Watch: Oregon football coach Dan Lanning talks after spring game
Oregon football coach Dan Lanning speaks after the Ducks’ annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.
Oregon’s offensive line looks to maintain high standards despite losing key players to the NFL draft.
Transfer Alex Harkey aims to exceed the performance of previous Oregon tackles.
The Oregon football offensive line is rarely shy about what they define as their standard.
The group has achieved much: Back-to-back seasons as a Joe Moore Award finalist — given annually to the nation’s best offensive line — two NFL Draft picks and another two starters receiving rookie minicamp invites from April and a Rimington Award winner at center in Jackson Powers-Johnson in 2023.
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Alex Harkey, a transfer from Texas State who is projected to start at tackle for the Ducks, saw what tackles Josh Conerly Jr. and Ajani Cornelius did over the last few seasons and set lofty standards for himself for 2025.
“They set the standard,” Harkey said after Oregon’s spring game April 26. “Watching film, it was good ball, but they brought me in to do better than that. The standard keeps rising and that’s what I would like to do.”
A fifth-year senior from Austin, Texas, Harkey started his collegiate career as a tight end at Tyler Junior College in Texas before moving over to the offensive line. He played one season at Colorado in 2022 before transferring closer to home at Texas State, where he really came into his own in 2024.
Harkey has one year of eligibility left and plans to make it count at Oregon, where his connection with offensive line coach A’lique Terry has already grown.
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“It’s what he can bring to me as a player,” Harkey said of Terry. “Not even like development, but like the juice he brings, it turns me up. That’s what it needs to do for me mentally to get to where I need to get.”
Though Terry knew what the Ducks were getting in Harkey on tape, he said he was surprised at his nimbleness and size when the 6-foot-6, 335-pound tackle finally arrived on campus.
Harkey is one of several transfers, along with guard Emmanuel Pregnon (USC) and tackle Isaiah World (Nevada), who are being asked to fill in holes left by four departing starters on the offensive line from 2024.
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Conerly and Cornelius served as bookends at left and right tackle from 2023 to 2024 and were each drafted for their strong play in Eugene. Guards Marcus Harper II and Nishad Strother weren’t drafted but will compete at NFL rookie minicamps throughout the spring to hopefully make an NFL roster in the fall.
The only returning starter, center Iapani Laloulu, will be joined by Pregnon, World, Harkey and a slew of young talent to replace one of the best offensive lines in college football.
The trio of transfers hopes to bring experience to a room that desperately needs it heading into the 2025-26 season. Though Harkey is working on his development to eventually make a run at the NFL Draft in 2026, right now he’s focused on building rapport with his fellow teammates and enforcing his play style and mentality on opponents.
“You can run behind me, that’s what I want,” Harkey said. “That’s what I want my identity to be at the end of the day. I’ll run through someone’s face.”
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on X @AlecDietz.
Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon in action against Oklahoma State on September 6, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)ISI Photos via Getty Images
Emmanuel Pregnon earned his fourth All-American selection.
The Oregon offensive guard was named a first team All-American by the Sporting News.
Pregnon is one step closer to consensus All-American distinction, with the FWAA’s team still to be announced. He was also a first team selection by the AP and a second team honoree by the Walter Camp Foundation and AFCA.
Safety Dillon Thieneman earned second team honors, matching his selection by the Walter Camp Foundation and AP.
No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1)
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When: Saturday, Dec. 20
Time: 4:30 p.m. PT
Where: Autzen Stadium
TV: TNT/HBO Max
Stream: You can watch this game on DIRECTV (free trial), with Fubo (free trial), or with Sling (a Sling day pass to watch this game and more is just $4.99). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
James Crepea is the Oregon Ducks beat reporter and Big Ten sports reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He primarily covers football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball and softball, as well as…
The Oregon Ducks made key signings through the 2026 recruiting class, and Oregon coach Dan Lanning and the program secured five five-star picks.
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One of the biggest position needs that the Ducks addressed through recruiting is safety. According to Rivals’ rankings, seven safeties are featured in the top 100 recruits, and the Oregon Ducks made a big splash in recruiting the position.
