Seven McGee opens up on decision to stay at Oregon, new role in Ducks' offense

Seven McGee had one foot out the door last offseason.

Oregon was always McGee’s dream school. He committed to the Ducks more than two years prior to arriving on campus for his freshman season, and his enthusiasm and knowledge of the program’s history endeared him to fans long before he arrived in Eugene.

But after watching Mario Cristobal and Jim Mastro, the coaches who recruited him, depart last December after Cristobal became the head coach at Miami, McGee’s trust took a major hit.

“It was hard. I had been committed here since 2018, and as a freshman seeing that staff leave. … It wasn’t easy, you know?” McGee said.

So, on Dec. 14, he elected to enter the transfer portal.

Less than two hours later, though, McGee reversed course and announced that he had removed his name from the portal and intended to stay in Eugene.

What caused such a quick change of heart? As McGee tells it, a brief conversation with Dan Lanning, who had been officially introduced as the Ducks’ new head coach earlier that day.

During their phone call, Lanning demonstrated to McGee that the program was still headed in the right direction and that their visions for what Oregon football should look like are very much aligned.

“Just wanting to win. Just simply wanting to win,” McGee said when asked what Lanning said to sway him. “Just bringing that mentality to Oregon that we’re going to be a tough-ass team. It’s not going to be a team that’s built off being fast, and wanting to move fast. It’s a tough mentality.”

Now, more than five months later, McGee is settling into a new role within Oregon’s offense and hoping to build on a bright freshman campaign. Like many of the Ducks’ returning pass-catchers, his production was hindered by last year’s lack of a consistent downfield passing attack.

From the sound of things, that will no longer be the case in Kenny Dillingham’s hurry-up, no-huddle offense. All spring, the Ducks’ playmakers have raved about the offense, and the opportunities it affords them to get the ball in space and attack one-on-one matchups.

McGee, a former 4-star signee with a reputation for making tacklers whiff, has enjoyed working in a scheme that is designed to get the most out of his physical gifts.

“Just utilizing me everywhere on the field,” McGee said when asked where the coaching staff has used him position-wise this spring. “It’s just something that we didn’t do last year as a team, just really moving parts and putting people in paces to create one-on-one matchups.”

McGee admits there has been a learning curve while adjusting to a new position within a new offense. While he played some slot receiver toward the end of last season, he primarily worked as a reserve running back and punt returner.

Early in the spring, he said he struggled to adapt to the new scheme and leaned on others as he learned the playbook. He said late-night film sessions with Carlos Locklyn and Junior Adams were instrumental in that regard.

“I really didn’t know what the hell was going on if I’m being honest,” McGee said. “So I was kind of frustrated. But (Dont’e Thornton), (Troy Franklin), (Kris Hutson), (Isaiah Brevard), (Isaah Crocker), (Josh Delgado), they all came around me and just really got the offense in my head.”

Earlier this spring, Adams praised McGee’s willingness to put in the extra work as he continues his transition to receiver and said he’s been progressing quickly.

“He’ll come in right after practice and wanna watch film,” Adams said. “He sends me texts of clips of plays and asks me about them. He’s just eager to learn and we’re excited about him.”

McGee fell in love with Oregon as a kid while watching De’Anthony Thomas, LaMichael James, and Kenjon Barner run wild in Oregon’s revolutionary offense of the early 2010’s.

He was asked Thursday what he enjoys about playing in Dillingham’s scheme, and his answer will be music to the ears of many Duck fans.

“I love the offense. I feel like it’s the Chip Kelly offense from back in the day,” McGee said. “Just utilizing everybody and putting people in positions to win and create one-on-one matchups.”