The NIL and Revenue Sharing Era has allowed Oregon to operate at a higher level than ever, as the Ducks were one of the first to embrace the new era and have carried it forward as others have caught up. Dan Lanning arrived at the perfect time to spearhead the operation, but considering that it was his first head coaching job, he needed to prove to players around the Country that his blueprint would work.
The Transfer Portal has been incredible for Oregon's roster building on an annual basis as the Ducks have gone out and spent big on players like Dillon Thieneman to help plug holes. When a coaching staff is truly operating at the next level is when they can identify an under the radar player who can become a star.
Whether it's a former highly touted recruit who struggled to start their career or a player making an impact at a small school, potential transfer surprises come in all different shapes and sizes. Dan Lanning and his staff have struck gold several times to start his tenure with 5 examples standing out.
The 5 biggest home runs Dan Lanning has hit in the Transfer Portal
Dante Moore - Quarterback - UCLA
Coming out of High School, Dante Moore was committed to Oregon but opted to stay home at UCLA after the Ducks lost Kenny Dillingham. During his freshman season, Dante Moore was able to start right away for the Bruins, but he struggled, completing just 53.5% of his passes with 11 touchdowns to 9 interceptions.
After struggling at UCLA, Dante Moore opted to transfer, and the bonds he built with Oregon's coaching staff helped the Ducks get him on campus. Taking Dante Moore was a high-upside bet, but it had a ton of risk, which is why the staff also added Dillon Gabriel to serve as the starting quarterback.
The season on the bench couldn't have gone much better for Dante Moore once he stepped into action for the Ducks. Dante Moore passed for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions, becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Oregon is lucky enough that Moore will return for one more season to continue developing, which points to the excellent job the staff did developing him.
Jamari Johnson - Tight End - Louisville
When Oregon added tight end Jamari Johnson, it was hard to project what his impact would be after he caught just 13 passes for 158 yards the season prior at Louisville. While Johnson was the understudy to Kenyon Sadiq, he made a massive impact for the Ducks with 510 yards, stepping up when Oregon's wide receiver room dealt with injuries. Johnson will have a chance to take another major leap next season and continue the pipeline Oregon has built to the NFL at tight end.
Malik Benson - Wide Receiver - Florida State
After Malik Benson burst onto the scene as a top JUCO wide receiver, it appeared that he wasn't going to make a contribution at the Power 4 level. Benson struggled to catch on at Alabama, and joining a disaster Florida State team the next season didn't help his production. When Malik Benson committed to Oregon, it was more likely he'd be at best a depth piece.
Instead, Malik Benson finally unlocked his ability, catching 43 passes for 719 yards and 6 touchdowns, helping Oregon survive its wide receiver injuries. Benson was critical in beating Washington and James Madison with back-to-back 100+ yard performances. In the end, Malik Benson was a case of how the Transfer Portal should work for both parties, as Oregon got the production, and Benson revived his career, allowing him to get drafted by the Raiders.
Bo Nix - Quarterback - Auburn
After being tabbed as the savior at Auburn as a freshman, Bo Nix's tenure quickly flipped for the worse. Bryan Harsin's offense wasn't the right fit for Nix, leading to his struggles and eventual benching in favor of TJ Finley who clearly wasn't as talented. At the end of Nix's 3rd season at Auburn he entered the Transfer Portal and was written off by most fans.
Bo Nix helped Dan Lanning get the momentum rolling at Oregon, and in return, the pairing with offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham launched everyone's careers. Nix spent two seasons in Eugene, completing 658 of his 879 attempts for 8,101 yards and 74 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions.
Bucky Irving - Running Back - Minnesota
When Oregon landed an unranked transfer from Minnesota, there weren't the highest of expectations. It quickly became clear that Bucky Irving was an elite talent, as he jumped from 699 yards and 4 touchdowns at Minnesota to 1,058 yards with impressive receiving production. The following season, Bucky Irving posted another 1,000+ yard season forming a dominant duo with Jordan James.
Bucky Irving was a key piece in kickstarting the Dan Lanning era, and he quickly became a fan favorite in Eugene. As of late, Oregon finds most of it's pieces via 5-stars on the recruiting trail or highly coveted transfers, but when you can hit on a player like Oregon did with Bucky Irving it becomes much easier to build a roster.
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