Will Straton played in all 14 games for Oregon last season as a redshirt sophomore linebacker. He logged most of his time on special teams, racking up 11 tackles along the way.
But getting to that point wasn’t exactly straightforward.
Before Straton officially joined the Ducks in 2023, he was just another student on campus – one with a dream of playing for a top-tier program and apparently zero qualms about hiding in bushes to make it happen.
The Bush League Approach
In a video released as part of Oregon’s “Meet The Flock” series, Straton detailed his unorthodox path to the roster. The linebacker admitted he used to spy on practices from the trees bordering the old practice fields, frantically taking notes on the defensive scheme so he’d be ready for walk-on tryouts.
“I was a regular student with an academic scholarship, and I was sneaking in,” Straton explained during a team bonding session called “Hot Seat.”
He wasn’t just casually watching from a distance. Straton positioned himself under a tree near a small ramp by the old fields – back when Oregon’s practice setup was different – and studied the defense like he was preparing for a final exam.
“When I was like, ‘Whatever it takes.’ I’m gonna go watch practice. I’m gonna study,” he said. “And I was hiding under the tree. There was a little ramp, though, and I’m just taking notes just to understand the defense. I knew I was gonna get a shot.”
Busted
The covert operation didn’t last long.
Oregon equipment administrator Kenny Farr spotted Straton during one of his surveillance sessions and chased him down. Farr confiscated the notebook and brought it straight to the coaching staff – which could’ve ended badly for the aspiring walk-on.
Instead, it opened a door.
The notebook made its way to then-defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, giving Straton the connection he needed. That led to a walk-on tryout, which eventually got him on the team.
Lanning’s Take
Head coach Dan Lanning remembers reading through Straton’s notes – and finding them surprisingly detailed.
“I don’t remember when I found out, but I remember reading through his notes, and it was funny,” Lanning recalled. “He was like, ‘This guy’s not very fast. This quarterback always stares down his target.’”
Alright, when they’ve got two guys into the boundary. He wrote down some detailed notes.
Rather than seeing Straton as a problem, Lanning saw someone with initiative. That attitude has turned Straton into a team leader – someone who’s earned every opportunity that’s come his way.
“But I love that story for Will, and he has been an unbelievable member of our team,” Lanning said. “He’s been one of our production leaders this spring at linebacker. He’s earned everything that’s come his direction. I’m really proud of his growth, and glad that God works in mysterious ways and lets guys like that join your team.”
Lanning admitted he didn’t actually meet Straton that day; he just remembers Kenny Farr running around outside the practice field trying to catch him. Once they grabbed the notebook, Lanning read through it and realized there wasn’t anything in there that would actually compromise Oregon’s game plan.
“There wasn’t anything that was going to hurt our chances of having success on the field,” he noted.
Turns out, those notes didn’t just avoid hurting Oregon – they helped bring in a player who’s become a valuable piece of the program.