8-24-23 Emerald Media Group - Gameday

GAMEDAY

GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.

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ON THE COVER

The Oregon Ducks mascot dances during the third quarter. (Ali Watson/Emerald)

Jeffrey Bassa tips his hat and poses with the Holiday Bowl trophy. The Oregon Ducks faced the North Carolina Tar Heels in the annual Holiday Bowl at Petco Park in San Diego, CA, on December 28th, 2022. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

OREGON 2023 ROSTER

OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE

TROY FRANKLIN

TRAESHON HOLDEN

TEZ JOHNSON

JOSH CONERLY JR.

JUNIOR ANGILAU

JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON

STEVEN JONES

AJANI CORNELIUS

TERRANCE FERGUSON BO NIX

BUCKY IRVING

KYLER KASPER

KRIS HUTSON

GARY BRYANT JR.

GAAOPE LALOULU

MARCUS

NISHAD

GEORGE

JURRION DICKEY

ASHTON COZART

JOSH DELGADO

LIPE MOALA

DAVE LULI

KANEN ROSSI

KAWIKA ROGERS

MICHAEL WOOTEN

CASEY KELLY

AUSTIN NOVOSAD

JORDAN JAMES

JUSTIUS LOWE IAPANI LALOULU BRYCE BOULTON

GERNORRIS WILSON

KENYON SADIQ

MARCUS SANDERS

DANTE DOWDELL

BROCK THOMAS

JAYDEN LIMAR

DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE

BRANDON DORLUS

POPO AUMAVAE

CASEY ROGERS

JORDAN BURCH

JEFFREY BASSA

JESTIN JACOBS

MASE FUNA

KHYREE JACKSON

TYSHEEM JOHNSON

EVAN WILLIAMS

NIKKO REED

COLE MARTIN

JOHNNY BOWENS III

TAKI TAIMANI

KEYON WARE-HUDSON

MATAYO UIAGALELEI

JAMAL HILL

CONNOR SOELLE

JAKE SHIPLEY

TRIKWEZE BRIDGES

BRYAN ADDISON

STEVE STEPHENS IV

FLORENCE

A’MAURI WASHINGTON

ROBERTS

MY’KEIL GARDNER

JAEDEN MOORE

DEVON JACKSON

JERRY MIXON

EMAR’RION WINSTON

SOLOMON DAVIS

TYLER TURNER

KODI DECAMBRA

DAYLEN AUTSIN

KHAMARI TERRELL

ASHTON PORTER

TEVITA POME’E

TERRANCE GREEN

BLAKE PURCHASE

TEITUM TUIOTI

RODRICK PLEASANT

DAYMON DAVID

COLLIN GILL

SPECIAL TEAMS SPECIAL TEAMS SPECIAL TEAMS

CAMDEN LEWIS

ANDREW BOYLE

LUKE BASSO

ROSS JAMES

NICK DUZANSKY

COLE MARTIN

NOAH WHITTINGTON

GRANT MEADORS

COLSON BRUNNER

KRIS HUTSON

JORDAN JAMES

KELLER STAFFORD

list is thorough, but not comprehensive. For a full 2023 Oregon football roster, visit goducks.com.

PRESEASON SUPERLATIVES

BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT

and uncertain future of the program’s conference leads me to believe that Stanford could be absolutely abysmal in 2023 and potentially — however unlikely — go winless this season.

MOST LIKELY TO GO 6-6: WASHINGTON STATE

The Cougars are going to be a separating bar in 2023. The better teams in the conference shouldn’t have too much trouble putting Washington State down, but Cameron Ward and the Cougars should be better than the bottom feeders of the conference.

MOST LIKELY TO TAKE THE BIGGEST STEP: COLORADO

The final season of the current Pac-12 is shaping up to be a great one. The conference seems full of potential contenders, surprises and up-and-comers. As the Conference of Champions’ last dance approaches, I assigned each team a preseason superlative. Let’s see who lives up to these early predictions.

MOST LIKELY TO WIN THE PAC-12: USC

A lot of people are high on the Trojans this season and I don’t see much reason to disagree. USC was a good team last year, and Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams is set to return for his second year in SoCal. Lincoln Riley’s squad does have a tougher schedule this season, but the Trojans enter the season ranked No. 6 and all signs point toward USC being the top dog in its final season in the Pac-12.

