Oregon

5-Star Na’eem Offord on Oregon Ducks, Phil Knight: ‘Gonna Help Me Make My Shoe’

Published

1 year ago

December 7, 2024

5-Star Na’eem Offord on Oregon Ducks, Phil Knight: ‘Gonna Help Me Make My Shoe’

On the first day of the Early National Signing Period, five-star defensive back Na’eem Offord flipped from the Ohio State Buckeyes to the Oregon Ducks. The No. 12 overall recruit in the country gave credit to Oregon’s relationship with Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his connection to the program.

Offord spoke on the reason why he decided to make this switch was partly because Knight is going to help make him his own sneaker when he comes down to Eugene, among other undisclosed plans.

“He played a big role, like a huge, big role. He’s actually waiting on me to get up there, he’s got a lot of stuff planned for me. He’s gonna help me make my shoe.”
– Na’eem Offord via CBS Sports

Na’eem Offord and Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning / Na’eem Offord Instagram

Knight along with Pat Kilkenny, The Papé Family, Jim Morse, Ed Maletis helped create Oregon’s Name, Image, and Likeness collective known as Division Street, contributing greatly to the Ducks’ recruiting success under coach Dan Lanning. This group uses their experiences in branding, marketing, sponsorship, and design in order to benefit their student-athletes and improve upon their NIL opportunities.

Division Street uses their own resources and knowledge to improve upon the financial situations of the Oregon student-athletes as well as become successful in the brand and marketing landscape.

“Phil Knight is bankrolling that whole thing and wants to see them win a national title. They are really, really aggressive with money.”
– Anonymous NIL agent via CBS Sports

Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning looks on during the third quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

According to On3’s valuation, Oregon has an NIL budget of $23 million thanks to the backing of Knight and Nike. Ohio State is rumored to have about the same amount, but the reported numbers are hard to trust.

Offord committed to the Ducks on the first day of the Early National Signing Period. He is ranked as the No. 3 cornerback in the nation and the top recruit coming out of the state of Alabama. Oregon’s 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 3 based on On3’s evaluation.

Led by Lanning, Oregon will play in the Big Ten Conference Championship against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday. A win would secure the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, and most likely a spot in the Rose Bowl Game.

MORE: Andrew Olesh Signing Decision ‘Real Close:’ Oregon Ducks, Michigan, Penn State?

MORE: Oregon Ducks Dominate Signing Day: Add Top Receivers Dakorien Moore, Dallas Wilson

MORE: Oregon Ducks Release Black Uniform Combination for Big Ten Championship vs Penn State

MORE: 5-Star Trey McNutt Signs With Oregon Ducks: Early National Signing Day Tracker

MORE: Oregon Ducks Fans Color To Wear vs. Penn State In Big Ten Championship Game

MORE: ESPN Calls Oregon Ducks ‘Least Interesting’ Team After 12-0 Season?

MORE: Oregon Ducks’ Dan Lanning Credits Dillon Gabriel For Signing Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele

MORE: College Football Playoff Rankings: Alabama Above Miami Controversy, Oregon Ducks No 1

MORE: Oregon Ducks’ Dan Lanning Is An Elite Recruiter, NIL Isn’t Why: Tez Johnson Exclusive

MORE: Big Ten Championship: Oregon Ducks vs. Penn State Betting Odds, Prediction

MORE: Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix Breaks Another Record In Cleveland Win On Monday Night: ‘Chip On Shoulder’

Source link

Oregon

Auburn signs former Oregon State QB Tristan Ti’a

Published

3 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Auburn signs former Oregon State QB Tristan Ti’a

Auburn’s quarterback room gained another piece out of the transfer portal on Sunday, and is now up to four scholarship players.

The latest signee is Oregon State transfer Tristan Ti’a, a source confirmed to AL.com. He comes to Auburn after spending one season with the Beavers, and will likely fill the backup quarterback role at Auburn behind Byrum Brown.

Ti’a was a backup during his freshman season at Oregon State, playing in three games. In that time, he completed 37 of his 53 passes for 385 yards with three passing touchdowns and two interceptions.

He’s the third and likely final transfer quarterback to sign with Auburn since the portal opened on Jan. 2, joining Brown and former USF third-string quarterback Locklan Hewlett. Incoming freshman Rhys Brush will also be in the quarterback room next season.

