Bryce Boettcher, an Oregon Ducks linebacker, has long envisioned playing both football and baseball at the highest level.
His journey began in earnest after Oregon‘s stunning upset over No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus in 2021, a victory many fans think of as a turning point for the program. For him, it marked a personal mission.
Bo Jackson remains the only player to be an All-Star in both the NFL and MLB; Kyler Murray earned firstround picks in both before ultimately choosing football.
And then there’s Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, who played in both MLB and NFL at the same time and redefined the meaning of elite, twosport athleticism.
Boettcher‘s trajectory from walkon to Burlsworth Trophy winner is remarkable. After joining Oregon‘s baseball team on scholarship, he walked on to football in 2022, initially playing special teams.
By 2023, he earned a starting linebacker role, posting 37 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Then in 2024 he exploded: racking up a teamleading 87 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, an interception and four pass breakups, and earning the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation’s top former walkon.
Bridging two paths: baseball, football, and the Astros draft
In the world of baseball, Boettcher hit .276 with 12 home runs, 35 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 2024, while earning a collegiate Gold Glove as Oregon’s starting center fielder.
His performance caught the attention of the Houston Astros, who selected him in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft
The Big Lead. Crucially, the Astros agreed he could play another football season at Oregon before starting his pro baseball career.
Boettcher still finds plenty of joy simply swinging a bat: “I love just getting in the cages and swinging. It takes my mind off of football, and when I come back, I’m fresh and ready to roll.” Though college baseball eligibility was exhausted after 2024, the Astros retain his rights indefinitely while he reclaims his fourth football season.
And while football is front of mind, he continues, “I definitely want to play professional baseball and NFL football one day.” Even with football taking center stage right now, the Astros have been “really, really understanding about the whole situation… still willing to give me a shot down the road,” he added.
As Athlon Sports noted, “his heart and desire are way more important than his 40 time”. He carries the hopes of his community as someone from South Eugene High School who committed daily to proving that walkons and multisport athletes still belong on the biggest stages.
Bo Jackson may be the only All-Star in both leagues, and Sanders the only player to suit up in both a Super Bowl and World Series. But Bryce Boettcher is chasing both those dreams, and in his hometown, wearing Oregon green, he’s building the narrative from the ground up.
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