MOST LIKELY TO ALSO END UP IN VEGAS: UTAH

I’ve counted out Utah enough times to learn that as long as Cameron Rising is on the field, the Utes are legit. They have a tough schedule with road games against No. 18 Oregon State, No. 6 USC and No. 10 Washington, but Rising almost always finds a way to keep his team in and win these games. Don’t be shocked if this year’s title game is a rematch of 2022’s.

MOST LIKELY TO PULL OFF A HUGE UPSET: ARIZONA STATE

The Sun Devils have often been the team that absolutely ruins another team’s season in one game. Arizona State hired Oregon’s

former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham as its newest head coach. If the ASU offense even remotely resembles last year’s Ducks’ team, the Sun Devils could be primed to play spoiler for someone in 2023.

MOST LIKELY TO HOST ESPN’S COLLEGE GAMEDAY: OREGON

I could make a case for at least three games this season that could draw College Gameday out to Eugene for the second straight season. If Deion Sanders’ Buffs are somehow undefeated when they come to Autzen, I could see College Gameday coming out West. When Oregon hosts No. 6 USC in November, it could be an ideal matchup for national television. Finally, a clash with No. 18 Oregon State at the end of the year could have major postseason implications and provide a reason to see the popular show in Eugene once again.

MOST LIKELY TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS: ARIZONA

The Wildcats were a pleasant surprise last season, and I truly believe they could outperform their expectations in 2023. Jayden de Laura and his impressive offense have a handful of winnable games on the docket. Matchups with Northern Arizona, University of Texas El Paso, Stanford, Washington State, Colorado and Arizona State could all go Arizona’s way this season.

MOST LIKELY TO NOT WIN A GAME: STANFORD

A new head coach, lack of huge recruits

The Buffs were 1-11 last season so the bar is fairly low. I’m not one of the people that believes Sanders is going to turn Colorado into a contender in one year, but I have little doubt that the Buffaloes will take a massive step forward in 2023.

MOST LIKELY TO REGRESS: WASHINGTON

The Huskies enter the season ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll, the first time they’ve cracked the top 10 since 2018. The expectations are high, but I’m not convinced Washington is all that it’s made out to be. Michael Penix Jr. is back at quarterback for UW, but setting the Huskies at No. 10 seems like a recipe for a season full of disappointment.

MOST LIKELY TO BE A SURPRISINGLY EXCITING GAME: UCLA AT OREGON STATE

Both teams had respectable offenses in 2022 and will have a new quarterback at the helm in 2023. While neither OSU or UCLA are expected to win the conference, a matchup between the Bruins and Beavers could be entertaining enough to draw attention to both programs that look to be on the rise.

MOST LIKELY TO BE FORGETTABLE: CAL

It’s Cal. Nobody paid much attention to the Golden Bears last season, and I see nothing that makes me think they’ll be any more interesting in 2023.

Who’s most likely to do what in the Pac-12’s final season?

The ESPN College Gameday crew reacts after Lee Corso dawns the duck head and announces Oregon as his choice to win the game. Oregon hosts ESPN College Gameday bright and early on the Lillis lawn October 22, 2022 before their game against UCLA. (Liam Sherry/Daily Emerald)

5 KEYS FOR OREGON TO RECLAIM THE PAC-12 TITLE

BY JOE KRASNOWSKI

Trying to compare UO in Week One of the college football season in 2022 to 2023 would be a humorous task.

Last year came with the buzz of new head coach Dan Lanning facing off against Georgia — his former team and the defending national champions. Meanwhile, week one of 2023 will entail facing the Portland State Vikings coming off a 4-7 season. Meanwhile, immense buzz surrounds Oregon’s imminent move to the Big Ten Conference, a move made to ensure the Ducks are “playing the best of the best,” Lanning said.

Championship in

Although the opponents and conference they are pledged to play in may be different, the Ducks’ goal remains the same in 2023: win the Pac-12 and compete for a national championship. Here’s a breakdown of what the Ducks need to do to turn these hopes into reality.

PLAY WELL ON THE ROAD

In 2022, the Ducks went 4-2 away from Autzen Stadium, with losses against Georgia and rival Oregon State. Oregon will need to be stronger on the road this year with critical games against

Texas Tech, Washington and Utah.

To get to the Pac-12 championship, the Ducks would likely have to go at worst 7-2 within the conference. Oregon struggled late in games on the road with notable red zone turnovers against Oregon State and Washington State.

