Oregon linebacker gets high praise from Dan Lanning: “I wish I had a million Bryce Boettchers”

CORVALLIS – Bryce Boettcher said it this week: Oregon vs. Oregon State was his Super Bowl.

The Ducks' senior linebacker provided that motivation on Saturday, leading Oregon with 10 tackles (four solo) and two passes defended. He was a relentless, physical presence from the first whistle of the eventual 49-14 victory over the Beavers.

“I love Bryce Boettcher,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “I wish I had a million Bryce Boettchers. That guy, the way he works, what you see in the game, is what I see every day in practice. Sometimes he'll hit one of our own players and I'll have to make him run around the field goal post. It's good when you're playing against another team because you have that guy on your side.”

Oregon State managed just 131 yards on the ground. The Beavers' vaunted running game was largely kept in check, largely because linebackers like Boettcher came to the ball with speed. In the second half, OSU was stopped at every stage as Oregon pulled away.

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• What UO coach Dan Lanning said after the win

• What OSU coach Trent Bray said after the defeat

Teitum Tuioti, who finished second on the Ducks with seven tackles (four solo) and a sack, was a key part of that equation. The sophomore said Boettcher is one of the players he looks up to on that team.

“Bryce brings a lot of energy to the defense,” Tuioti said. “He says it all the time in the meeting or in practice — sometimes we don't feel like it, every day we play football — but he always says, 'If you need to wake up, let me know.' And he'll wake us up.”

Boettcher said his motivation for Saturday came from his roots: He's a Eugene kid who has experienced the pain of losing to Oregon State as a fan and a player. And in his 22nd and final baseball-football meeting with the Beavers, he had the final say.

“I think I've missed three Civil War games since I was five years old,” Boettcher said. “Just being part of the rivalry and knowing how their fans act when they win, having family on both sides of the rivalry, just the feeling and the rights of knowing you have this game all year long.”

What is evident in Boettcher's play — and what probably endears him to a motivational coach like Lanning — is his emotionality. Aside from a few overzealous moments in practice, as Lanning noted, Boettcher's ability to control those led to a performance that had his “hair on fire,” as a coach might put it.

This is a long way from the baseball field, explained Boettcher.

“Football is a little different, you can show your emotions more – especially on defense,” Boettcher said. “That gives me drive. But I've had a lot of experience over the years on how to deal with big games like this and those emotions. I just try to transfer that to my teammates and make sure they're motivated.”

“And at the end of the day, it’s about passing the ball to the carrier.”

Next game: Oregon at UCLA

• When: Saturday, September 28
• Time: To be announced
• Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
• TV channels: To be announced
• Electricity: To be announced
• Schedule and results for the 2024 Oregon Ducks football season

–Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten Conference. Listen to the Ducks confidential Podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup Newsletter.