On Isaiah World, Bear Alexander and a dozen trips around the block: 10 things from Oregon’s media day
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The Oregon Ducks kicked off the 2025 football season on Monday with their annual media day. While fall camp officially begins on Wednesday, here are 10 things The I-5 Corridor learned about the latest installment of Ducks.
Isaiah World is aptly named
At first glance, Isaiah World isn’t all that imposing. Oregon’s new offensive lineman has a big laugh and it was a treat to listen to him earnestly answer a question on Monday about why his peers have identified him as one of the team’s biggest personalities.
“I’m just happy,” said World, a three-year starter at Nevada who transferred to Oregon in the offseason. “I’m grateful for this position I’m in. That comes with whatever shenanigans — I try to be, I don’t know, as fun as possible. I don’t like to have the same stoic demeanor. I just like bringing happiness and joy.”
World seemed a little nervous at times speaking to the 20 or so reporters that attended his session, rubbing his massive hands under the table and taking his time to find the right wording.
But then he stood up.
There’s been an evolution of bodies at Oregon, something that began under Mario Cristobal and has continued here in Dan Lanning’s fourth year. And it’s always something to write down 6-foot-8 and 310 pounds in the offseason when these players are just names and those are just numbers. But 6-foot-8 and 310 pounds with a barrel chest in a room full of sports writers is quite the sight in person.
I’ve never seen anyone quite like World.
He looks like an NFL defensive end, but bigger. He looks like if Penei Sewell grew two inches, then spent every free minute off the field pumping iron. He looks like if Zion Williamson got in shape.
It makes sense now that the San Diego native has seen his name rocket up 2026 mock drafts: there’s a whole lot there for a future NFL team to work with. Part of why World said he came to Oregon was to push himself everywhere else.
“I just love the way Coach [A’lique] Terry approaches everything,” World said. “He makes you want to learn about football.”
Bear Alexander has never seen a bear
Not up close anyway — there aren’t that many roaming around where Oregon’s new defensive tackle grew up in Texas.
“It came from my father,” said Alexander, whose legal name is Keithian. “It was my father’s nickname so they just kinda threw it on me.”
Alexander is 6-foot-3, 310 pounds and now lives in a state that’s home to the American Black bear, which can weigh between 200 to 600 pounds and stands anywhere between 5 to 7 feet on its hind legs.
Bear Alexander is 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds. Throw on pads and a helmet and I’d take the USC-transfer over Smokey in the Oklahoma drill.
“He’s worked his tail off since he’s been here,” Dan Lanning said. “He’s been a pleasure to coach.”
Oregon’s corners have a new look
Oregon lost its top three cornerbacks from last season.
But maybe hold on to your predictions that Oregon’s secondary is about to take a step back.
Take it from Jahlil Florence, who started nine games for the Ducks in 2023, missed 2024 due to injury and returns in 2025 as a projected starter.
“I’d say you can keep your eyebrows raised,” Florence said. “We got a game coming up and you guys will be able to see for yourself what the group has. I feel like if you look at the groups — and I don’t really want to compare — but just look at the athletic abilities and the size and the differences in the speeds just based off the last group we just had and the group we have this year. All we got to do is play and I feel that’ll prove everybody and answer everybody’s questions that they have.”