The Ducks’ first road test will come in Week 2 against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders finished last season 8-5, but with a 7-1 record at home. Oregon will also need to beat the University of Washington in Seattle this season — a team the Ducks

If the Ducks want to take the Pac-12

2023, they’ll need to take some big steps.

The Oregon Ducks run out the field in the start of game 10 of the 2022 season. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the University of Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on November 12, 2022 for game 10 of the 2022 season. (Ian Enger/Emerald)

DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

lost to in heartbreaking fashion at Autzen last year. The Huskies are led by returning star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and top receiver Rome Adunze. The Huskies finished 11-2 last season under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer.

In Week Eight, the Ducks will travel to Rice-Eccles Stadium, where Utah has not lost since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The Utes rely on a balanced offensive attack headlined by returning senior quarterback Cameron Rising.

IMPROVED PASS DEFENSE

The Pac-12 will contain some of the best quarterback play in the nation in 2023. The Ducks’ pass defense — which lost key cornerback Christian Gonzalez to the NFL draft — will be tasked with slowing down some of the top offenses in the country. Most notably, Washington and USC’s offenses ranked first and third nationally in total passing yards a season ago.

Oregon will rely on top recruits Matayo Uiagalelei and Rodrick Pleasant to boost its defense in 2023, as well as returning defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus who received AllPac-12 status in 2022. In a pre-season press conference, Lanning commended the potent offenses in the Pac-12.

“The teams that we’re lined up against, we get to go against great guys,” Lanning said. “It’s the year of the quarterback. We’re going to face great ones every single week.”

BEAT USC

Oregon will face the USC Trojans in Eugene in Week 11. USC, led by Heismanwinning quarterback Caleb Williams, enters the season as the Pac-12’s highest-ranked team. The Trojans — led by Lincoln Riley — were third nationally in total offense in 2022. For the Ducks to win, they must contain Williams, whose powerful arm and elusiveness were issues for defenses all year. Williams is most successful outside of the pocket and evading pass rushers.

USC’s main troubles in 2023 came on the defensive side; like most Riley-coached teams, USC relied heavily on turnovers and had little resistance defensively late in games. Its defense often struggled to tackle and was exploited, most notably in the Trojans’ 47-24 loss to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game that lost them a chance to play in the college football playoff.

Oregon’s key to victory is simple: stop the USC offense and protect the football. If the Ducks can generate a few key turnovers on defense, they should be able to match the Trojans offensively. If Oregon limits turnovers, it should have little issue moving the ball downfield against a weak Trojan defense. Oregon has won four of the last five meetings between the two schools, most notably in the 2020 Pac-12 championship game.

SMALL ADJUSTMENTS ON OFFENSE

The Oregon offense was very successful in 2022, and star trio Bo Nix, Bucky Irving and Troy Franklin are all returning this year. For the Ducks to remain successful in 2023, they will need to rely on more of the same with

minor adjustments offensively. New offensive coordinator Will Stein will be tasked with taking over an Oregon offense that ranked sixth nationally in total offense in 2022. Last season, Oregon emphasized physicality at the line of scrimmage. With few returning players on the O-line, physicality has been prioritized in fall practices and scrimmages.

“Overall, it needs to be better at times,” Lanning said. “I thought we again started slow.”

A main issue with Oregon’s 2022 offense was scoring in the red zone. Stein will be tasked with improving the Ducks’ offense that ranked No. 64 in the country in redzone scoring percentage. Under Stein’s University of Texas-San Antonio offense, the Roadrunners ranked No. 17 nationally in red-zone scoring percentage. Stein will rely heavily on returning running backs Irving and Noah Whittington, who ran for 1,058 and 779 yards respectively in 2022.

“I think if we can play three or four running backs a game, that would be ideal,” Stein said. “Obviously, there will be a 1-A, 1-B or a second or third back that will rotate in, but you like to keep those guys healthy and they all have great skill sets so we’d like to use them all.”

SUCCESS LATE IN GAMES

Oregon’s conference losses last year came against rivals Washington and Oregon State. The Ducks led at points in both of these games; however, they were defeated because of collapses late in games. In both instances, the Ducks had opportunities on their final drive but came up short. Against the Huskies, Oregon suffered its only loss at Autzen Stadium since 2018. Against the Beavers, the Ducks blew a 21-point lead. For Oregon to succeed late in games this season, it will need to find success on fourth down late in games. The Ducks ranked No. 24 nationally in fourth down conversion percentage last year. Oregon’s biggest fourth-quarter comeback came on the road against Washington State where the Ducks scored 29 fourth-quarter points capped off with a game-sealing picksix by Mase Funa. Oregon’s path to reclaim the Pac-12 title begins on September 2 against Portland State.

