Meet Kobe Savage, Oregon's Newest Safety
Oregon football's haul in the transfer portal has been headlined by offensive talent thus far, and maybe deservedly so. Dan Lanning and Will Stein recruited and landed two of the top available quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore, setting up their quarterback room for years to come in Eugene.
But don't be quick to overlook the first defensive addition, Kansas State safety Kobe Savage, a 2023 All-Big-12 selection.
The 5-foot-11, 202-pound defensive back spoke with Ducks Digest about his recruitment in the transfer portal, his story and why he chose to commit to Dan Lanning and Oregon.
"When I got up there, it was just a really tight-knit group of coaches," Savage explained. "Just different connections I was building throughout that weekend with Coach Lanning, Coach [Chris] Hampton, Tosh Lupoi---all those guys are just really great guys that are a lot of defensive-minded guys that I want to be around and associate myself with through their resume and through their schemes."
Savage can do a little bit of everything as a defensive back and is excited to get going with the Ducks.
"Really just different versatility," he said of what he's bringing to the defense. "Being able to play in the box, being able to play nickel, free safety. Or just a lot of versatility, coming down [to] play man-coverage, being the post. Being able to fit in the run game when needed. And I have a lot of veteran production and just being able to be a game changer for the Ducks."
Kansas State safety Kobe Savage celebrates an interception against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
© Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
It was a wild experience in the transfer portal for Savage, who had no shortage of interest from schools across the country.
"There was Oregon, Washington, Georgia, Florida and Auburn were the main schools that were just blowing my phone up but Oregon, I don't know they just caught my eye. I remember Coach Hampton, because he was the defensive coordinator at Tulane, whenever we played them my first year at K State, so I had seen he reached out and I just kind of kept following up with him."
There was so much interest in the talented safety that it may have broken his phone.
"My phone is just literally freezing," Savage said. "I actually had to buy a new phone because my phone was freezing up. So I got a lot more storage on this one."
Washington was another school that he was scheduled to visit, but that trip didn't end up happening. He felt that he saw all he needed to in Eugene.
"I was really tired of traveling and I was set out on the Ducks as soon as I got there. I'm not gonna lie, just the coaches, the atmosphere. I mean, it really blew me away and my family away.
Another factor that added to Oregon's appeal was how the Ducks used safety Evan Williams this season.
"I mean the boundary safety there had I think four and a half sacks, which was crazy," Savage said. "I really liked what they do with that guy and what they do with all their safeties being versatile in the defense."
Kansas State Wildcats safety Kobe Savage at 2023 Big 12 media days.
© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to his Big 12 days in Manhattan, the Texas native spent two seasons at Tyler Junior College in the Lone Star State. His time there helped mold him into the man and player he is today.
"I knew for sure coming out of JUCO it brought a lot of toughness to my game," he reflected."Going through the whole JUCO process, especially even during COVID it made me a whole lot mentally stronger and tougher and physically tougher. Being around five-stars, Power 5 bounce backs, just understanding their game and how fast they play and them giving me different aspects to mind.
"But I feel like it just gave me a mental fortitude to play with a chip on my shoulder and just go out to practice, runs, lifts, every obstacle that coaches put in front of us, just attack it regardless if I'm first string or last string. That's just really been my mentality and mantra going into Kansas State. I felt like I did a really good job there of continuing that process and that's how I'm going bring it to Eugene."
Kansas State Wildcats safety Kobe Savage attempts to tackle Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II.
© SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
Fans can do their research, throw on the tape and scroll on social media, but what do they need to know about Savage?
"I'm gonna bring it every game. I play with a different passion," he said. "I mean you'll see on the field. I feel like I'm pretty introverted unless I'm around like the guys, the team or the coaches or anything like that. But on the field, I'm a whole different person. I have a different love for this game. It's brought me to places I've never thought I'd ever be so that's the main thing about me."
The transfer portal process was a whirlwind for Savage, but maybe it was fate that he ended up a Duck.
"When I was with my girlfriend and we went to eat breakfast, this is the day before I hit the portal," he remembered. "There was a man in Manhattan, Kansas, so you know, that's K State territory. You might see somebody wearing KU stuff, but you will never see like anybody from the Big Ten or the Pac-12. I kid you not, we're at a little breakfast spot and there was a man with his back to me and it said Oregon across his jacket. I literally didn't think nothing of it. And the next day they called and my heart stopped, because like you know, it's Oregon, everybody dreamed of that. So it was just, it was crazy. It was really a dream come true."
Savage wrapped up the interview with a message to the Kansas State and Oregon fanbases.
"I saw a tweet actually today where somebody determines whether you're a Wildcat for life or not, but I don't think that's true. I think that if you put your heart and soul into the game you give the fans all that you gave, I feel like you're part of that team for life. But I still love K State, there's no hate with that. I just wanted to do what was best for me.
"To the Duck fans, I'm really excited to meet you guys. It's really crazy that now Dillon Gabriel's my quarterback and I don't have to go against him anymore in the Big 12. But I'm really excited just to go out there and put the best ball I can on film and for the fans too of Eugene."
