Oregon Ducks News: Package pitching deal, top scribe claims new digs, B1G stars in Vegas

Package pitching deal brews as Ducks suffer attrition

After this spring's 42-16 season and a Big Ten Co-Championship, Mark Wasikowski and Duck baseball said good-bye to senior pitchers Grayson Grinsell and Seth Mattox. Worse yet, lefthanded relief ace Santiago Garcia entered the transfer portal.

Suddenly the Ducks have an arm shortage, particularly after a dissatisfying close to an otherwise strong season. They ended the year with an ill-fated Saturday morning loss to Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament, then a two-and-done pratfall in the Eugene Regional, giving up 23 runs in the three games.

Changes had to be made. Pitching coach Blake Hawksworth left the program for a new job at Oklahoma State on June 18. Monday Kendall Rogers of D1 Baseball reported that Wasikowski is poised to hire Matt Florer as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

The offseason intrigue does not end there. In a strange and marvelous coincidence, two of Florer's pitchers entered the portal within a few hours of that announcement.

Nothing's official, but nabbing these two proven D1 starters would solidify the roster for Florer, who coached seven seasons in San Diego. In 2024, the Toreros became the first team in WCC history to win both the regular season title and the league tournament. Three of his hurlers made All-American, including Reddemann.

Rivals and On3 merge, Scott Reed goes home again

Two giants of recruiting coverage have become a conglomerate as Rivals and On3 Sports have merged into one entity covering college sports and recruiting. The flagship hired Brett McMurphy to lead their college football coverage, joining Andy Staples, Ari Wasserman, Pete Nakos and the too-seldom-heard-from founder Ivan Maisel.

Locally, the poet laureate of Oregon football, Duck Sports Authority's Scott Reed, has a new home, "Duck Sports Central," writing his crisp, insightful copy on a new channel, thoughtful essays on recruiting and Oregon sports, interspersed with deft references to rock music and classic literature. Discerning Duck fans will bookmark it here.

This morning Scott has a scouting report on new Oregon offensive lineman Koloi Keli, a flip from the Cal Bears in the 2026 class. He writes in part:

"Koloi Keli might not turn heads immediately with eye-popping measurables, but once the tape rolls, it’s clear he’s one of the most physically dominant linemen in his class. At around 6-2 and 290 pounds, Keli has a naturally compact build that lends itself well to interior line play. His combination of foot speed, heavy hands, and nastiness stands out, and he brings a relentless attitude to every snap."

Duck fans don't get that kind of football knowledge from the parade of internet wannabes, who tend to copy/paste the scouting report from the 247 profile and call it good.

DeShaun Watson takes Shedeur Sanders "under his wing"

In perhaps the most terrifying collaboration ever, troubled and hobbled $230 million Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShaun Watson has a new protege, Colorado Buffalo rookie Shedeur Sanders.

Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post reports that Sanders, who is a quarterback competition with the Ducks' Dillon Gabriel, plus veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, has been getting advice, instruction and encouragement to the nine-year NFL veteran, who is out for a year while rehabbing a torn achilles.

Beat writer Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Watson has been a resource for all four of the quarterbacks. She wrote, “Watson has been an awesome teammate inside the quarterback room and meeting rooms, and has been a great cheerleader for the four quarterbacks vying for the starting job.”

Sanders in particular has benefitted from the mentoring relationship, which has allowed the first-year pro to "come up the learning curve quickly."

Big Ten Stars descend on Sin City

Big Ten Media Days are in three weeks and Oregon kicks off against Montana State in 60 days.

Monday the Big Ten announced the lineups for coach and player availability at the three-day confab, broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network. Dan Lanning and the Ducks will take the podium on July 23, immediately after Northwestern but before Penn State and Washington.

Lanning's player guests will be linebacker Bryce Boettcher, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei.

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