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Handing out end-of-season awards for the Oregon Ducks in 2025
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- Handing out end-of-season awards for the Oregon Ducks in 2025
The Oregon Ducks ' season has come to an end, and while the finale might not have been everything that fans hoped it would be, the season as a whole was undoubtedly a success, with head coach Dan Lanning picking up his first pair of College Football Playoff wins, and the team standing as one of the final four teams in the nation.
With Dante Moore and a long list of starters returning for the 2026 season, there is a ton of excitement about the future in Eugene. Before we look ahead, though, we want to take one final look in the past and try to give out some year-end awards for the season. We did this midway through the year, so it will be interesting to compare how things were then as compared to now.
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Here are our end-of-year awards for the 2025 season:
Most Valuable Player
Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore
Zachary Neel: Dante Moore —There are several different people that this award could go to, but ultimately, Dante Moore gets it in my book. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and was the driving force for a lot of the Ducks' wins, especially in the clutch during games against Iowa, USC, and Washington.
Don Smalley: Dante Moore — Dante Moore was very impressive this season. I'm so glad he's coming back. He'll be even better next season. I didn't know what to expect from him at the beginning of the year, and he was a lot better than I thought he would be. Shout out to Bryce Boettcher on defense.
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Paul White: Noah Whittington —Everyone on the team stepped up and played their part at some point during the season, but Whittington was the most consistent. He only exploded in a couple of games, but he was a steady presence who kept the opposing offense off the field and controlled the game for the Ducks. They couldn't have achieved the success they did without Whittington.
Bjorn Bergstrom: Dante Moore— It's extremely difficult to pin this down to one player, but I'll stick with my mid-season pick of Dante Moore. Despite this roster being immensely talented, take him away, and this team doesn't go nearly as far as they did.
Most Improved Player
EUGENE, OREGON - NOVEMBER 14: Jeremiah McClellan #11 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after a touchdown during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Autzen Stadium on November 14, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Zachary Neel: Jeremiah McClellan —The Ducks had a lot of guys to watch at the WR position this year, but that room thinned out quickly near the end of the season because of injuries. Fortunately, Jeremiah McClellan stepped up when called upon and had some massive catches for Oregon down the stretch. Looking at where he was at in the end of the season compared to the start, it's easy to see him as the most-improved on the team.
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Don Smalley: Jerry Mixon Jr. — I'm going with Jerry Mixon Jr. He basically came out of nowhere to be one of the best linebackers in the conference.
Paul White: Jeremiah McClellan —McClellan's leap was remarkable, going from just 24 yards last year to nearly 400 this year, along with two touchdowns. What makes his numbers more impressive is the fact that he was often the fourth or fifth option on the offense. Hopefully, he can make a similar jump next season.
Bjorn Bergstrom: Jamari Johnson —Right away, I was impressed with tight end Jamari Johnson's size and speed, but he really came into his own as the season progressed. It seemed like he gained confidence in the Iowa game with Kenyon Sadiq sideline,d and it continued throughout the rest of the season. With the way the offense used 12 personnel and with how trusted a target he became for Moore, I'd say Johnson was the offense's unsung standout in 2025.
Best Position Group
Oregon running back Dierre Hill Jr. picks up yards for the Ducks as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Zachary Neel: Running Back— I wanted to go with the wide receivers here, but when it came down to it, Oregon's RB room was really special this season. Guys like Jordan Davison and Dierre Hill came out of nowhere to have massive impacts, and Noah Whittington was a consistent and dominant player throughout the year. This group only looks to be getting stronger as we move into 2026, as well.
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Don Smalley: Secondary— So many to choose from here. I'll go with the secondary. They came up big in big moments over and over this season.
Paul White: Running back —The running game was the engine of the offense this season, and the aspect that made it so unique was how many guys were in the driver's seat. Whittington, Jordon Davison, Dierre Hill Jr., and Jayden Limar each got significant carries at some point during the season and they made the most of them. The Ducks won games in a plethora of ways last year, but the running game was always a mainstay.
Bjorn Bergstrom: Running Backs —I'll go running backs here, even though the group fell apart by the end of the season. I truly believe that each guy who is transferring (Jayden Limar, Jay Harris and Makhi Hughes) will have an impact with their new team next season. And I expect Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. to form one of the best 1-2 RB tandems in the country come 2026.