Oregon Adds Elite Safeties Through Recruiting
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Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning smiles before the game against the Southern California Trojans at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
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One of the biggest signings for the Oregon Ducks is five-star safety Jett Washington. Washington is the No. 22 recruit in the nation, the No. 2 safety, and the No. 1 player from Nevada, per Rivals. While the Ducks signed several elite recruits, Washington could prove to be the most important signing for Oregon.
Washington is a natural athlete, and after choosing between USC, Alabama, and Oregon, the five-star recruit will find himself in Eugene in 2026. Athleticism runs in Washington’s family, as he is the nephew of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and he can be an immediate difference maker on defense in 2026.
“I think the options are limitless when you see a player of Jett’s ability. He’s got great ball instincts, he can attack. He’s a physical hitter. You look at a lot of things that we were able to do with Dillon this year, Dillon Thieneman on his stack position, I think Jett translates to a lot of that stuff really well as well,” Lanning said of Washington.
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Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Oregon Ducks also signed four-star safety Devin Jackson, another top 100 recruit. According to the Rivals’ Industry Rankings, Jackson is the No. 68 recruit in the nation, the No. 5 safety, and the No. 9 player from Florida. Despite efforts from the Florida Gators and several other top programs, the effort the Oregon Ducks put in landed them another elite safety in 2026.
MORE: Dan Lanning Challenging Mike Bellotti In Oregon Coach Milestone
MORE: Oregon Ducks Recruiting Another Multi-Sport Athlete to Eugene
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MORE: Oregon Ducks Who Are Still Pending NFL Draft Decisions
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Despite not being rated in the top 100, the Ducks also signed four-star safety Xavier Lherisse. Oregon has a strong history of developing players on both sides of the ball, and Lhresse has a high ceiling. With the Ducks, he could break out on the defense and become a top safety over time.
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Oct 28, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning congratulates players after defeating the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Why Recruiting At Safety Was Important For Oregon
The Oregon Ducks are earning a valuable addition at safety, which could be critical for the Ducks in 2026. After Oregon’s success in 2025, the team could be losing key defensive back depth.
One significant player who could be leaving the team after the season is safety Dillon Thieneman. He could return to the team next year, but with the season he had, Thieneman could declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Ducks safety Solomon Davis announced his intention to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, and although Davis played primarily on the special teams, that is still another player set to leave the team ahead of 2026. Whether the incoming recruits are ready to play right away or not, the team needed to add depth at the position, and the Ducks landed elite talent in doing so.
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New co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chris Hampton, right, joins the first practice of spring for Oregon football as they prepare for the 2023 season.
Eug 031623 Uo Spring Fb 06 | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Oregon has had a top defense this season and has done well at stopping the pass. The defense allowed just 5.36 yards per attempt and 144.1 yards per game in the air.
Despite Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi becoming the head coach of the Cal Bears, the Ducks’ defense has the same amount of potential. Notably, defensive backs coach Chris Hampton is expected to be promoted to defensive coordinator.
Not only is Oregon hiring in-house, but it is the coach who recruited the elite safeties. Hampton will set up the incoming athletes for much success, keeping Oregon as a national title contender.
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Monday, a federal judge blocked efforts by the Trump administration to fine states millions of dollars for administering SNAP benefits.
Read the full press release from the Office Of The Attorney General, including a statement made by Rayfield, below:
Attorney General Dan Rayfield today (Monday) released the following statement after a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to penalize states with millions of dollars in fines related to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations:
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“In Oregon and across the country, SNAP supports families to make ends meet throughout the year. The federal government’s threat to impose this – especially during the holiday season – created needless uncertainty for programs that help people put food on the table. Today’s ruling stops that disruption and allows Oregon to keep administering SNAP without fear of being punished for following the law.”
On November 26, Attorney General Rayfield and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general sued the Trump administration after it attempted to cut off SNAP benefits for tens of thousands of lawful permanent residents. On December 10, the administration reversed itself and issued new guidance, confirming that lawful permanent residents – including former refugees and asylees – remain eligible for SNAP benefits.
Despite that reversal, the administration continued to threaten states with millions of dollars in fines, claiming that states had missed a required “grace period” for implementing the new guidance, even though the final guidance was not issued until December 10.
Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon issued an order temporarily blocking those penalties. The court’s decision prohibits the federal government’s efforts to impose severe financial penalties on states and protects the continued operation of SNAP programs while the case proceeds.