With Ti’a signing, Auburn is now up to 22 incoming transfers. The portal will remain open until Jan. 16. Keep up with all of Auburn’s incoming and outgoing transfers here.

Source link

Oregon

Oregon outside linebacker Blake Purchase to enter transfer portal

Published

15 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Oregon outside linebacker Blake Purchase to enter transfer portal

Oregon is losing a second edge defender to transfer.

Blake Purchase will enter the transfer portal, he announced via X. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

“I want to start by thanking God for this journey and everything that has come with it,” Purchase told DenverSportsMedia.com. “Thank you to my family for the continued love and support they have given me. I’m forever grateful for these past three seasons at the University of Oregon. The lessons l’ve learned here will stay with me for a lifetime. Thank you to all the coaches who poured into me and helped me grow as both a person and a player. And to my teammates – the bonds we built are forever. You are my brothers for life.”

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Purchase had 32 tackles (4.5 for loss) with two sacks, one interception and one pass breakup this season. His 352 snaps on defense ranked 14th for UO this season.

Purchase had two tackles while redshirting last season and five tackles as a true freshman in 2023.

A four-star recruit out of Cherry Creek (Colorado) High School, Purchase was the No. 294 overall prospect and No. 34 edge defender in the class of 2023 in the 247Sports Composite.

Purchase will be the sixteenth scholarship player to transfer from UO this offseason, joining defensive backs Jahlil Florence, Dakoda Fields, Solomon Davis, Sione Laulea, Kingston Lopa and Daylen Austin, receivers Justius Lowe and Kyler Kasper, quarterbacks Austin Novosad and Luke Moga, offensive lineman Lipe Moala and running backs Jay Harris, Makhi Hughes and Jayden Limar. Oregon has 79 projected scholarship players in 2026.

Source link

Oregon

Oregon State men slip up down stretch of competitive matchup with Portland

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Oregon State men slip up down stretch of competitive matchup with Portland

Despite a strong start and competitive effort for much of the night, Oregon State men’s basketball fell apart down the stretch of a 82-76 loss to University of Portland on Saturday night at Chiles Center.

A corner three-pointer by Mikah Ballew buried the Beavers (9-10, 2-4 WCC), putting Portland up 78-70 with just 1:10 remaining.

The Pilots (9-10, 2-4 WCC) had four players in double figures: Cameron Williams with 23, Jermaine Webb Balsinger and Joel Foxwell with 18 apiece, and Ballew with 16.

The Beavers were led by Olavi Suutela with 19 points and Johan Munch with 14. Dez White, Josiah Lake II and Yaak Yaak each had 10, and OSU out-shot the Pilots — 47% to 43% — but untimely turnovers and missed shots hurt them in the second half.

OSU came out hot, taking a 18-8 lead early in the first half including 12 points from Suutela. It got up to 24-15 before the Pilots mounted a response.

Turnovers and miscommunication by the Beavers on offense led to a 8-0 run by Portland. OSU clung to its lead for a while, but Portland took its first at 31-30 late in the first half.

The Pilots carried a 39-38 lead into the break.

Coming out of the half, after some back and forth, the Beavers went on an 11-1 run — fueled by the scoring and defensive effort of Suutela, and inside play of Noah Amenhauser — to take a 54-45 advantage at the 13:11 mark.

Turnovers reared their ugly head once again for the Beavers, though, and a pair of jumpers by Joel Foxwell cut the OSU lead down to 56-53.

Portland retook the lead, 57-56, with 10 minutes remaining. With an increased energy on both ends of the floor and OSU missing open shots, the Pilots led 66-63 with six minutes remaining and never relinquished it.

Portland’s defense smothered OSU in the halfcourt, and Wayne Tinkle’s side couldn’t find an easy basket, settling often for one-on-one opportunities rather than consistent and meaningful ball movement. Portland led, 71-68, with 3:19 to go.

Trailing by nine, Lake II hit a three-pointer to cut it to six with five seconds left. Too little, too late for the Beavers as they slipped back below .500.

Next game: Oregon State (9-10, 2-4 WCC) vs. LMU (11-7, 2-3 WCC)