Oregon Receiver Jeremiah McClellan Gets Candid on Gaitlin Bair's Big Strength

Oregon Ducks receiver Jeremiah McClellan spoke after fall camp practice about the speed of the receiver room and what freshman Gaitlin Bair adds at the position.

Oregon Ducks Jeremiah McClellan Dan Lanning Dante Moore evan stewart iverson hooks gatlin bair dakorien moore nil injury | Oregon Ducks on SI Will Seibert

Returning receiver talent like Evan Stewart, Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan headline the Oregon Ducks’ wide receiver room in 2026, but incoming freshmen are competing to earn targets in the 2026 season.

Wide receivers coach Ross Douglas and McClellan both spoke after practice on Aug. 21. McClellan addressed the team’s focus in fall camp, while also speaking in depth about what freshman Gaitlin Bair brings to the room after spending two years on an LDS mission.

Oregon wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan carries the ball on a return during an open practice ahead of the Orange Bowl at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon on Dec. 27, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Everything Jeremiah McClellan Said

Gaitlin Bair Getting Back on the Football Field After Time Away:

“I would say early on, you could tell he was still like getting back into it and things like that. He hasn't like really been playing football. Now he's playing football. Like now he's more like he's being more of a football player.”

“He's starting to, like, offense is starting to slow down for him. He's starting to know what he's doing on different like all of his all of his assignments and things like that now. So, he's really growing right now, and he has to just keep growing.”

If Gaitlin Bair is Really That Fast:

“Yes. Yes. 24 miles an hour. He's a speed demon for sure.”

What 24 Miles Per Hour Looks Like on the Football Field:

Oregon wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan hauls in a short pass as the Oregon Ducks host the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 25, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“I hit 23.3 that day, and Gait hit 24 miles an hour. I was like, "Whoa!” You feel me? So I was just, Gait was sliding. He was definitely sliding that day. His knees was picking up really fast.”

His Focus in Fall Camp:

“I would say the focal point is just doing our job, doing our assignment, and playing fast. I would want to say, and I feel like we're doing a great job with that right now as a offense.”

If He’s in a Position to be the No. 1 Receiver:

Dec 20, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan (11) runs after making a catch and is tackled by James Madison Dukes linebacker Drew Spinogatti (56) during the third quarter at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I'm not sure. I'm just here to really just help the offense as much as I can possible. I know we're gonna have a crazy talented receiver room right now, so I'm just here to help the offense as much as I can.”

Carving Out His Role in a Talented Room:

“I would say the most exciting part about being in a in a talented room like this is just being able – you have to bring your A game every single day. You have to come out here and compete every single day. Every game every day is going to be a game, so you just got to come out here and compete every day.”

“You could pick up things from everybody in the receiving room. Like (Evan Stewart), I pick up a lot of things from Stew, Dakorien. Like we just help each other out in so many different ways. And you have so many different coaches in the room that see and help critique you in different ways to help you get to where you want to be at. So, I would say it's a great thing right now, though.”

Evan Stewart Changing the Dynamic of the Room:

Fighting Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart makes a catch during the Oregon Ducks annual spring game on April 25, 2026 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“I will say having Evan back out there is amazing. Evan's a game changer. So just having him back out there and having him back out there with me and (Dante Moore), and (Dakorien Moore) is amazing.”

The Freshmen in the Receiver Room:

“I would say they're growing a lot. Hudson Lewis is doing a great job. He's had an amazing fall camp this fall camp, and he's been doing good. Jalen Lott, he got here in the summertime. He's picked up the offense really well.”

“Messiah Hampton is doing an excellent job, too. He had an amazing transition from spring till now. So, it's just everybody in the rooms having a great fall camp. So, I'm just excited to see how it plays out this year.”

His Assessment of Quarterback Dylan Raiola:

Fighting Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola warms up during the Oregon Ducks annual spring game on April 25, 2026 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“I would say from Dylan, whenever he first got here in the spring, you could tell he was a little timid, a little nervous, just into a new system and things like that. And now, just him being more comfortable, watching him like today, he had an amazing throw.”

“I just had to compliment him in there again today. He's my locker buddy, so he's getting way more comfortable on offense, learning, playing fast too now. So, he's doing amazing.”

Embracing the Mentality of Impacting the Game Without the Football:

“I would say we embrace that a lot. Just blocking without the ball, like turning our body up when we don't have the ball, things like that, I would say it's in our nature just to be physical in that room. So, just always making sure we're blocking to create those explosive plays, far backs, tights, things like that. It's amazing.”

What a Successful Scrimmage Looks Like for the Offense:

“I would say we just go out there and do our job and do our assignment and play fast. I would say we go out there and do that. We should just be fine.”

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