Oregon
Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher fits what the Broncos look for in a player
One prospect the Denver Broncos could select in the 4th round of the 2026 NFL Draft is Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher. He is a 6-1, 230-pound linebacker prospect who is viewed as a potential day 3 option for the Broncos. The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, has Boettcher graded as his 10th-best linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft and projects him as a 4th-round selection.
Boettcher had a unique road to the NFL. He started his college career at Oregon, playing baseball. He played football in high school, but decided to give it up and focus on baseball in college. However, in 2022, Oregon was having walk-on tryouts for its football team, and Boettcher impressed and earned an invite to work out with the team during summer and fall camp, and he would eventually make the team. He would play both sports during his college career and was even drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He would continue playing football and in 2025, had a career year, and earned himself an invite to the Senior Bowl. Now, he’s considered one of the better linebackers in the 2026 NFL Draft and could be in play for the Broncos in the 4th round of the draft.
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Boettcher played a total of four seasons at Oregon and is coming off a breakout career year for the Ducks. During his four seasons, he played in 55 games and totaled 269 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles. This past year, he played in 15 games and totaled 136 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 6 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles.
The Broncos re-signed veteran linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad this offseason and released veteran Dre Greenlaw. Despite these two re-signings, the Broncos could still decide to add to their linebacker room. Both veteran linebackers are 30+ years old, and the depth behind them is questionable at best. So, adding a player like Boettcher would make a lot of sense.
Player Profile
Bryce Boettcher | Linebacker | Oregon
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Arm Length: 31 1/4 inches
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10-Yard Split: 1.63 seconds
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Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches
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Short Shuttle: 4.3 seconds
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3-Cone Drill: 7.25 seconds
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Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths
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A classic run-and-chase linebacker who will get a lot of tackles
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Has good, but not great speed, and has enough juice to be a rangy sideline-to-sideline linebacker
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Reads and reacts to the play well and gets to the ball-carrier quickly
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Plays fast and has a high motor that doesn’t quit
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Downhill linebacker who thrives in the run game and makes a play on the ball-carrier
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Former DB background and does well in zone coverage – mirrors RBs/TEs well and has good instincts to make a play on the ball and pass catcher
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Intangibles – High effort player who gives it all every play, loves to be coached, has toughness, and has the overall makeup teams look for in a player
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Special teams – Standout special teams player who can contribute right away in all phases
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Standout baseball and football player
Weaknesses
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A little undersized for the position and lacks ideal height, length, and strength for the position
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Could have issues with offensive linemen reaching the second level and washing him out of a play
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Can be a tad overaggressive at times and bite on misdirections and play fakes
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Lacks the ideal height, length, and athleticism to consistently cover NFL tight ends and running backs
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Will be an older rookie at 24 years old
What other analysts are saying about Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher
The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, on Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher
Boettcher plays fast and physical on every snap. The same range and awareness that made him a Gold Glove center fielder shows on the football field, with his opportunistic eyes to read and drive without hesitation. However, he can get nosy at times and lose his run fit, and he lacks the stack-and-shed skills to easily escape blocks. His background as a self-starter will endear him to NFL coaches (Lanning: “He’s earned every opportunity … nothing has been handed to that guy.”). Boettcher is a classic “see-ball, get-ball” defender, with the speed and play personality that will make him a natural fit in an NFL linebacker room. Although he will need the right situation to become a starter, he will be an immediate and impactful special teamer.
NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein on Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher
Two-sport standout at Oregon who passed on a chance to start his baseball career, choosing to pursue an NFL opportunity instead. The former walk-on plays like the chip never left his shoulder. He’s fearless in his downhill approach, which leads to feast-or-famine results in the run game. His size, speed and athleticism are average, but his competitive will and motor cover some of that up. Boettcher profiles as an NFL backup but his special-teams talent could be his ticket to a higher draft slotting.
Bryce Boettcher RAS
Should the Broncos draft Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher in the 4th round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
I think they will love him.
I mean this as a compliment. Bryce Boettcher reminds me a lot of Alex Singleton. He is an undersized run-and-chase linebacker who will get a lot of tackles and have all the intangibles and makeup that the Broncos want from their players. Character and makeup are huge characteristics the Broncos look for, and Boettcher checks all the boxes. On top of that, he is also a five-phase special teams player who can contribute in that role come day one.
