Another transfer, Dante Moore, was 11-of-16 for 87 yards with the White team, Austin Novosad was 12-of-22 for 177 yards while getting reps with both teams, and freshman Luka Moga completed 2-of-3 passes for 48 yards plus had an eight-yard rushing touchdown.
"I think all of our quarterbacks had some really positive plays," Lanning said. "A couple plays, that series would have probably kept going if the ball was caught. But I have to go back again and watch the film to get a really clear look. I think we saw some good things from Luke and Austin as well (as Gabriel and Moore). I feel really good about our quarterbacks though. I really liked the group that we have there. I think we have talent in that room."
3. Of the eight players drafted from Oregon over the weekend, two were defensive backs, and the Ducks used the transfer portal to bring in some experienced players to compete for those spots.
But some young Ducks made it clear Saturday they're talented enough to challenge for playing time as well. Solomon Davis led the White squad with seven tackles, Aaron Flowers had four tackles and almost had an extremely athletic, diving interception early in the day, and Dakoda Fields returned an interception 54 yards.
"It's really hard to be able to come in and compete, especially as a freshman in this defense and what we ask these guys to do," Lanning said. "There's a lot they have to absorb, and sometimes days like today are awesome days to see those guys go out there and play fast. Dakoda (Fields) had a big play. Aaron (Flowers) had some big tackles. We've signed good football players and it's our job to continue to develop them; but, excited about their growth."
4. The Spring Game provided a preview of some new rules that will be in play for the 2024 season, including a 2-minute warning before the end of each half.
College teams also now are able to utilize in-helmet communications, as NFL teams do. Saturday, the Ducks got a chance to incorporate that with tens of thousands of screaming fans in Autzen Stadium.
"It went pretty good, pretty swell," linebacker Jeffrey Bassa said. "That's something we try to simulate in practice, with the crowd noise. So, no problem. We're still signaling a little bit, but it went swell."
5. Following Monday's final spring practice, the Ducks won't officially practice again until preseason camp opens in the summer.
But between now and the time fans pack Autzen again, for the 2024 opener against Idaho on Aug. 31, there's still much work to be done. Players can get together on the practice fields, and work out in the weight room. The pillars of Oregon's culture under Lanning are connection, growth, toughness and sacrifice, and all can be bolstered between now and the start of preseason camp.
"I'm just excited to see these guys continue to work," Lanning said. "Just because spring ball ends doesn't mean we don't continue to improve."
Senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel
Senior receiver Tez Johnson
Senior linebacker Jeffrey Bassa
Senior defensive back Tysheem Johnson
Sophomore quarterback Dante Moore
Players Mentioned
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WR
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QB
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