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Everything Dan Lanning said in presser as spring camp resumes
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- Everything Dan Lanning said in presser as spring camp resumes
After a little time off from practice, the Oregon Ducks football team is back at it for the remainder of spring camp and head coach Dan Lanning met with the media to discuss a number of subjects, including if he's caught any of the March Madness.
Typically, the coach is more worried about if his team is ready to get down to business for the next month as they prepare for the annual Spring Game on April 25. The Ducks are expected to be one of the top teams in the Big Ten and in the country in 2026 and that success starts now. One can usually determine if a season is going to be a good one depending on how the spring goes. So far, so good for Lanning, who will be entering his fifth season at Oregon , even though that almost hard to believe.
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The Ducks will be one of the more veteran teams in the conference as they had several players turn down the NFL in order to come back to Eugene for one more year, including quarterback Dante Moore . He will be mentoring Dylan Raiola just as Dillon Gabriel mentored him. But at the same time, Moore will be looking to lead the Ducks to their first ever national championship.
Here is everything Lanning had to say to the media on this last day of March.
Opening Statement
Jan 9, 2026; Atlanta, GA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning leads his team onto the field prior to the 2025 Peach Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Indiana Hoosiers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Dan Lanning:First day in pads, you come off a little bit of a break. You're anxious to see what the guys look like. And it was competitive. Some pads popping, some guys really getting after it. You know, got control of emotions at times better. But that's happened when you throw the pads on so you go and open it up.
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Dante Moore's letter on mental health
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore looks toward the scoreboard as the Oregon Ducks host the Indiana Hoosiers Oct. 11, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Question:One thing that came out over the past couple weeks was Dante's letter to the governor about mental health. Just curious if he had any conversations with you during that process, and what it's like, kind of see your team leader step up and be a leader for people outside the program, people around the state?
DL:We have conversations all the time, not necessarily just about that. We talk about a lot of stuff. Dante is a man we're proud that he has a willingness to speak up with a platform that he has.
Moore returning and turning down the NFL
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 29: Dante Moore #5 of the Oregon Ducks scores a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half at Husky Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Q:Dante is one of those guys who you know had the opportunity to go to the NFL, but chose to stay. Just your thoughts on some of the biggest reasons why that group of guys decided to come back.
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DL:I mean, every person makes the best decision for them, and obviously he's one that made a unique decision. I think you're trying to decide what's the best situation for yourself, and what do you want? You know, what do you want to accomplish? You only get a limited amount of time. You need to play college football as a separator. You know, once that time expires, the time expires, and every one of those guys recognizes there's an opportunity for them to get better. There's some things that they want to accomplish at and that they couldn't accomplish if they left. I think it speaks volumes about, you know, where they feel like they can grow and what they can do to help the team go where it needs to go.
OL Micheal Bennett III joining the team
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT - NOVEMBER 22: Michael Bennett #75 of the Yale Bulldogs and Ty Bartrum #21 of the Harvard Crimson exchange words in the first half of the 141st playing of "The Game" at Yale Bowl on November 22, 2025 in New Haven, Connecticut.
Q:Coach, what did you see in Michael Bennett that led you guys to pursue him? And what have you seen so far for him, and what do you think he's going to bring to the group overall?
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DL:He's obviously a really intelligent player. Know that from where he's coming from ( Yale ), but you love the personality, you love the fight. He's a guy that, you know, O-line is really all about brotherhood, right? And you see that, you know, with Michael and the way that he works, the you know, the intention and the growth opportunities right there for him, and what this place has been able to do, I think Coach Terry and that group on the offensive side of ball have proven over time what we can help accomplish with that. You know, that position specifically, we felt like Mike had a lot of those traits that we were looking for.
Moore leading the QB room
Oct 25, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Q:Coach, we got a sneak peek in the quarterback room at the video guys posted. I'm curious with Dante, what kind of maturation you've seen, not only in that room, but just leaving the team, maybe, as he enters Year 2?
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DL:Every day gets better. All right? You see the guy operating today, making checks out there at the line, taking charge, right? And every day for us to be who we have to be, he's going to continue to push and prove.
Matayo Uiagalelei 's maturity
Aug 30, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei (10) sacks Montana State Bobcats quarterback Justin Lamson (8) during the second half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Q:Talks a little bit just about those players that decided to come back and forego the untold draft, two of those players we're going to talk to today, and Poncho ( Iapani Laloulu . And Matayo, Poncho has been just a natural leader since he, like, got on campus. But Matayo is someone who's kind of had to grow throughout his time here. How have you kind of seen him step up this spring?
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DL:I think people lead in different ways. And Poncho has definitely always been a vocal leader. I think that happens a lot at center right. You think about some guys that played that have played that position for us here, you become a communicator really early in your career. So those guys that have come back, they've proven, you know, over time, that they have a vested interest, and their voice has grown since they've been on campus. They've grown in their leadership. But, you know, for Matayo, I'm just really proud of the way he's worked this off-season. He had some really specific goals of things that he wanted to attack, and it's showing up, you know, on the field for him right now.