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I see Sean Payton, Vance Joseph, and Darren Rizzi all wanting this player. He will be great for the locker room, add depth at the position, and potentially give you a starter down the road while also giving you a potential standout special teams player.
Boettcher checks all the boxes for the Broncos.
If he’s there in the 4th round, I think he will be a top player on the board for the Broncos.
Oregon
Oregon man sentenced to 77 months in prison after pleading guilty to attempted kidnapping
CORVALLIS, Ore. — A Benton County man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison after prosecutors say he held his brother at knifepoint inside their family home, a confrontation that ended with police shooting the wrong person as the victim tried to escape, the Benton County District Attorney’s office said in a media release.
On Thursday, June 18, John Dakota Lyon pleaded guilty to Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Coercion, according to a news release from the Benton County District Attorney. He was sentenced to a total of 77 months in prison and two years of post-prison supervision.
The case stems from the morning of Jan. 6, when Maverick Lyon was home visiting his parents during winter break from college. Prosecutors said Dakota Lyon, his brother, was living at the home after recently being released from the Department of Corrections.
In February 2023, Dakota Lyon was sentenced to 58 months in prison for convictions of Attempted Assault in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, the release said.
On Jan. 6, prosecutors said Dakota Lyon accused Maverick Lyon of conspiring with their father to do harm to him. Dakota Lyon armed himself with a large kitchen knife and, while holding onto Maverick Lyon’s shirt, pulled him throughout the house, implying he would harm him with the knife, according to the district attorney’s office. Despite Maverick Lyon’s pleadings, prosecutors said Dakota Lyon refused to release him or put the knife down.
Prosecutors said Maverick Lyon convinced Dakota Lyon to allow him to grab his own kitchen knife under the guise that they would leave the residence to confront their father together. Their father, who saw and heard what was happening through a surveillance system set up at the home, called 911 to report the crime, the release said.
Multiple Albany Police Department officers arrived and were able to see two men through a back door window, including one with a knife, according to the district attorney’s office. After a brief conversation between officers and the men, prosecutors said Maverick Lyon broke free and rushed out the back door.
The district attorney’s office said Maverick Lyon still had a knife in his hand as he began to break the plane of the door, and officers were standing near the door. Prosecutors said Maverick Lyon began dropping the knife, but officers, fearing for their lives and the lives of other officers, fired their weapons. Maverick Lyon was struck several times.
An earlier Officer Involve Shooting review by the Benton County District Attorney’s Office found the officers’ use of force was justified, the release said.
Officers rendered first aid, and while being treated, Maverick Lyon said, “You shot the wrong guy,” according to the district attorney’s office.
Dakota Lyon was taken into custody without further incident, and the knife he was believed to have been possessing was located near him, prosecutors said. He has been in custody since Jan. 6.
After surgery and a lengthy recovery period, Maverick Lyon “appears to be doing well,” the release said.
The district attorney’s office said methamphetamine may have played a role in Dakota Lyon’s actions. A urine sample taken from him that day tested positive for methamphetamine, and he was known to use methamphetamine in the past and was believed by those close to him to have recently begun using methamphetamine again, according to the release.
“The tragic shooting was a direct result of Dakota Lyon’s actions. As Dakota marched Maverick around the house at knife point, Maverick feared for his life and wanted nothing more but to escape his drug crazed older brother. But for Dakota’s actions, police would not have been called, Maverick would not be a victim of kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, and coercion, and the police would not have shot Maverick,” Chief DDA Amie Matusko, who prosecuted the case, said in the release.
At sentencing, Dakota Lyon’s attorney, Christian Strahl, acknowledged Dakota Lyon’s responsibility in Maverick Lyon’s shooting, the release said. Strahl indicated the remorse Dakota Lyon felt, saying Dakota Lyon wished he could have taken the bullets instead of Maverick, according to prosecutors.
“While this sentiment is appreciated, true accountability would be remorse in having raised a knife towards his brother and regret that the lives of Maverick and the family are forever changed,” Matusko said.
Oregon
Who’s visiting for Oregon’s final weekend of official visits?
