Oregon punters Adam Barry, Ross James embracing competition as both aim to become Ducks' starter

Adam Barry and Ross James both came to Oregon with no guarantees for what their futures would hold.

Now, as they’re locked in a head-to-head battle to become the Ducks’ starting punter, they are embracing the competition and doing whatever they can to help an Oregon program that could provide a career-defining opportunity for both of them.

“Having good competition helps to make each other better,” James said. “So I think that’s something we’re working for; making each other better. Whatever helps the team and makes us better.”

The pair of newcomers enter their respective first seasons in Eugene in vastly different situations. Oregon will need one of them to emerge as a reliable starter in order to replace Tom Snee, who started for the Ducks last season but has taken a step away from the program to focus on his mental health.

James is a true sophomore who started for East Central Community College in Dacatur, Miss., in 2021.

Barry is a 22-year-old senior who started at Temple last season. He gave up the comfort and security of a guaranteed scholarship to enter the transfer portal and bet himself. Now, he has a shot to show his talents on a much larger stage.

When asked if there is an opportunity to eventually earn a scholarship, he said he isn’t overly concerned with that aspect at this point.

“Whichever way is good for me, man,” Barry said. “I’m just so blessed and fortunate to be here.”

Following Oregon’s first scrimmage of fall camp last Saturday, Ducks’ coach Dan Lanning said the punters performed well.

“I said to (special teams coach Joe Lorig) this morning that it’s time to have a pressure punt with someone actually running against us,” Lanning said. “We created a couple of those scenarios. I thought overall our punters did a good job of punting.”

Barry said teammates have jokingly started referring to him as “old” and he’s embraced the title as one of the veterans within the program. That meshes well with the younger James, who said one of the main reasons he came to Oregon was to learn from an older player who could help him develop quickly.

In that sense, the Ducks have the perfect blend of experience and youth competing for the starting job.

“Obviously I’m a younger guy,” James said. “So I’m here to learn. But I’m also here to compete at the same time. I feel like it’s going really well so far.”

Barry and first-year Oregon kicker Alex Bales spent time working with the same kicking coach in Alabama during the summer. That helped the pair build comradery quickly ahead of their first season together.

While Barry’s abilities as a punter could be key for Oregon in 2022, his experience as a holder could be just as useful. Earlier this week, Ducks’ kicker Cam Lewis praised Barry for a “miraculous” hold he orchestrated while playing for Temple last season.

“I think he’s talking about the one vs. Cincinnati,” Barry recalled with a laugh. “No disrespect to my (long-snapper), he’s an unbelievable snapper at Temple, Ron Gaines. Love that dude. But he had one mishap; it was a high snap. I just grabbed it, literally, by my finger trips.

“If I wouldn’t have grabbed it, would have probably gone 30, 40 yards downfield.”

Whether it’s Barry, James, or some combination of the two on the field for the Ducks this season, both of their games very much fit Lanning and Lorig’s vision for improving Oregon’s special team’s performance this season.

“It’s pro-style punting,” Barry said. “Just the way I’ve been doing it. Just the way I like it.”