Getting back to football
Oregon Ducks Spring Game 2025
Q:What are the priorities that you want to see translate to getting back into football?
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DL:I mean us playing good football, right? I mean, today, the pads came out, so you're gonna figure out who's gonna bite right and who's gonna run away and that's what we want to fight, or who the guys are going to gonna buy can't hide from when the pads are on so little different when wearing spiders, and we got a bunch of guys are out there wanting to bite.
Matayo improving as a senior
Jan 1, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei (10) makes a confetti angel following the 2025 Orange Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Q:What do you think Matayo can continue to improve and better his game in this last year with Oregon ?
DL:Speaking in specifics, ultimately, as a finisher, right at the end of plays. That's a place that I know he wants to attack and improve. He's always been a really intelligent player. Obviously has a special skill set, and he's, he's done a lot of things in the weight room, you know, this offseason, to attack places for him to get better. And you know, I think he has that voice, and his ability to continue to share that voice with the team is gonna be something that can impact us.
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Lanning here for Year 5
Q:It's been since 1999 that a coach has been in his fifth spring with the Ducks, just as head coach. What's the biggest benefit for you, just in the familiarity of being here for four seasons and not being the new guy on the block anymore?
DL:The biggest benefit for me is getting to sit in the seat that I sit in right to get to be in a place like Oregon. I mean, I realized how special it was the day that I got here, and now getting to go into year five. I mean, it's even more special, and that's something I just don't want to take for granted. So, yeah, grateful that we have some continuity. We have some staff continuity. We have a lot of guys who understand what we're looking for and what we're trying to accomplish. But more importantly, grateful for the experience and the opportunity to be here.
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Brandon Finney improving
Oregon defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. celebrates an interception as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Q:Coach Hampton said the other day before break that he didn't want (Brandon) Finney to rest on his laurels. You want him to improve, and there are a lot of areas he can improve. And what does that mean to you in terms of what you think he needs to improve on?
DL:I would say as a player, as a coach, as anybody in our organization, it's about growth, right? And that's always been one of our DNA traits. So there are things that every one of our players can attack, and every one of us, you know, we haven't reached our ceiling yet. We can get some, we can get better. And Brandon will be the first guy to tell you that he works extremely hard to do that.
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Poncho leading the offensive line group
Oregon offensive lineman Iapani Laloulu snaps the ball to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Q:The offensive line has had a lot of turnover the past few years, but you guys maintain that standard of being in the Joe Moore Award mix every year. Poncho has been at the center of that. How much of that success can just be attributed to his continuity and his leadership in that room?
DL:He's a huge part of it, but he would tell you, he's a part of it, right? And there's no good old line that has, you know, deficiencies, right? Ultimately, it's about all five guys coming together, and that's what makes our O-line so special, but he's certainly been a big piece of that.
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Mental health being more important now
Jan 1, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Devon Jackson (26) and quarterback Dante Moore (5) celebrate following the 2025 Orange Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Q:The subject of mental health, obviously, in sports is becoming more talked about, and I'm wondering how important that is in terms of your locker room and the leadership that you try to instill.
DL:I think it's something we're always, you know, cognizant of and aware of. You know, I think all of our guys feel really comfortable as a family here, right? So you're able to express yourself and communicate, and it's important for us. We've got to keep at the forefront of where we're at, but we're here to play football. You know, football's tough. Life's hard. Our guys recognize all those pieces, but if you don't recognize it in your program, then you're probably missing something. And I'd like to think that we hit that.
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Freshmen building off of success for Year 2
Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Dakorien Moore (1) looks on before the game against the James Madison Dukes at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Q:How does Dierre (Hill) and Dakorien (Moore) build off such a successful first year. What's that jump you see a one-year player take, typically doing their second year in the program?
DL:I think you've seen it within our program for several guys before. You know, whether that's, you know, Jeremiah McClellan this past season, like it's up to them. They got to go attack the work, and they got to know that they're not the best version of themselves yet. So, you know, guys like Dakorien, guys like Dierre, all those guys that were able to make an impact, you know, this year, Brandon Finney, like, that's, that's a big piece of them, right? That's what they have to be internal, internally and intrinsically motivated to go improve. And you know, I think those guys are wired the right way to do that.
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March Madness
Mar 16, 2026; Dayton, OH, USA; Detailed viewed of March Madness logo on the court during a practice session ahead of the first four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Q:Not sure if you got a chance to watch any of the March Madness games, but I'm curious to know if you enjoyed any of the story lines or the mantras, or maybe even a game or a moment that sticks out to you that, as a coach like yourself, has inspired you at all.
DL:You know, I haven't, I haven't been on watch very much, but I did get to catch, you know, like the last 10 seconds of the UConn game the other day. And, you know, I think that's one of those interesting moments we've been on both sides, you know, of how close it is, right? And I think that's just a great indicator on how much you have to push for all the small details and how things can go in any direction, right? But that certainly was one that probably sticks out to me this March.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Everything Dan Lanning said in presser as spring camp resumes