“We don’t prepare differently based on the first opponent,” Lanning said. “We gotta work really hard based on whoever we are playing, and if you’re ready to play, you will.”

Ducks defensive end Brandon Dorlus (3) clashes with Huskies tight end Devin Clup (83). The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the University of Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on November 12, 2022 for game 10 of the 2022 season. (Ian Enger/Emerald)

DUCKS GAMES TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SEASON

BY NINA-GRACE MONTES • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

The 2022 season will always be a memorable one for head coach Dan Lanning and his new Oregon team. After leaving the national champion Georgia Bulldogs as their defensive coordinator, Lanning took the Ducks’ head coach job.

“Oregon is a premier brand. Oregon’s a team that it doesn’t matter what spot in the nation you’re at. You recognize it,” Lanning said on SportsCenter shortly after he was hired. “And for me, I never wanted to leave Georgia for anything less than a job that I thought was an elite one. And this is that.”

In his first season as head coach, Lanning took that Oregon brand to the next level. With a 10-3 record, a bowl win and a national ranking as high as six, he made them a national championship competitor in his first year. With a year under his belt and his recruiting classes starting to show up in Eugene, the bar is high. Here’s a look at the most anticipated games of the 2023 season.

TEXAS TECH - SEPTEMBER 9

All eyes will be on the Texas and Alabama matchup during Week Two this season, but Oregon at Texas Tech will definitely be a can’t-miss game. While Oregon enters the season with high expectations, it’s going to be hard to beat the Red Raiders in Lubbock. On both sides of the ball, there will be really good football played. Tyler Shough, the former Duck quarterback from 2018 to 2020, is now Texas Tech’s starting quarterback, and it won’t be surprising if he has a chip on his shoulder for this game. With both teams having several key pieces returning, this game could have major playoff implications.

COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 23

Lanning and new Colorado head coach Deion Sanders have traded back-andforth barbs about their teams’ respective conference moves. During a July 31 press conference, Lanning was asked about his reaction to Colorado leaving for the Big 12 and said, “Not a big reaction. I’m trying to remember what they won to affect this conference and I don’t remember. Do you remember them winning anything? I don’t remember them winning anything.” Colorado’s new head coach Deion Sanders responded sarcastically four days later when asked about Oregon’s move to the Big Ten. This banter between the two schools is not surprising, especially after a lot of coaches have expressed their frustrations with Sanders on how he manages his team amongst other things. For the first conference game of the season at home, this is going to be one of the loudest games at Autzen Stadium.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 14

The rivalry between the Ducks and Huskies has entered a new chapter. Not only did the schools make the conference move to the Big Ten together, but last year’s game was also one of the most well-played games between the two. Both offenses had big plays and the score bounced back and forth until the final whistle was blown. In Seattle, this game could be a potential playoff preview which is always fun during a rival game.

USC - NOVEMBER 11

When the Trojans announced the hire of Lincoln Riley in October of 2021, USC was one of the opponents that Duck fans looked forward to going up against. Unfortunately, they never got to see the two new coaches

go head-to-head. But now that Lanning and Riley have a year under their belt with their new teams, this matchup is going to be a fun rivalry, especially with both schools moving into the Big Ten next year. The Bo Nix and Caleb Williams matchup is going to be a fan favorite.

OREGON STATE - NOVEMBER 24

After Oregon made the announcement that they will be moving to the Big Ten in 2024, Oregon State was unhappy and made that very clear. Oregon State’s Athletic Director Scott Barnes was reportedly furious.

“Conference realignment just doesn’t make sense anymore. What this enterprise was built on was regionality and rivalries,” Barnes said to the Oregonian. “That is gone. That is leaving the Pac-12. Some of the most special pieces about our model are the regionality of competition and rivalries. Those things are forgotten.”

Oregon’s Athletic Director Rob Mullens told 247 Sports that with the in-state rivalry being full of rich tradition, he will do everything he can to keep it going across all sports. Barnes responded that nothing has been determined yet and they aren’t committing themselves to continue playing against Oregon. Following last season’s 34-38 loss in Corvallis, both teams are looking to make a statement as this could possibly be the last time they face each other in the near future.

