Ducks Digest

Oregon Ducks Safety Trey McNutt Exploring Oregon's Nature During Offseason

Arriving to Eugene, Oregon from Cleveland, Ohio, as a five-star recruit, Oregon Ducks safety Trey McNutt is sharing his hikes throughout Oregon onto social media. It seems as though the newest Duck is enjoying his time in the Pacific Northwest.
Ally Osborne|
Oregon Ducks Football freshman safety Trey McNutt poses in front of Silver Falls State Park in Oregon for a TikTok video.
Oregon Ducks Football freshman safety Trey McNutt poses in front of Silver Falls State Park in Oregon for a TikTok video. | Credit: @tr8mcnutt_ on TikTok

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Oregon Ducks

When it comes to the Oregon Ducks, the Pacific Northwest's natural beauty has long been a selling point for recruiting, with coach Dan Lanning himself even commenting "The Grass is Damn Green in Eugene," a double entendre of him staying in Oregon and the state's natural land.

Recently, one new Duck has been enjoying all that the state has to offer through and documenting it for social media.

Freshman safety Trey McNutt started sharing TikTok videos of his hikes on Saturday, April 29 with a 14-second dance video on The DeFazio Bridge overlooking the Willamette River in Eugene. The bridge, known as part of the iconic walk to Autzen Stadium, connects Alton Baker Park to downtown Eugene and is known for it's nature trails.

Oregon Ducks freshman safety Trey McNutt poses in front of a waterfall during one of his TikTok adventure videos.
Oregon Ducks freshman safety Trey McNutt poses in front of a waterfall during one of his TikTok adventure videos. | Credit: @tr8mcnutt_ on TikTok

In the video, McNutt dances to the jazzy tune of "In Your Eyes" by Snoh Aalegra with a digital camera in the Cleveland, Ohio native's hand, likely bringing the device along to document his new home.

A few weeks later, on Monday, April 28th, McNutt visited McDowell Creek Falls in Lebanon, Oregon. His next video self-captured himself sitting on a toppled log positioned above the water as he watches the falls. Calm music echoes through the video as McNutt clutches the same digital camera.

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"All I can do is thank God because we are blessed with this beautiful thing called life," McNutt captioned the video.

Since his first documented hike, McNutt has thrust himself into the "ExplOregon" lifestyle, with four hiking videos currently available on his TikTok. His most recent nature visit to Silver Falls State Park outside of Silverton, Oregon, yielded plenty of comments from Duck fans, suggesting hikes for the newly minted Oregonian to embark on.

"I’ve seen a couple of your videos & love em! So few people out there, it’s really peaceful. Thanks for sharing these🙏🏻 All who wander are not lost," said Oregon fan Mimi Duck in a comment.

"He’s really seeing what Oregons like now👀," said fellow teammate of McNutt's, freshman wide receiver and Eugene native Brady Bidwell. Bidwell also frequently posts TikTok videos of his travels throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon Ducks freshman safety Trey McNutt poses on a hike during one of his TikTok adventure videos.
Oregon Ducks freshman safety Trey McNutt poses on a hike during one of his TikTok adventure videos. | Credit: @tr8mcnutt_ on TikTok

The beauty of Oregon is also an element of Oregon's recruitment strategy, with many recruits visiting Eugene also taking time to visit other natural landmarks in the state.

Lanning spoke about the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest earlier in the 2024 season when ESPN personality Pat McAfee visited the Duck facility for an interview before the team defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium.

"You can go on a 15 minute walk, even less, and you're right by a river," Lanning said to McAfee. "You're an hour from the coast, and hour from the mountains. This place is one of the most unique places in the world to see true beauty."

For Lanning, the nature in the Pacific Northwest is an advantage for the Ducks, not a hinderance due to the long travel time in the Big Ten Conference.

"I think it's a great thing," Lanning said about having the Ducks be located in the Pacific Northwest.

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Ally Osborne
ALLY OSBORNE

A reporter for Oregon Ducks on SI, Ally Osborne is a born and raised Oregonian. She graduated from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications in 2021 after interning for the Oregon Sports Network with experience working on live sporting broadcasts for ESPN, FOX Sports, the PAC 12 Network, and Runnerspace. Osborne continued her career in Bend, Oregon as a broadcast reporter in 2021 for Central Oregon Daily News while writing for Oregon Ducks on SI. Since then, Osborne is entering her third season reporting for the publication and is frequently the on-site reporter for home games at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. She is currently the host of lifestyle shows "Everyday Northwest" and "Tower Talk Live" for KOIN 6 News in Portland, Oregon. Osborne also works as a sports reporter for KOIN 6's "Game On" sports department. In her free time, Osborne is an avid graphic designer, making art commissions for athletes across her home state. Osborne's designs have even become tattoos for a few Duck athletes.

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