Trio of Ducks, one former Oregon player crack Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’ for 2023
The Athletic’s ‘Freaks List’ written by Bruce Felman each and every year is among the most entertaining articles you will read leading up to the college football season. Like other publications, it doesn’t go through to top 100 players in the nation, regurgitating many of the names that we already know will have a big impact on the upcoming season.
Instead, Feldman goes through the 101 most physically outlandish “freaks” in college football. In his own words, the Freak’s List aims to “spotlight the players whose athleticism blew the minds of folks inside their own college football programs.”
A year ago, Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez was near the top of the list because of his length and speed. This year, a trio of Oregon Ducks made the cut for Feldman.
More than just those three Oregon players, though, there are a handful of other notable “freaks” for Duck fans to read about. Among them is one former Oregon Duck who transferred out of the program, a former 5-star recruit who Dan Lanning and Co. probably still have nightmares about losing, and a long list of Pac-12 players or guys who the Ducks will see on their 2023 schedule at some point or another.
Here are all of the “freaks” that you need to know about as an Oregon fan:
Oregon Ducks — EDGE Jordan Burch (No. 4)
Size: 6-foot-6, 295 pounds
Career Stats: 31 Games | 105 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT
Bruce Feldman’s Take
Even though Burch is almost 300 pounds, he’s hit almost 21 MPH on the GPS, going 20.85 and he’s vertical-jumped 34 inches. Burch also back-squatted 685 pounds and has done a sumo deadlift of 685.
Analysis: It’s no wonder that Oregon fans have such high hopes that Jordan Burch is going to help turn around the defense and contribute to an improved pass-rush this season. As one of the top “freaks” in the nation, Burch has the tools to become the next great edge rusher to come out of Eugene if all goes right this year.
Oregon Ducks — LB Devon Jackson (No. 13)
Size: 6-foot-2, 228 pounds
Career Stats: 5 Games | 1 tackle
Bruce Feldman’s Take
He has run 23.55 MPH, edging out sophomore defensive back Khamari Terrell’s 23.47. Jackson vertical-jumped 39 inches this offseason, power-cleaned 335 and back-squatted 605.
Analysis: If you haven’t heard much about Devon Jackson this fall, then you haven’t been paying attention. Though there are some talented linebackers on Oregon’s defense, Jackson is among the most intriguing because of the speed and size that he brings to the table. He will have to work his way up the depth chart to get his opportunities this fall, but there’s a chance he has a great career as a Duck ahead of him.
Oregon Ducks — DE Brandon Dorlus (No. 51)
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Size: 6-foot-3, 285 pounds
Career Stats: 38 Games | 83 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks
Bruce Feldman’s Take
Dorlus, a 6-3, 290-pounder, has similar power numbers to Burch — a 685-pound back squat, a 685-pound sumo deadlift and a 345-pound power clean. He’s also almost as fast, hitting 20.75 MPH on the GPS.
Analysis: We all know what we’re getting with Brandon Dorlus — a big defensive lineman who is established at the point of attack and able to get into the backfield and create havoc. What we don’t know, however, is what the presence of Jordan Burch will do to help Dorlus be freed up on the defensive line and create more of an impact. That will be fun to watch.
Former Oregon Duck — BYU LT Kingsley Suamataia (No. 3)
Size: 6-foot-6, 325 pounds
Bruce Feldman’s Take
The 6-6, 325-pound Suamataia didn’t allow a sack last season, a run of 361 pass plays. According to BYU sports scientist SkylerMayne, Suamataia hit 21.5 MPH last year as a 318-pound freshman. That’s really good for a 218-pounder, much less an athlete 100 pounds more than that.
Analysis: Having a former Oregon player who transferred away land at No. 3 on the Freaks List is a bit tough to swallow, but Duck fans knew when Kingsley Suamataia left for BYU that they were losing a potentially generational left tackle. His size and speed make him a prototypical blocker on the edge, and his NFL draft stock will likely be incredibly high after this season.
5-star Who Got Away — South Carolina TE Nyckoles Harbor (No. 1)
Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
Size: 6-foot-5, 243 pounds
Bruce Feldman’s Take
The son of former U.S. national soccer team forward Jean Harbor put up some eye-catching track times in high school, clocking a 10.22-second 100-meter dash, a 6.64 in the 60 and a 20.63 in the 200. In training with the Gamecocks this summer, Harbor hit 22.9 miles per hour on the GPS.
Analysis: Nyckoles Harbor will forever be the one who got away. On the morning of signing day, there was a strong belief among all Oregon coaches and fans that the 5-star ATH would be a Duck in a matter of hours, but a last-second change of mind landed the elite athlete with the South Carolina Gamecocks. As his college career blossoms and unfolds, this one has a good chance to hurt more and more.
Oregon Opponents in 2023 — Texas Tech DB Tyler Owens (No. 29)
Size: 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
Career Stats: 24 Games | 32 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT
Bruce Feldman’s Take
Owens, 6-2, 205 pounds, is an eye-catching talent who vertical-jumped over 40 inches this offseason and also was running at more than 23 MPH in a game.
Analysis: Texas Tech has a number of defenders that made the Freaks List, led by DB Tyler Owens, a speedy back who can go up and get the ball when needed. Watching him cover the likes of Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson is going to be fun in September.
