Oregon Ducks News: Abrams goes to Georgia, Liberty win 3rd straight, Marder honored

Surprising no one, Nick Abrams commits to Georgia

Owings Mills, Maryland four-star linebacker Nick Abrams committed to Georgia Wednesday live on the 247Sports YouTube channel, choosing the Bulldogs over Oregon, Michigan and Clemson.

Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson chose Texas the day before.

While not unexpected, the commitment of two of the last remaining Top 50 linebackers to SEC schools underscores their grip on the best players in the country. It's simply tough to pry prospects out of the conference with the most exposure, most success in the NFL, the richest regional talent pool and the most money.

Oregon has one linebacker committed in the 2026 class, a very good one in Tristan Phillips, a four-star from Ventura High School in Ventura, California who has shut down his recruitment. Phillips is the No. 228 prospect in the 2026 class, No. 12 at linebacker and the No. 25 recruit in the state of California,

Abrams commitment means that 46 of the Top 50 linebacker prospects have chosen a school, 18 of the top 20. There aren't any more on the board for the Ducks, so to balance out the roster they'll have to flip one, make an under-the-radar find or mine one from the portal.

Sabrina, Sabally and the Liberty romp as Caitlin Clark sits

Forward Breanna Stewart paced all scorers with 24 points and 11 rebounds as Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty beat Indiana 98-77 in the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn Wednesday night.

NBA sophomore sensation Caitlin Clark missed the game after reinjuring her groin. It was the third win in a row for the defending champions, winners of four of their last five on their current home stand.

Ionescu contributed 15 points on 5-14 shooting, 3-9 from distance. She dished out 9 assists. Pro Duck Nyara Sabally started also, aiding the Liberty cause with three blocked shots, three assists and three rebounds, shooting just once for two points.

Duck softball's Sam Marder wins National Assistant Coach of the Year Award

Oregon assistant softball coach Sam Marder won National Assistant Coach of the Year, announced yesterday by the UO athletic office.

Marder is in her fifth year in the program, coming off a season where the Ducks went all the way to Oklahoma City for the College Softball World Series, compiling a 54-10 record. The team won the Big Ten Championship and the Eugene Regional and Super Regional while hitting .345 with 86 home runs and 175 stolen bases.

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Correction:

Yesterday in an article entitled "Nick Abrams decision tests whether Dan Lanning has a weak spot in recruiting" we misstated the ratings for 2024 linebackers Kamar Mothudi and Brayden Platt. From the 247Sports Composite that season:

Brayden Platt No. 178 No. 14 LB

Kamar Mothudi No. 175 No. 13 LB

Dylan Williams No 199 No. 14 LB