Our Oregon football program has had a stellar season, to say the least. Since entering the B1G, they have yet to suffer their first loss after bolting out to an 11-0 start to the season, with zero signs of slowing down. Now, there are a TON of people to thank for that, and that’s not the point of this article. I pulled Mr. FishDuck from his fun at NFL Sportsbook to help assess a handful of difference-makers from the best college football team in 2024, and offer superlative awards that really emphasize how hard the Ducks have shined in 2024.
A few quick notes on these: No player can be featured twice, and I’m not including coaches. Otherwise, these are some of the players/elements of Oregon football in 2024 that have stood out over the Ducks’ 11-0 start.
Harmon has been a force all season long – Photo via Eric Becker
Most Surprising Difference Maker: Derrick Harmon
We all knew that Harmon would be a force coming into this season. But THAT guy? Just straight-up pickpocketing Quinshon Judkins in the Ohio State game? 6.5 TFLs and 3 sacks from the interior? Give me a break. I don’t know who I would want to block on Oregon’s defensive line – but it’s definitely not that guy. Expect to see him close out this season in dominant fashion, and jump into the first round of the NFL Draft in 2025.
Hardest Hitter: Kobe Savage
Savage has been putting on a SHOW lately for Oregon football fans. Plays in the run game, de-cleaters on the edges, and a season-high nine tackles just a couple of weeks ago – Savage has become a huge piece of why Oregon’s speed has become a little bit more physical than years past. In a new conference that is known for physicality and cold weather, Savage was just what the football doctors ordered in the offseason.
Shooting Star: Kenyon Sadiq
From our FishDuck Forum post this past week calling up some superlatives, I loved @Chas Man’s “Shooting Star” superlative. Couldn’t think of a better way to describe Sadiq, and let me remind you of my own take this year: I ranked Oregon’s tight end room as the least impactful group heading into this season. I thought Terrance Ferguson was the only one in the room who could contribute and we’d see more production out of the backfield/wideouts. Boy, was I wrong. I don’t know if that is still true with how well this team has played all around, but you certainly can’t fault what Sadiq’s done in Ferguson’s injury wake.
Uiagalelei has dominated the past month, getting better and better week after week – Photo via Isaac Wasserman
Most Improved Draft Stock: Matayo Uiagalelei
We’ve talked about it for several years now. Kayvon Thibodeaux being drafted lost Oregon an element of their game that hasn’t quite been replicated since. Jordan Burch has had HUGE flashes in his limited action this year, Brandon Dorlus was fantastic – there’s been a handful of players that have been close. Long term, I think Uiagalelei is that guy. It’s crazy to consider that today, as he might not even be the most talented pass rusher on the team. He just breaks games. Always around the ball, the motor’s always hot, and he’s always putting the offense in better positions to win football games. Can’t wait to see him develop in seasons to come.
(Honorable Mention, Jabbar Muhammad) As an absolute alpha in the secondary, when is this dude not making plays? Oregon’s entire defense has elevated to an elite level, and Muhammad is a big piece of that. Blanketing receivers and being a willing tackler, he’s already being projected to the first round in the 2025 NFL Draft. Oh yeah, and who’d he play for last year? Let’s see how he handles his old Huskies squad this Saturday in Autzen @4:30 PST.
Most Underrated Recruiting Asset: Ducks vs Them
If you haven’t seen it – WATCH IT. These episodes weekly are “absolute cinema” when it comes to showing the highs and lows of our Oregon football program (mostly the highs).
The entire production team for Ducks vs Them has told the story of Oregon’s 11-0 season so far masterfully. I hope this becomes an every-year thing, maybe mixing up monikers and giving it a different vibe as Lanning’s crew changes things up. Either way, I would not be surprised if Ducks vs Them is why some recruits come to Oregon. Not because being a part of a featured film is something only a few handfuls of people in the world get to do, but because we see so much of the behind-the-scenes stories that never get told. Ducks vs Them rivals even the highly acclaimed Hard Knocks show on HBO. No surprise that Dillon Robidoux handled the soundtrack (which is INCREDIBLE), and has amplified the coaching, energy, and competitive edge that Dan Lanning has brought to Oregon.
James has been running extra angry the past month or so – Photo via Isaac Wasserman
Engine of the Offense: Jordan James
As much as we’ve loved seeing the Ducks dominate with Dillon Gabriel at the helm, James has been a crucial part of this offense week after week. He stabilizes away game environments, offers Gabriel a safety valve as a receiving back, and NEVER fumbles the ball (knocked on my desk, don’t worry). He’s the consonant Oregon running back that perfectly parallels backs of old like Jonathan Stewart, Bucky Irving, Royce Freeman, and Thomas Tyner. As long as Dillon can count on James, this offense should be as dominant as ever.
