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As far as Wednesdays in fall camp go, Aug. 12 had layers.
With Oregon running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples set to speak for the first time since his April DUII arrest, there was an unusual bit of newsiness to the scheduled post-practice media availability — and that was before the chaos surrounding running back Jordon Davison.
We’ll get to the football in a second, but let’s get the legal stuff out of the way: Samples was cited in April for DUII and reckless driving. Head coach Dan Lanning said it was a serious matter that would be handled internally, Oregon’s primary comment on the matter until Samples’ Wednesday availability.
“Back in April, I made some decisions that I regret, and I wish I could take back,” Samples said. “They were addressed back in April, and Coach Lanning did hold me accountable. I have to take full accountability of that, and I’ll continue to take full accountability of that.
“It’s just important that I continue to grow and earn those guys’ trust in the locker room, grow my coworkers’ trust, and grow the trust of other people here in this building.”
Samples seemed far more at ease when addressing whatever it was that happened with his running backs on Wednesday. Reports from two separate publications earlier in the day said Davison, Oregon’s star sophomore running back, had suffered an injury in practice that could sideline him for up to eight months. Shortly afterward, both reports were updated to say Davison may not actually miss significant time.
Samples didn’t specifically deny that Davison had been injured when asked about it, but certainly suggested the running back was healthier than those initial reports indicated.
“Yeah, I’m not sure what information was talked about or said,” Samples said. “But I know that kid just practiced his butt off. He had a really good day of practice today.”
The Ducks later posted photos and video of Davison practicing to social media.
And that was Wednesday at Ducks camp.
Becoming the guy
For the record, Gage Hurych had options.
Oregon’s projected placekicker for 2026 played cornerback, receiver and kicker at West Linn High School in the Portland suburbs. He had five Division I lacrosse offers and, at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, more bounce than that one other export from the mean streets of West Linn.
“I chose kicking,” said Hurych, whose dad briefly played for Kansas City of Major League Soccer and whose mom was a junior Olympic swimmer.
It’s a choice that’s beginning to reward the redshirt sophomore: Just over three weeks before the Oregon Ducks kick off the season against Boise State, Hurych has emerged as the clear favorite in the race to replace the steadying foot of Atticus Sappington.
“Gage is really a guy that we’ve been prepping for the last couple of years for this spot so we’re really excited about what he’s going to do,” Oregon special teams coach Joe Lorig said. “(Keaton Emmett) will push him as well, but I feel pretty confident to say that Gage can be the guy.”
Read the full story on Hurych going all in on kicking here.
An O.G. returns
Oregon offensive line coach A’lique Terry wanted to be careful about how he said it.
What happened up at Oregon State last year? Nobody wants to see a program go through a midseason coach firing and a 2-10 record — even if it was a school once considered to be Oregon’s rival.
However, that season did happen, and at the end of the year, those on OSU’s staff did enter the proverbial transfer portal. And while this offseason wasn’t one of massive roster additions for Terry’s position group, he did see one key piece in Corvallis that he knew would make the 2026 Ducks better: Former Oregon State offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh, a stalwart of the Beavers program who previously spent two seasons as an analyst with the Ducks earlier in Dan Lanning’s tenure in 2023 and 2024.
“O.G. Cav,” Terry said. “That’s part of The Firm (the nickname for Oregon’s offensive line). Like, there wasn’t even a question when that situation happened up the road, if he was coming back or not, I looked at coach Lanning like, ‘Why are you asking me? Like, you know me. It’s family.’”
Read the full story on Cavanaugh’s return to Eugene here.
Going out with Gold
The World Athletics U20 Championships wrapped Sunday with a three-hour sprint to the finish at Hayward Field.
Team USA claimed the team title behind a meet-record 24 total medals, including gold from University of Oregon commit Simon Rosselli in the men’s discus. Ellery Lincoln was fifth in the women’s 1500-meter final.
Owen Murray has the full wrap-up here.
The Traffic Report
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“It’s been the coolest part of camp: There’s a lot of guys competing their tails off. Making my life harder. That’s what I say all the time: Make my life as hard as possible.”
— Oregon offensive line coach A’lique Terry.
UPCOMING GAMES
- Soccer at Portland State • 7 p.m. • Thursday
- Soccer vs. Gonzaga • 1 p.m. • Sunday
STORIES I’m WORKING ON
Heading to Kansas City next week. That’s about all I can tell you.
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Enjoy your Thursday,
Tyson
