Oregon
Award-winning Oregon cowboy poet shares his love of Western landscapes, horses in his work
When Tom Swearingen wrote his first poem to remember a friend who had died, he didn’t consider himself a poet. But the small group of friends and family he read it to told him to keep writing. He did, and he says because he long enjoyed Western music, art and literature, including the cowboy poetry of Baxter Black, that was the style that fit. Within 10 years, Swearingen had published a collection of poetry which was named the 2020 Cowboy Poetry Book of the year by the International Western Music Association. The group also named him best male poet in 2019 and 2022. He also got Willamette Week’s nod in its “Best of” edition this year. Swearingen, like other cowboy poets, is particularly busy in the summer months with performances at rodeos and other events. He’s done with rodeo appearances for this summer, but you can still catch him this month and through November at various gatherings around the state. He joins us to talk about his work and read some of his poetry.
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Oregon
Florida State Involved With Oregon Defensive Lineman Transfer
Florida State is revamping its defensive front this offseason after multiple members of the roster departed to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. The moving pieces along with the Seminoles switching to a 3-3-5 multiple scheme under defensive coordinator Tony White means things are going to look a lot different in Tallahassee in 2025.
The Seminoles have already secured two defensive line transfers in December but are remaining active in the portal. According to 247Sports, FSU is among the programs to have contacted Oregon defensive end transfer Jaeden Moore.
Moore is coming off his second season with the Ducks. He was a member of the rotation up-front this fall, appearing in all 13 games and totaling six tackles, one tackle for loss, and 0.5 sacks. Moore saw 104 snaps on defense and graded out at 62.7 overall, per PFF. He created 16 pressures, including 14 quarterback hurries but did miss 20% of his tackles.
READ MORE: Florida State Offers Productive Georgia Southern Linebacker Transfer
The California native signed with Oregon as a three-star prospect in the 2023 class. He only saw action in four games as a true freshman, allowing Moore to retain his redshirt. In total, Moore appeared in 17 games and totaled eight tackles, one tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, and two pass deflections.
Moore stands at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds. He’s expected to have three seasons of eligibility remaining to utilize at his next stop.
The Seminoles have three scholarship defensive ends eligible to return in 2025; redshirt senior Jaden Jones, redshirt junior Aaron Hester, and redshirt freshman DD Holmes.
FSU signed four-star LaJesse Harrold, four-star Tylon Lee, three-star Darryll Desir, and three-star Mandrell Desir during the Early Signing Period.
Florida State also recently landed former Nebraska defensive end James Williams and former Western Kentucky defensive lineman Deante McCray in the transfer portal.
READ MORE: 6-foot-7 Offensive Tackle Xavier Payne Commits To Florida State
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• Florida State Lands Versatile UCF Tight End Transfer Randy Pittman
• Florida State Lands Experienced Offensive Lineman From UCF
• Mike Norvell On FSU’s Addition Of Adrian Medley: ‘He Brings Significant Size And Toughness’
• Florida State Lands Productive Western Kentucky Defensive End Transfer Deante McCray
Oregon
Oregon State WBB Takes Down Gonzaga In OT
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MORE: Nikko Taylor Returns | Beavers In The NFL: Week 16 Recap | OL Flavio Gonzalez Enters Portal | Analysis: What Are The Beavers Getting In Walker Harris?
SPOKANE, Wash. – Oregon State’s 12-point comeback with three minutes left saw contributors from near and far combine to knock off WCC preseason no. 1 Gonzaga 71-67 in overtime.
“I’m just so proud of this group and so happy for them,” head coach Scott Rueck said. “This has been a grind. We have worked so hard to get to the point where we can beat a good team on their home floor.”
From near there was Gresham’s Kennedie Shuler, whose three assists and game-tying free throws helped send the game to overtime. In the extra period she dished three more assists – part of a team-high eight dimes – and scored four points including two more at the stripe to put the Beavs up four with 27.6 seconds left.
“I’m just so proud of the gritty toughness that Kennedie showed today, stepping up and hitting big threes and making big free throws,” Rueck said.
MORE: Analysis: What Are The Beavers Getting In OL Keyon Cox | Beavers Land Nebraska DL | Beavers Land USC LB | RB Coach Hotboard V1.0 | Offseason Movement Tracker | Scholarship Chart
Just 15 minutes from Shuler’s hometown, Ally Schimel grew up splashing threes in Corbett. The freshman was off to an inauspicious start to the season, making less than 20 percent from beyond the arc as she gained confidence.
On Saturday, she looked like a seasoned veteran when she splashed the go-ahead three in OT and put the clamps on Gonzaga’s Allie Turner with 24.7 seconds left. Turner was 5-for-9 from beyond the arc, but Schimel didn’t allow her to even touch the ball until 15 precious seconds had elapsed.
“Ally’s threes were big-time,” Shuler said on the postgame show. “She’s a really good shooter and just needed to get confident and knock it down. I’m so proud of her. She’s like a little sister to me”
From far, Kelsey Rees put on a show with her dad and brother in attendance from Australia. The senior scored 21 points with nine rebounds and made 7-of-10 shots from the floor. She also drew eight fouls, some of which contributed to reigning WCC Player of the Year Yvonne Ejim fouling out in overtime.
Down the stretch, Rees went on a personal 6-0 run to pull the Beavs within four. The senior hit a three, a layup and a free throw to set the stage for Shuler and Tiara Bolden at the line.
“It was a big-time performance from Kelsey. Her putback (in overtime) was insane and got our momentum going. I’m super proud of her,” Shuler said.
Bolden, a native of Eugene, scored 10 points including two at the free-throw line to narrow the gap to two points with 54 seconds left. She also nabbed three steals with one at 1:06 remaining securing a stop at a crucial moment.
The Beavers return to the Beaver State on Monday to take on undefeated Portland. OSU squares off with the Pilots at 6 p.m.
OSU Athletics
Oregon
Oregon State EDGE Nikko Taylor Set To Return In 2025
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MORE: Beavers In The NFL: Week 16 Recap | OL Flavio Gonzalez Enters Portal | Analysis: What Are The Beavers Getting In Walker Harris? | Analysis: What Are The Beavers Getting In OL Keyon Cox | Beavers Land Nebraska DL | Beavers Land USC LB | RB Coach Hotboard V1.0
The Oregon State football team and head coach Trent Bray received great news on Saturday morning as outside linebacker Nikko Taylor announced he would return next season.
The 6-foot-5, 257-pounder was set to exhaust his eligibility after the 2024 campaign, but in the wake of the recent JUCO court ruling, he now has another season of eligibility and elected to return to Corvallis.
Previously, Taylor had declared for the NFL Draft; now, he’ll withdraw his name and return to OSU as the team’s most experienced and talented EDGE rusher.
He’s coming off a 2024 campaign in which he led the Beavers in tackles for loss (eight), sacks (2.5), forced fumbles (two), and fumbles recovered (two). He started all 12 games for the Beavers this past season…
With Taylor back in the fold, here’s a closer look at the Beavers’ scholarship numbers/breakdown at OLB
And stay up-to-date with everything Oregon State this offseason with our Offseason Movement Tracker
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