Phrase of the Year: ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
Did this not ignite the college football world after game nine’s Ducks vs Them? Showing us all that not only did Lanning call attention to Michigan fans leaving early—HE CALLED A TIMEOUT FOR IT? Good grief, Dan. Save some Savage-ness for Kobe.
“They’re playing for clicks, we’re playing for wins” lives as one of Dan’s best hot-mic moments in his short tenure as Oregon’s head coach, and I think the Gladiator reference in 2024 goes a step beyond that. It isn’t just something they came up with last minute in their Michigan matchup. They prepared all week, referenced it in every practice, and executed the “No Mercy“ mentality perfectly. Lanning has turned into a motivational conductor of college football’s will, and every single Duck has bought into it. Rest of the season? Thumbs down to every opponent in the arena.
Heart of the Team: Jeffrey Bassa
Again, Ducks vs Them consistently shows how deserving Bassa is of this recognition. You always see him in the center of the team getting everybody locked in, leading by example, and dominating on defense. After Wisconsin in particular, he practically jumped over Lanning on Uiagalelei’s pick, and spoke so highly of the team in the locker room after.
Also, have you seen him in coverage recently? Bassa’s quickly turning from a 2-down backer to an every-down playmaker. LOVE his growth this season and how he’s earned himself a shot at playing on Sundays next year.
Manning has been an unsung hero on special teams all year – Via Isaac Wasserman
Special Teams Hero: Tez Johnson
You could point to Tez as a chain mover, Dillon Gabriel’s go-to target, or Bo Nix’s adopted brother (Yes, we know and have known. Let’s continue to mention it every broadcast, I guess). But let’s not forget: Evan Stewart and Traeshon Holden have had huge roles too. It’s Tez’s play as a punt returner where he has been leaps and bounds above what else Oregon has had to offer. Gary Bryant Jr. is coming back off of injury and has filled the void the past pair of games, but the alternates in general have been a STARK contrast to what we’ve seen from Tez. Averaging nearly 13 yards a return – this is where tight, College Football Playoff-level matchups are won and lost. Oregon’s going to need plenty of help to go all the way, and now that Tez is officially back, we can all take a huge sigh of relief entering the Washington game and beyond.
(Honorable Mention, Dontae Manning) This might come as a surprise – Manning has saved the Ducks in some bad spots. If you’ll recall, Manning in the Maryland game made a PBU on a MASSIVE third down when the Ducks needed a stop, and recovered Evan Stewart’s fumbled punt on the following snap. That might not go on the stat sheet (spoiler: it didn’t, I checked), but the amount of times he has prevented disaster this season on special teams or made a huge tackle after just being involved on defense deserves to be acknowledged. Especially as a player who easily could have transferred to another program, Manning leads a group of unsung heroes, gunners and blockers who don’t get noticed nearly enough on the #1 team in the nation.
Gabriel has had a stellar year to close his college career with the Ducks – Photo via Isaac Wasserman
Team MVP: Dillon Gabriel
Obvious, I know. You can’t contest it though: We couldn’t have this season without Dillon. In games the offensive line wasn’t meshing yet, receiver rapport hadn’t been built, and the Ducks needed a spark, Gabriel has largely been able to rally the troops and be a key piece of why Oregon comes out on top. Gabriel is cross-country from where he started his college football journey now and still has found his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation.
Now if you asked him personally, he couldn’t care less about all that. As a born leader and winner, he never misses an opportunity to credit his teammates, rarely is rattled in big moments, and has underrated athleticism that leads me to believe the Ducks have another gear in 2024 that we haven’t seen yet. With Dillon under center, there’s no stopping these Ducks from going to the College Football Playoff and being legitimate contenders for the National Championship game.
Final Takeaway: FEBU
As much as the pro level of football wants you to point to individuals, college teams (good ones, at least) never emulate those values, and for good reason: Lanning has created an ultimate team mentality in Oregon football. Still, it’s nice to throw out some props to well-deserving players that we can often be so hypercritical of. Remember: These are kids pursuing their dreams, and they’ve been doing it at the highest level all year. FEBU. Let’s remind Washington this week what that really means when they come to Autzen, and finish off a perfect 12-0 regular season with some panache.
Anyway, enough from me, Oregon football fans. Do you agree with these superlatives? Who are some players you believe deserved a mention? What’s your superlative of the season that you’d add to the list? Let us know in the FishDuck Forum with decorum.
Go Ducks!
Alex Heining
Los Angeles, California
Top Photo By: Eric Becker
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Alex Heining is an Oregon alumni from the graduate class of 2021. After studying sports business and media studies, he has moved into the field of digital marketing as a copywriter and content manager in the Los Angeles area. Still, he loves his Ducks and goes to local high school games all over the Los Angeles and Orange County area to check out new recruits of the future (and a SoFi game or two with the pros). On any given Saturday, expect to find him doing martial arts, playing the guitar, or screaming at the tv over a missed holding penalty.