Big Ten Media Days: Oregon Doubles Down on Identity, Talent, and Toughness

 

LAS VEGAS — Dan Lanning doesn’t do clichés. The Oregon head coach took the podium Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days with the same mix of conviction and vision that’s fueled the Ducks’ meteoric rise in his three years in Eugene. Now entering his fourth season, Lanning used the spotlight to make one thing clear: Oregon isn’t just here to compete in the Big Ten—they’re here to lead it.

“Since we’re in Vegas,” Lanning said with a grin, “it seems like the right time to say it—our theme for this team is double down.”

And the Ducks are doing just that. Coming off a historic first season in the Big Ten—an undefeated conference record, a Big Ten Championship, and a trip to the College Football Playoff—Lanning’s program is embracing the challenge of doing it all again with a new cast of characters.

“We’ve done an unbelievable job of building this team over time,” Lanning said. “The process works. We’re close, and we’ve been able to accomplish a lot.”

Building Blocks and Breakout Stars

Lanning brought three representatives to Las Vegas: tight end Kenyon Sadiq, linebacker Bryce Boettcher, and edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei. Each is poised for a breakout campaign, and each reflects a different part of Oregon’s identity.

Sadiq, a rising star at tight end, is a physical marvel—23 mph on the GPS, 41-inch vertical—and also a world citizen. He spent part of his offseason building courts for children in Africa and is already diving into real estate through Oregon’s NIL partnership with Bones Investment Group.

“Kenyon is going to be hard for people to deal with,” Lanning said. “He’s a special player. I think he can be the best tight end in the nation.”

Uiagalelei is coming off a season where he led the Big Ten in sacks. He spent the offseason adding 10 pounds of muscle and even more bite to his voice in the locker room. “He’s uniquely him,” Lanning said, praising both his personality and performance. “He was a terror for quarterbacks last year.”

Boettcher, a dual-sport athlete who passed up a shot at pro baseball with the Houston Astros to return for one more year, brings the heartbeat. “When he steps on the field, it means something to him,” Lanning said. “He’s prideful to wear the Oregon ‘O.’”

Boettcher has seen the shift firsthand.

“In spring ball and even in summer workouts, there’s an energy you don’t always get from older guys,” Boettcher said. “Now, everybody knows they’ve got to put on a show to play.”

The Dante Effect

Much of the offseason buzz has centered on sophomore quarterback Dante Moore, who transferred to Oregon from UCLA after his freshman year and now finds himself the center of attention in Eugene. While Lanning didn’t name a starter, he made it clear Moore’s patience and growth have impressed.

“What impresses me most with Dante is not wanting to be in a microwave society,” Lanning said. “To have the slow-cooked meal. To sit back and mature. He’s developing his leadership.”

Sadiq echoed that sentiment.

“Dante has taken some of what Dillon [Gabriel] did and tried to learn from him,” he said. “He puts on a lot of things for the guys. He’s personable, he’s funny, and he gets us together.”

Uiagalelei didn’t hold back: “He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever seen. He’s making some amazing throws this summer. There’s no doubt in my mind—once he gets his chance, he’s going to capitalize.”

Reinforcements Incoming

While Oregon lost several veterans to the NFL and graduation, both Boettcher and Uiagalelei are confident in the next wave of Ducks.

Uiagalelei highlighted sophomore Blake Purchase and redshirt freshman Elijah Rushing on the edge: “Blake’s going to be out there every down. Elijah… his last name is Rushing for a reason.”

True freshman Nasir Wyatt and Tobi Haastrup are drawing awe from their teammates. “Nas is relentless,” said Uiagalelei. “You can’t teach the stuff he does.” Haastrup, meanwhile, may already be the strongest player on the team—and he’s only played football for two years.

“We joke that Tobi is the one guy who needs to stay away from the weight room,” Uiagalelei said. “He’s that buff.”

Boettcher pointed to Jerry Mixon, whom he called “a ball hawk,” and Gavin Nix, a freshman he says “acts like he’s 23.”

“It’s rare nowadays for big-time recruits to be that humble,” Boettcher said. “But Gavin is.”

Offseason Growth, On-Field Goals

Lanning wasn’t shy about touting the work done behind the scenes. Oregon players have added more than 1,300 pounds of lean mass this offseason, and overall peak power is up 21%. Freshmen averaged 17-pound gains, fueled by strength coach Wilson Love and a robust performance staff.

Off the field, Oregon’s Discover You program and NIL partnerships are setting standards nationally.

“Our guys completed four weeks of training with Radical Health for mental wellness,” Lanning said. “Over 600 hours of community service. We built over 150 beds for kids who didn’t have any. We supported 300 foster and at-risk youth.”

But Lanning was quick to emphasize that none of that guarantees anything in 2025.

“What happened last year has nothing to do with the future,” he said. “We’ve got a brand-new team and brand-new challenges.”

Still, he believes in the group, pointing to the continuity of retaining both coordinators and the stability in the locker room.

“I’ve got confidence in this group more than anything because I’ve seen the work,” he said. “We’ve been a little bit under the radar this offseason, but these guys have worked extremely hard.”

The Road Ahead

Oregon’s second season in the Big Ten won’t be any easier than the first. But Lanning relishes the unknown.

“Everybody asks, ‘What’s your favorite part of coaching?’” he said. “It’s the new challenges that we don’t know about yet.”

The Ducks open the season with high expectations and a deep roster built to compete again. But Lanning remains grounded.

“There’s a journey ahead of us that we’re really excited to take,” he said. “And it starts with believing in the process.”

With that, the Oregon head coach stepped away from the mic—ready to return to the kitchen, mix the ingredients, and see what this year’s team can cook up.