Oregon gets busy living, adds a productive receiver in the portal

Think back to the electric offense Oregon ran in the Bo Nix years, No. 2 in scoring in 2023 at 44.2 points a game.

Nix was resourceful. He had flair when the pocket was breaking down, a way of handling pressure and turning it against the defense. Dante Moore and Dylan Raiola don't have his foot-speed and athleticism-- they'll have to get it done in their own style.

But one of the things Nix had that made him so good was Tez Johnson, the quick little guy running the crossing routes and breaking off his route when the pocket broke down, the robber who could scurry over the middle and turn an 8-yard-pass into a touchdown.

So three days after losing the College Football Playoff semifinal in the worst way to Indiana, Dan Lanning went out and found that guy. The veteran, the quick scrappy guy with the knack for getting open and moving the chains.

Monday afternoon the Ducks picked up Iverson Hooks from University of Alabama-Birmingham, second team all-conference slot receiver with 72 catches for 972 yards and seven touchdowns, 5-10, 175 from Pike Road, Alabama.

A receiver to fill a role that's missing in the Oregon attack

Moore and Raiola need to improve their pocket presence and their ability to find a solution when things are breaking down. Hooks is a glue guy. Comparisons are never perfect, but he can provide that Swiss Army Knife in the toolkit. He averaged 11 yards on punt returns and even threw a pass for 17 yards.

Against Memphis in October Hooks had 11 catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns. He's a playmaker and a difference-maker, a perfect complement to the burners and physical receivers Oregon has outside in Evan Stewart, Jeremiah McClellan, Gatlin Bair and Dakorien Moore, plus big tight ends Jamari Johnson and Kendre Harrison.

Blazers wide receiver coach Austin Appleby said about Hooks, “He is one of the fiercest competitors, not only on our team, but like I've ever been around,” Appleby said. “He is a warrior. For as undersized as he is, he plays big and he is fearless."

"Whatever it takes to win, whatever it takes for him to win, he's going to win his one -on -one battle. It starts there. And it's the way that he prepares. He prepares like a madman. He prepares to go be the very best. Because in his mind, he's going to go be the best and that allows him to maximize his ability. He's so intelligent, the way that he can understand concepts. He can play inside, he can play outside. His versatility on top of his gifts, on top of his competitive spirit, makes the perfect storm.”

Not to put too much on him, but that sounds very Tez-like, a reliable receiver with an inspirational attitude.