Bo Nix replaced by Oregon legend as coach at Ducks spring game

The NFL draft is underway, and the Oregon Ducks are sending their latest stars off to the next level. On Saturday, however, the Ducks are welcoming back several familiar faces who have achieved stardom in the NFL.

Oregon will kick off its spring game on Saturday and welcome Kayvon Thibodeaux, Deommodore Lenoir and Tez Johnson back to Autzen Stadium as honorary coaches for the annual scrimmage in front of the Eugene crowd. Bo Nix, who was the first quarterback for the Ducks under Dan Lanning and became a Heisman Trophy finalist, was also expected to be in attendance on the sidelines, but that plan has fallen through.

Instead, the Ducks will bring back NFL All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell in Nix's place. He will partner with Thibodeaux as a coach for the "Combat Ducks" wearing black on Saturday. No reason was provided for Nix's last-minute removal from the game.

Sewell is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen in Oregon history. In two seasons with the Ducks, Sewell helped the Ducks win the 2020 Rose Bowl while protecting Justin Herbert and established himself as the best lineman in the country. As a sophomore in 2019, Sewell became the third player in Oregon history to become a unanimous first-team All-American, joining (2010) and (2014) en route to winning the Outland Trophy. He was also named the AP Pac-12 Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.