Oregon Opponents in 2023 — Texas Tech EDGE Myles Cole (No. 35)
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Size: 6-foot-6, 285 pounds
Career Stats: 32 Games | 53 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks
Bruce Feldman’s Take
Cole’s max speed is 20.3 MPH, and that’s an area he’s really improved upon since he got to Lubbock after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe.
Analysis: While Owens is who you need to worry about in the secondary, it’s Myles Cole who could create a lot of havoc in the trenches. He’s quicker than you would expect at the size and able to bat down balls at the line of scrimmage with his length. Containing him will certainly be a key for the Ducks in September.
Oregon Opponents in 2023 — USC WR Brenden Rice (No. 53)
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Size: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
Career Stats: 28 Games | 66 catches, 1,030 yards, 9 TD
Bruce Feldman’s Take
The younger Rice is 6-3, 215 pounds and hit 23 MPH on the GPS and had an impressive 1.43 10-yard split. This offseason, Rice also vertical-jumped 38 inches, did 17 reps of 225 on the bench and squatted 525 for three reps.
Analysis: We know that USC is incredibly deep at WR again this year, and Brenden Rice is one of the guys that you need to know about. He is among the fastest players in the Pac-12, and he has great size and an ability to be physical at the catch point. Another year with him and Caleb Williams paired together could be impressive to watch.
Oregon Opponents in 2023 — Washington WR Rome Odunze (No. 57)
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Size: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds
Career Stats: 23 Games | 122 catches, 1,632 yards, 11 TD
Bruce Feldman’s Take
This offseason, Odunze ran a 4.34 40, a 4.19 pro agility shuttle and also did 37.1 inches on the vertical and 10-1 in the broad jump.
Analysis: You could argue that Rome Odunze is the best WR in the Pac-12, and I think you’d get very little pushback. His numbers are undeniable, and his size/speed combo makes him a really tough cover on the outside.
Oregon Opponents in 2023 — Texas Tech DT Jaylon Hutchings (No. 63)
Size: 6-foot-0, 295 pounds
Career Stats: 48 Games | 146 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks
Bruce Feldman’s Take
A 6-0, 295-pound strong man who was once a nifty high school running back, now he’s got a 500-pound bench, a 700-pound squat, but he has been clocked at 18 miles per hour.
Analysis: Another Texas Tech defensive lineman that the Ducks are going to have to really pay attention to, Jaylon Hutchings has a long college career worth of experience that makes him dangerous in the trenches. He isn’t as lengthy as Myles Cole, but he’s able to muddle up running lanes and create some mismatches inside.
Oregon Opponents in 2023 — Utah S Sione Vaki (No. 66)
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Size: 6-foot-0, 207 pounds
Career Stats: 14 Games | 41 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 3 PBU
Bruce Feldman’s Take
Vaki already can bench-press 400 pounds, squats 520 and vertical-jumps 39 inches. He did 10-5 1/2 in the broad jump.
Analysis: In just one year with the Utes, Sione Vaki proved himself as a dangerous defender who could do some damage in the secondary. He’s got great strength for his size, and his agility helps set him apart.
Oregon Opponents in 2023 — Stanford LB David Bailey (No. 68)
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Size: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds
Career Stats: 10 Games | 46 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Bruce Feldman’s Take
A big recruit who backed up his hype in his debut season with 46 tackles, 8.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. The 6-3, 245-pound sophomore has hit 20.53 mph in 20 yards with a 5.5 meters/second peak acceleration.
Analysis: It may be tough to see David Bailey a lot this year because there won’t be too many people tuning into Stanford games, but this defender was highly productive last year, and he is poised for another great season in Palo Alto.
Other Pac-12 Players — UCLA RB Carson Steele (No. 21)
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Size: 6-foot-1, 233 pounds
Career Stats: 25 Games | 481 rushes, 2,447 yards, 20 TD
Bruce Feldman’s Take
Steele, at 6-1, 233, has wowed his new teammates with his strength. He bench-pressed 450 pounds and squatted 685. His wheels have been impressive too, clocking 20.96 MPH and vertical-jumping 35 inches.
Analysis: The UCLA Bruins got one of the top transfer portal players available this year by landing Carson Steele, a player who flourished at Ball State. With his combination of size and speed, he will be a tough player to bring down for any Pac-12 team this season. The Ducks aren’t scheduled to play UCLA unless they meet in the conference title game, so they might be lucky to miss Steele.
Other Pac-12 Players — UCLA WR J. Michael Sturdivant (No. 79)
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Size: 6-foot-3, 206 pounds
Career Stats: 15 Games | 65 catches, 755 yards, 7 TD
Bruce Feldman’s Take
The 6-3, 206-pound sophomore is the most gifted wideout the Bruins have had in the Chip Kelly era. Sturdivant has topped out at 23.2 MPH and also bench-pressed close to 300 pounds and squatted almost 400 pounds this offseason.
Analysis: Again, Oregon won’t have to worry about slowing down J. Michael Sturdivant unless they meet UCLA in the conference title game, but he will pose a mismatch for a lot of Pac-12 defensive backs because of his size and speed combination. He’s among the top WRs in the conference and could be a dangerous player, assuming that the Bruins get their QB situation sorted out.