After an eventful offseason, fans are impatiently awaiting for the season to arrive. New opponents, new recruits, and rivalries will make the 2023-24 season one to remember.

After an exciting debut season for Dan Lanning and an eventful offseason, here are the games to look forward to heading into the 2023 season.

Noah Whittington (22) protects the ball as he falls backwards into an Oregon State defender. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival the Oregon State Beavers on November 26, 2022, for their last game of the regular season. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

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POSITIONAL PREVIEW: WIDE RECEIVERS

BY RUBY WOOL • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

THE OREGON WIDE RECEIVER ROOM WELCOMES FIVE NEW RECEIVERS FOR THE 2023-24 SEASON

The Oregon offense relies on wide receivers as they support Bo Nix and the entirety of the offensive roster. This fall, Autzen Stadium and the thundering flock of Oregon football fans will welcome five new wide receivers to the offensive lineup.

The Ducks’ wide receiver room consolidated following the notable departures of its former high-profile players. Last season, Oregon lost two sophomore wide receivers to the transfer portal: Seven McGee and Dont’e Thornton. McGee, the former four-star running back whom Oregon converted to a wide receiver, accumulated a total of 151 receiving yards during his two years as a Duck. In 2022 alone, the shifty playmaker recorded six kickoff returns for 99 yards. Thornton, the 6-foot-5, 199-pound standout from Maryland, bid farewell to Autzen after two seasons. McGee committed to Jackson State while Thornton joined the University of Tennessee.

In addition to McGee and Thornton’s departures, Chase Cota ran out of eligibility. He closed his collegiate career with 103 receptions for 1,380 yards and nine touchdowns; he was also named a Coaches’ Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention in his last year. His size, routerunning ability and performance on special teams will be missed on the Ducks’ offense.

To begin, Adams’ corp of wideouts grew this summer with the arrival of Gary Bryant Jr. and Jurrion Dickey.

Bryant, a former four-star wide receiver, transferred from USC. During his first two years at USC, he ranked third among Trojans with 44 receptions for 579 yards and seven touchdowns, while serving as the primary returner on both punts and kickoffs. The summer pre-season training should give the college experienced player ample time to familiarize himself with the playbook and team.

Dickey is a five-star incoming freshman. 247Sports rated him a consensus top 10 wide receiver in the country, a consensus top five player in the state of California and the top rated wide receiver in the state. The former multi-sport athlete is an explosive and speedy player with agility, skill and power. The biggest test for Dickey will be whether he can be an adaptable player for the Oregon offense. He could become a versatile and dangerous offensive weapon for the Ducks given his three phase ability on special teams as a returner, safety and receiver.

In addition to the newcomers, some of the familiar faces and jersey numbers of Oregon’s wide receivers include Tez Johnson, Troy Franklin and Kris Hutson.

Johnson, a 5-foot-8 speedy receiver, will hope to make his second appearance in front of the Autzen crowd this fall. Johnson, a spring transfer from Troy, enters this season as the second-highest rated returner in college football. He could no doubt be one of Oregon’s strongest and most talented players this season.

Aside from each player’s hard fought battle for a starting position, the team will depend on Franklin and other Oregon veterans like Hutson to build team unity and guide the rookies this fall. If they are able to get the newbies acquainted and up to speed, Oregon will have options and competition for these spots –– which is promising for a squad that has not had a receiver drafted higher than the third round since 1998.

My prospective two-deep selection for the fall is as follows: At X, the spots seem locked with 6-foot-3, 178-pound starter Troy Franklin leading the position and Ashton Cozart, a 6-foot-4, 193-pound true freshman from Texas, as his backup. However, there should be competitive battles throughout the season for spots at Z and the slot.

Kris Hutson, 5-foot-11, 172-pounds, and Traeshon Holden, 6-foot-3, 214-pounds, are the projected two deep at Z. Tez Johnson, a 5-foot-8, 183-pound spring transfer from Troy, will compete with Gary Bryant Jr., a 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior transfer, for Nix’s approval and chemistry — proving themselves worthy of a starting spot at the slot.

Alabama wide receiver transfer Traeshon Holden (5) prays in the end zone before the start of the game. The University of Oregon holds their annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on April 29, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

Junior wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) celebrates a big touchdown reception. The University of Oregon holds their annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on April 29, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

OREGON’S NEW OFFENSIVE LINE

While their quarterbacks remain largely familiar, the Ducks are bringing on new talent in key offensive positions.

