The career trajectory for defensive lineman Bear Alexander has been a roller coaster, to say the least.
Once a blue-chip recruit in the 2022 class, rated as the No. 50 player in the nation, Alexander signed with Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, hoping to be next in a long line of incredibly successful trench players to come from Athens that include Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Travon Walker. Despite winning a national championship with Georgia in 2022, Alexander saw little playing time, totalling nine tackles, three tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks on just 169 total snaps.
Looking for more opportunities, Alexander entered the transfer portal and headed west to join Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans. He had a bit more success, with 48 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, but then things turned in 2024.
After just three games, Alexander announced that he would leave the team and enter the transfer portal, looking to utilize his redshirt and preserve a year of eligibility. While it may have been the right move for his career, it also put a target on his back, as far as most college football fans were concerned.
Being called anything from a quitter to a head-case, Alexander sat by and waited for his chance to join a new team and get a fresh start in 2025.
It just so happens that the Oregon Ducks were interested. Dan Lanning helped recruit Alexander to Georgia during his time as the defensive coordinator and kicked the tires a year later before the transfer to USC.
On Dec. 20, Alexander announced his transfer to Oregon. Some fans loved the move for its upside—at 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, Alexander can be a force on the interior—while others approached it with some hesitancy because of the track record. Ultimately, Lanning and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi made this addition with…
Source link : https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2025/03/15/oregon-ducks-bear-alexander-impressing-early-2025/82449951007/
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Publish date : 2025-03-15 21:42:00
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