Oregon freshman Messiah Hampton faces two charges after October 18 police chase
The Ducks wide receiver was arrested Friday for incidents that occurred during a high-speed pursuit in Springfield.
By Amelia Gupta ·
Oregon Ducks wide receiver Messiah Hampton was arrested Friday for an incident that occurred on October 18. The Springfield Police Department charged the freshman with eluding police and reckless driving. Hampton remains unavailable for Saturday's game against No. 20 Northwestern, though the team has not released the official reason for his absence.
Police reports state that officers were involved in a high-speed chase around 4 a.m. on October 18. The pursuit included two other vehicles that had been speeding. An investigation into the identity of the other driver remains ongoing. Springfield PD confirmed that Hampton's incident was separate from the DUII arrest of fellow Ducks wideout Evan Stewart that same morning.
Both arrests came hours after Oregon defeated Nebraska in a comeback victory. Hampton, a four-star recruit from New York, was listed as out before the team's loss to Illinois last weekend. Stewart, a senior, was also absent from the availability report for the Northwestern matchup. He has missed the last three games due to an undisclosed injury and the DUII arrest.
Hampton has emerged as a primary target for Oregon quarterbacks this season. On September 18, he recorded two touchdowns against Portland State. In that game, he caught six passes for 71 yards. Through the current season, the freshman has accumulated 18 receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
Kickoff for Oregon's game against the Wildcats is set for 12:30 p.m. from Autzen Stadium.
