Every season, the Oregon Ducks have a roster stacked with elite talent and seasoning at every position. Sometimes it can seem nearly impossible for a freshman to break through right away and snag a regular role.
Well, last season proved the Ducks aren't afraid to let the freshmen run if they can help the team. Even in a loaded wide receiver room, the Ducks have a couple of freshmen who have stood out in the first few days of fall camp, including a talented pass-catcher who wasn't around to make an impression in the spring.
Five-star freshman Jalen Lott enrolled in the summer and is playing catch-up with the rest of the offense. Fortunately, Lott isn't just quick on the field. He's picking up the playbook and wowing the coaching staff at Oregon's
first three practices.
Oregon has raked in premier recruits at wide receiver in recent years, and Lott is among them. Entering a room with returners like Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart and Jeremiah McClellan, there is plenty of competition for targets. Defensive coordinator Chris Hampton is getting the Ducks' defense off to a good start in practice, but the freshman wideout has been a problem early on, which could be a good omen.
"He has a ton of potential," Hampton said of Lott on Thursday. "He has a tremendous catch radius and can accelerate. He has really good hands, can start and stop, and has good burst. Going against all of our receivers in practice is a challenge. They make some plays against us, and you think, 'I am glad they are on our team.’ They challenge us each and every day. Jalen has looked really good so far."
Oregon is making some tweaks to the offense this season under new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, but that also means there is a chance for Lott, as well as fellow freshman Gatlin Bair, to prove themselves worthy of a role when the Ducks take the field for the first time on Sept. 5. The summer represented Lott's first chance to stand out and gear up for fall camp, and so far, he hasn't wasted an opportunity.
Mehringer referenced the infamous Wally Pipp story when speaking to the media on Friday. The former New York Yankees first baseman missed a game with a headache. Who stepped in? Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who took his spot and started 2,130 consecutive games. Mehringer uses it as a reminder to all of his players that things can change on a dime.
"For the young guys in the wide receiver room, I think they've got to continue to grow and see where they're at," Mehringer said on Friday. "At this point in fall camp, they just came off a great summer. (Strength coach) Wilson Love did an unreal job with those guys. They look completely different, which is awesome to see. It's a testament to him and what the players did over the summer."
Jalen Lott making a play in his first practice 👀 pic.twitter.com/oNc3HRjIhs
— Oregon Updates (@oregon__updates) August 6, 2026
While Moore, Stewart and McClellan are widely expected to top the depth chart for the Ducks this season, the battle rages on down the board. Bair and UAB transfer Iverson Hooks present elite speed and quickness, similar to Lott. The Texas native can separate himself with his ability to win with acrobatic catches in the air, which he has already showcased in fall camp.
Mehringer has made it clear that experience in the offense won't secure any receiver a job at this point, given how loaded the room is. The door is open. Lott just needs to find a way to step through.
"I think coach Ross Douglas has done an unbelievable job of bringing in good players," Mehringer said. "We tell everybody that if you're good enough, you're old enough. There are no jobs that have been solidified or anything like that. You've got to go out and earn it every single day."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon freshman WR Jalen Lott showing a 'ton of potential'
