Pro Football Focus published its annual preseason list of the Top 50 players in college football this week, but only two Ducks made it.
Dillon Thieneman ranks No. 25, while Tulane running back transfer Makhi Hughes makes the list at No. 37.
The ratings are based on film analysis and grades from the 2024 season, so Oregon standouts like Kenyon Sadiq, Dakorien Moore, Isaiah World and Matayo Uiagalelei got passed over.
In Uiagalelei's case the omission is inexplicable. He dominated the Big Ten regular season last year with 10.5 sacks, posting one in nine straight games, two each against UCLA and Washington. Four edge rushers make PFF's top ten, 10 in the Top 50, including Penn State's Dani Dennis-Sutton and Indiana's Mikail Kamara, but Young Concrete didn't.
In a way the Ducks are attempting to do something unusual in the 2025 campaign. They don't have a dominating star-- Ohio State boasts the No. 1 and No. 2 players in PFF grades in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs-- but what they do have is overall quality and strong players throughout the lineup.
Chances are if PFF did a Top 100 or Top 150, that list would be dotted with Ducks. They're solid everywhere, underrated often and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
It's a markedly different approach than championship teams of the past, more akin to the model the New England Patriots used to dominate the NFL in the Tom Brady years, a strong culture coupled with well-coached players who knew their roles.
If the website does an end-of-the-season Top 50, that might include more Ducks. In particular Sadiq, World and the two Moores might emerge among the game's most outstanding players.
About Thieneman, the junior transfer from Purdue, PFF writes, "His 89.4 PFF overall grade since 2023 still ranks fourth among returning FBS safeties, and he owns 80.0-plus PFF grades in coverage and run defense in that span."
"Thieneman is arguably the best center fielder and one of the top athletes in college football. Dan Lanning should have a lot of fun incorporating his range into Oregon's defense."
In his second season with the Boilermakers the coaches moved him into more of a box safety role, but the 6-0, 207 three-star from Westfield, Indiana thrived as a freshman playing deep safety, intercepting six passes.
A lot of talk about new Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman as a potential STUD for the 2026 NFL Draft. Jury is out for me, but this was a really impressive rep here from his single-high spot.
— Dalton Miller (@DaltonBMiller) June 28, 2025
Really interested to see him in a different strategic role in 2025 at Oregon. pic.twitter.com/2OlXmbQvpM
At No. 37 Hughes ran for 2,776 yards at Tulane, 1,982 after contact. PFF said, "His 92.2 career PFF overall grade ranks second only to Jonah Coleman among returning FBS players at the position."
Funny thing about those grades: When Oregon faced Washington's Coleman last November, they held him to 3 yards on 11 carries. That stat alone should suggest that a sound team beats an outstanding individual talent.
Uiagalelei shined in that game, posting six tackles and two sacks.
Everyone has grades, ratings and power rankings in the summer. There's a big hoop-de-do about the ratings from EA Sports College Football 26, which has Alabama as the No. 1, most talented team in the nation.
The Tide finished 9-4 last year. Ratings and ranking don't win football games. Blocking and tackling does.