Jeffrey Bassa: Star-studded Oregon has '11-headed goat in all three phases of the game'

Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa cannot wait for the 2024 football season to arrive, because he is over the moon about the Ducks’ 2024 roster.

The final full week of July brought Big Ten Media Days — the grandest edition of all time, featuring the full 18 teams all concentrated in one location to talk some football with the season officially about a month out. As part of the fun, On3’s Andy Staples was live with boots on the ground to interview various coaches and players, including Bassa.

When speaking with the Oregon linebacker as part of an On3 YouTube show, Staples pointed out just how stacked the Ducks are, especially after their splashy additions via the transfer portal. Bassa took the baton from Staples and ran from there, expressing his own confidence in the ’24 team.

“Yeah, no doubt. It’s surreal. This offseason, it was surreal just to see guys at workouts, just like you mentioned, all the superstar names and stuff like that,” answered Bassa. “I really think we have an 11-headed goat in all three phases of the game.”

And leading that 11-headed goat is the oldest and most experienced of the bunch, sixth-year senior Dillon Gabriel.

“It’s amazing. There was really no drop-off from him and Bo (Nix),” Bassa says of the new QB1 in comparison to last year’s starter, who wound up the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

“I mean, obviously, like, the height difference,” Bassa joked, but added, “I believe Dillon has everything to be a first-round quarterback as well.”

Going back to the 11-headed goat comment, Staples asked for Jeffrey Bassa to name some of the names as part of it that maybe haven’t been at the forefront during talking season. Bassa had to say:

“First and foremost, I’d have to say Ja’Maree Caldwell, Derrick Harmon and Jabbar Muhammad as well.”

Muhammad is a former Washington Husky who helped his side squeeze out two crucial victories over Oregon last season. However, when asked by Staples, Bassa said that the former UW defensive back doesn’t like to rub in 2023 all that much.

“Yeah, so he’s not a big trash talker, to be honest,” said Bassa. “He does have the green light to say that but he doesn’t. I mean, I respect him for it.”

With solid returners like Jeffrey Bassa, plus talented additions like Muhammad and Gabriel, Oregon is gunning for that Big Ten title and a CFP appearance in year one following realignment.