Oregon picks up Clemson DT transfer Scott Pagano

Oregon reeled in a former Tiger on Friday, as ex-Clemson defensive tackle Scott Pagano announced he'll play his final season with the Ducks as a graduate transfer.

The reigning national champion decided to play for Oregon over Notre Dame and Oklahoma, according to FOX Sports' Bruce Feldman.

To My Family, Friends and Supporters: I want to thank all of you who supported me and my decision to transfer over the last few months. When I announced my intentions, I didn’t know how people would react. Thankfully almost everyone was respectful of my decision and wished me well on my journey. I'm very appreciative of that and it definitely speaks volumes of the class and character of my Clemson Family. After taking several visits, I can honestly say there is no place like Clemson. A part of me will always miss Clemson and the relationships I have built here. I'll definitely be back to visit. After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to transfer to the University of Oregon for my final year of eligibility and to pursue a Sports Management Master's. This was a tough decision because of all the great programs that expressed interest in me along with having to leave Clemson. I want to thank all the coaches that took the time to get to know me during this process. However, Oregon is where I felt most at home and it is a great fit for me both on and off the field. I can’t wait to get to Eugene to start making new friends and playing for and learning from one of the best DLine coaches in the country. Last but definitely not least, I have to thank my mom, dad, sisters and the rest of my family for supporting me through this process and my entire football career. I know these past few months were not easy on you. I want you to know that I am thankful and feel blessed to have a family who is willing to make sacrifices day end and day out so that I can pursue my dreams. Mahalo and Go Ducks!!!

A post shared by Scott J Pagano Jr. (@scottpagano56) on Apr 14, 2017 at 9:03am PDT

Pagano announced in February he'd be moving on from Clemson in hopes of playing closer to the West Coast. The native Hawaiian registered 31 tackles and two sacks in 2016, serving as a rotation player on the Tigers' stacked defensive line.

He was reportedly also looking for more playing time while preparing to enter his final year before the NFL draft. Oregon struggled mightily at defensive tackle last year, meaning Pagano should get his desired opportunity in 2017.

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Oregon picks up Clemson DT transfer Scott Pagano

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