The Oregon Ducks' defense hasn't received much kudos this week after allowing the Boise State Broncos to score 27 points on them in Week 1, including multiple 70-plus yard scoring drives. While the standard wasn't met as a collective with blue-chippers lining every position, defensive tackle Bear Alexander's performance was a different story.
Facing an underrated Broncos rushing attack headed by Dylan Riley (1,125 yards, 10 touchdowns in 2025) and Sire Gaines (811 yards, eight touchdowns), the Ducks were going to be tested up front to begin the season. And, especially in the second half, there were moments where the Boise State run game was successful in churning out positive gains. But by game's end, they'd ran for just 93 yards on 26 carries,
good for just 2.6 yards per pop.
Alexander answered the call, totaling eight tackles including a sack of quarterback Maddux Madsen. There were moments of the second-year Oregon starter simply discarding Boise State's center and guards before swallowing up Riley or Gaines near the line of scrimmage.
The performance of Alexander caught the eye of The Athletic NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler, who dove into the Week 1 tape and made a strong claim about the defensive tackle's draft stock.
"At 6-3 and 311 pounds with 34-inch arms and 10 1/8-inch hands, Alexander is a physical presence in the trenches who can shred blocks or hold his ground versus double teams," Brugler wrote. "A former top recruit, he had stops at Georgia and USC before transferring to Oregon, where he is realizing his potential. With his size and ability, Alexander started his senior season as a top-100 prospect and is competing to be in the top-50 conversation."
When Alexander arrived ahead of the 2025 season, there wasn't a ton of buzz around him. While there weren't necessarily character concerns, there were questions after he opted to not finish his junior campaign at USC. His talent was clear, but his role with the Ducks was less so.
He earned a starting job out of fall camp and became a vital piece of a strong quartet along the defensive line. Alexander totaled 50 tackles (19 solo), a sack and a pass deflection, making himself known as a bona-fide draft prospect in the 2026 class. But the hulking defender opted to return to Eugene for his final season of eligibility — and if he continues the level of play he displayed in Week 1, his draft stock will almost certainly continue to soar.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Bear Alexander boosts draft stock with Week 1 performance
