Oregon Football held its Pro Day on Tuesday and had plenty of former and current Oregon Ducks out and about trying to show the plethora of NFL scouts what they can bring to the table. While the expected participants like Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, Josh Conerly, etc. were all there, players from farther back than just last year's team also came through the Moshofsky Center for the day.
Chase Cota for instance, the former Oregon wide receiver in 2022 came by to run the 40-yard dash in front of all the scouts in attendance. Meanwhile, Bo Nix and Justin Herbert came by to simply show support to their brothers Tez Johnson and Patrick Herbert, respectively, as they try to join them in the league.
"Having Bo and my dad here and being able to watch me showcase my talents for the last time here in Eugene - it's definitely fun having one more hoorah here," Johnson said at Oregon Pro Day. "Who knows when I'll be back? I'll definitely be back, but who knows how long that will be."
While the main focus of the day is showcasing talent and skill, what Johnson said is true for all of the competing Oregon alumni. Who knows when any of them will be back in Eugene next? With professional teams scattered across the country and busy schedules impending, it will be hard for these players to find time to return home. The bittersweet moment is what makes Pro Day so special for programs across the country.
One last go around with the group of guys you have battled together with for so long. It's been eight weeks since many of the hopeful draftees have seen each other and for one final day, they can show off that hard work under the same roof again.
"To come back and see everybody's body change, and see how serious everybody's taking it, it's beautiful," Dontae Manning said. "Training for the eight weeks we put in. All our guys are spread all across the country training and we come back for one day to basically change our family's life. It's a real sentimental moment but it's also energetic because it's the last time this group is going to be together under one roof."
It may be the final time Manning and many other players will be competing in Eugene, but it certainly won't be their last trip back home. It's very common for players to return to Autzen and the rest of the facilities at various points in their careers.
Many players make their return to Eugene during an NFL BYE Week in order to catch a game, but recently Oregon's Pro Day has proven to become a reunion meeting ground for alumni as well.
Three years ago former Oregon Track star and wide receiver Devon Allen came back for Pro Day for an attempt at an NFL comeback. Cota looks to be doing the same thing this year as he returned to compete after Pre-Season and Practice Squad stints with a few different teams.
Nix and Herbert were the two non-competing Oregon alumni there on Tuesday and the two Oregon greats could be adding a new member to their NFL list in a matter of time. Gabriel is on his way to being the 4th active Oregon quarterback in the NFL and with two out of the current three in attendance, he shined.
"You look at all Oregon quarterbacks. I think you can look in history even to Joey Harrington who I was around at the combine, Marcus [Mariota] who I text a bunch, Justin being here, Bo being here, you look at the quality of person that has been a quarterback at Oregon and you appreciate that," Gabriel said. "It's such a special place to have a quarterback that represents this place well on and off the field and I think we take pride in that. I definitely do and knew that was my responsibility. It's a great fraternity of QBs and I'm glad to represent it well."
It doesn't matter when you were a Duck. All who have represented the O are able to come back for one special day. A day when the old school meets the new school and where a new era of Oregon Football begins.