The biggest and final weekend of official visits is finally here for the Oregon Ducks. The program has made the most of its prior rounds of visits, adding five commitments this month alone.
Dan Lanning and his staff will get a chance to lock in a top-five recruiting class this cycle with another tremendous list of visitors this weekend. Oregon will welcome back a pair of committed gems in the class, including quarterback Will Mencl and edge rusher Rashad Streets. However, the biggest visitors are those who have yet to decide on their college future.
Here’s a look at which recruits are expected to be in Eugene this weekend, as well as where they rank in the Rivals Industry Ranking.
- 5-star WR Xavier Sabb (No. 30)
- 4-star QB Will Mencl (No. 46) (Oregon commit)
- 4-star EDGE Rashad Streets (No. 47) (Oregon commit)
- 4-star WR Tae Walden Jr. (No. 69)
- 4-star LB Brayton Feister (No. 135)
- 4-star DL Brayden Parks (No. 166)
- 4-star TE Anthony Cartwright III (No. 343)
- 4-star RB Caden Waye (No. 359)
- 3-star IOL Lex Mailangi (No. 697)
It’s a loaded weekend for the Ducks, and they are well positioned to land several of the visiting recruits this summer. With Mencl and Streets both in town as well, two of the most vocal recruiters in Oregon’s class, don’t be surprised if the Ducks manage to earn a commitment or two before the weekend is over.
On the heels of adding wideout Dakota Guerrant to their class, the Ducks are the frontrunners for Xavier Sabb, who is making the trip across the country from New Jersey. Sabb, whose brothers both play at Alabama, is one of Oregon’s favorite targets in the cycle, and one that Mencl has publicly called for the Ducks to bring to Eugene.
As a junior, Sabb played both receiver and safety at Glassboro High School. He made 59 catches for 896 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and was named Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey. After visiting Alabama last weekend, Oregon will get the last word on Sabb’s recruitment and could add a pair of elite receivers to pair with their star quarterback.
The Ducks are also in great position to finalize a commitment with both linebacker Brayton Feister and tight end Anthony Cartwright III. Cartwright will commit on June 28, and Oregon is already viewed as the leader in the race for the 6-foot-5 pass-catcher from Detroit. Feister is fresh off a visit to Georgia, and the Bulldogs made a big push. However, the Ohio native and No. 10 linebacker in the class has always been strongly linked to the Ducks. An official visit this weekend could be enough to push the recruitment to the finish line.
There are a couple of question marks making their way to campus as well. Wide receiver Tae Walden Jr. and defensive lineman Brayden Parks are both leaning elsewhere, but the Ducks have a reasonable shot in both recruitments. Auburn has led the way for Walden, but a strong visit to LSU last week did make a difference. Oregon could do something similar this week, but as of now, he is thought to wind up in SEC territory.
Parks has been a Notre Dame lean, but the momentum over the past few months has swung between the Irish and the Ducks. Oregon gets the final say this weekend, and it could make the difference. Parks didn’t commit after he visited South Bend last weekend, leaving the door open for the Ducks to swoop in at the final hour before the dead period.
Oregon has been a leader for Mater Dei offensive lineman Lex Mailangi as well, but recent visits to Cal and UCLA have narrowed the gap. The Ducks could use another lineman in their class, with Gus Corsair being the only interior lineman committed. The Ducks have some work to do to regain the lead in the race.
Caden Waye is a late add to the list. Although he has had the Ducks at the top of his list since he narrowed his recruitment in the winter, his list has changed after a trip to UCF last weekend put the Knights in his top three. Oregon already has four-star running back CaDarius McMiller committed and is pushing hard for four-star Landen Williams-Callis. Waye is a bit of a wild card for the Ducks, so it will be interesting to see how his visit to Eugene goes.
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Oregon
Deadly officer-involved shooting on Oregon Coast under investigation
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon State Police are investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting that took place in Lincoln County on Wednesday.
Officers from the Newport Police Department, as well as OSP, responded to the 1500 block of the Siletz River Highway just before 4 p.m. to conduct a follow-up investigation, which later escalated into a fatal shooting.
The suspect is dead, and no officers or members of the community were injured, OSP said.
The investigation is ongoing.
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