Best Coach
Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein jokes on the sidelines during the Spring Game at Autzen Stadium.
Zachary Neel: Ross Douglas —Coming in as the replacement for Junior Adams was no small task for Ross Douglas, but he did everything asked of him and more with the wide receiver group in Eugene. Not only were the Ducks' pass-catchers extremely productive, but they also blocked as well as any WR group we've seen at Oregon in recent years. It's clear that Douglas is up to the task in Eugene.
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Don Smalley: Will Stein— I think Will Stein was my vote in the midseason awards, but overall, I got to go with Lanning. He's improved a lot as a head coach over these four years. He's starting to understand when to be conservative and when to be aggressive.
Paul White: Rashad Wadood —Coach Wadood wins this award solely for the job he did with Brandon Finney Jr. The true freshman was outstanding all year long and was nominated for, and won, a ton of awards to prove it. Who knows how his season would have played out with another cornerbacks coach?
Bjorn Bergstrom: Ross Douglas —The Ducks' wide receivers and passing game coordinator did a tremendous job this season. From having a bevy of wide receivers out and the pass game still humming right along with the likes of Malik Benson and Jeremiah McClellan stepping into bigger roles, Douglass should be recognized.
Biggest Surprise
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.
Zachary Neel: Brandon Finney Jr. —Oregon had a lot of true freshmen come in and have an impact this year, but I don't think anyone was as spectacular as Brandon Finney, who was a true-freshman All-American. The former 4-star started at CB from the jump, and proved himself to be not only one of the best freshmen in the nation, but one of the best overall cornerbacks. He has an incredibly bright future in Eugene.
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Don Smalley: Jordon Davison —Jordon Davison. He stepped in as a true freshman and ran the ball like he was a three-year letterwinner. I'm so excited to see how he progresses.
Paul White: Brandon Finney Jr. —Finney Jr. was a highly sought-after recruit, but I can't imagine many people saw him being this good so fast. His talent isn't surprising, but the pace at which he learned and developed was mind-blowing.
Bjorn Bergstrom: Malik Benson —Malik Benson's late-season surge. Coming into the season, I definitely didn't expect Benson to have as big an impact as he did as a wide receiver and punt returner, but he truly turned games against USC and Washington in the Ducks' favor late in the year, right when the team needed him to.
Best Win
Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Jamari Johnson (9) scores a touchdown during overtime against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Zachary Neel: vs. Texas Tech — There are questions about Texas Tech's offense, for sure, but the Ducks were so dominant defensively against the Red Raiders in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, and they got a much-needed win, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in Lanning's career.
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Don Smalley: at Penn State— For me it was at Penn State. I know they turned out to be a dumpster fire, but at the time, they were No. 3, and it was a White Out. To win that game in double overtime was awesome.
Paul White: USC —Oregon's game against the Trojans felt like unique in the scope of the season due to the fact that it wasn't perfect on either side of the ball, but it was still a high-scoring affair that required execution down the stretch to come out victorious. It felt like the Ducks completely figured out what kind of team they were that day.
Bjorn Bergstrom: At Iowa —I'm adamant on this one: Iowa. That atmosphere cannot be understated with the extremely wet conditions and an afternoon/night game at Kinnick Stadium. It shouldn't be lost on anyone that the Ducks very nearly lost the game and probably should've, but showed grit and resilience in every phase.
Best Uniform
Zachary Neel: at Washington — The throwback to the Akili Smith era, going with the yellow helmets, white tops, and green pants. It was a modern twist to a classic look, and something that I wish the team would wear more.
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Don Smalley: vs. Indiana (CFP) —I loved the uniform they wore for the semifinals. Classic white, trimmed in the school colors of green and yellow. They were sharp.
Paul White: Grateful Ducks —This was the toughest pick of all because the Ducks have some of the best uniform combinations in the country. The Black and Green blend is just my personal favorite.
Bjorn Bergstrom: Mummy Duck —My answer remains the same from midseason, as I'll go with the Mummy Duck against Penn State. The tops being white during Penn State's "white out" is as good as it gets, especially considering that they came away with a thrilling victory.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks end-of-season awards for 2025 season