BY JOE MOORE • DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT

Oregon’s offense will be getting the usual roster turnaround this year, with several players graduating, transferring or being drafted by the NFL, and fresh faces stepping in to take their place.

Here is a look at what key offensive players the Ducks lost this off-season, and the players who will be tasked with replacing them.

QUARTERBACK

Important Departing Players: None

Important Added Players: None

The Ducks are returning the top two quarterbacks from last season’s depth chart in Bo Nix and Ty Thompson. New offensive coordinator Will Stein’s first recruit, Austin Novosad, a four-star recruit from Dripping Springs, Texas, was the biggest recruit at quarterback, but will likely not see much game action.

RUNNING BACK

Important Departing Players: None

Important Added Players: Jayden Limar and Dante Dowdell

The Ducks are returning their two leading rushers from last season in Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, who will likely start as the top two backs on the depth chart. However, they also recruited Dante Dowdell and Jayden Limar, two four-star running backs who had impressive high school careers. While neither will likely come in as a day one starter, both have the potential to challenge for regular rotation snaps.

WIDE RECEIVER

Important Departing Players: Dont’e Thornton, Chase Cota

Important Added Players: Jurrion Dickey, Ashton Cozart, Traeshon Holden, Gary Bryant Jr. and Tez Johnson

The Ducks lost Dont’e Thornton and Chase Cota who combined for 863 receiving yards last season, which is a significant amount of yards to make up. However, the Ducks are returning Troy Franklin and Kris Hutson, two of their top receivers from last season who had 1,363 receiving yards between them.

The Ducks did bring in many potential options to help fill the remaining gap. Jurrion Dickey and Ashton Cozart headline a strong wide receiver recruiting class as they are five and four-star recruits respectively. Dickey especially looks to make an impact early, as he is a big and athletic receiver who is able to outrun and outjump defenders.

The Ducks were also active in recruiting receivers in the transfer portal, snagging former USC receiver Gary Bryant Jr., Alabama transfer Traeshon Holden and former Troy leading receiver Tez Johnson. Johnson had an incredible season with Troy last year and comes to Oregon as one of the best wide receivers in college football entering the 2023 season.

TIGHT END

Important Departing Players: Cam McCormick, Moliki Matavao

Important Added Players: Kenyon Sadiq and Casey Kelly

The Ducks are losing two of their top three tight ends in McCormick and Matavao. The two tight ends combined to rack up 200 yards receiving and five touchdowns during their time on the field last season.

Terrance Ferguson will be asked to build on a very productive season last year where he finished with 32 catches for 391 yards and five touchdowns. He will be joined by Ole Miss transfer Casey Kelly and four-star freshman recruit Kenyon Sadiq. Kelly totaled just three catches for 17 yards in his previous season at Ole Miss, but will likely see an increased role this season. Sadiq seems poised to see an opportunity as a freshman to contribute after an impressive senior season where he was named 4A All-Idaho Player of the Year.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Important Departing Players: Alex Forsyth, Ryan Walk, T.J. Bass and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu

Important Added Players: Junior Angilau and Ajani Cornelius

The Ducks lost four starters from one of the best offensive lines in college football last season. The Ducks only allowed five sacks all season, but will now be losing Forsyth, Walk, Bass and Aumavae-Laulu, all of whom played a massive part in that incredible season.

Marcus Harper and Jackson Powers-Johnson, both returning players, will be the top two options to play center this upcoming season. Josh Conerly, the other returning player who seems poised to make a jump, appeared in all 13 games for the Ducks last season, though mostly as an extra lineman when needed.

Junior Angilau, a transfer from Texas, seems poised to take over at one of the guard spots. He did not play at all for Texas last season due to injury, but has started 34 games for them in previous seasons.

Ajani Cornelius, a transfer from Rhode Island, is another massive addition as he was one of the best linemen available in the transfer portal. He played mostly right tackle at Rhode Island, a position that is wide open for the Ducks.

The Ducks’ first game of the season, and the first chance to see many

The Ducks are returning their two leading rushers from last season in Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, who will likely start as the top two backs on the depth chart.”

Junior running back Noah Whittington (22) leaps over Cougar defense in order to make a first down attempt. The Oregon Ducks defeated the BYU Cougars in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sep. 17, 2022. (Maddie Stellingwerf/Emerald)

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