The Oregon Ducks didn't play in Week 0, but the Ducks started their game preparations last week, turning the attention away from Fall camp and toward the Boise State Broncos. Saturday Afternoon's game is the start to what every Oregon fan hopes will be a special season, and while the game isn't a marquee matchup, it holds importance.
While Fall camp is over, every positional battle isn't necessarily decided, and the opening games will play a large part in deciding them. While the Ducks have a roster loaded with superstar talent that you can write into the depth chart in Sharpie, there are other players who will need to prove they deserve the starting role starting this weekend.
Oregon Ducks depth chart projection for Week 1
Offensive Depth Chart
Position | 1st-string | 2nd-string | 3rd-string |
|---|---|---|---|
Quarterback | Dante Moore | Dylan Raiola | Brock Thomas |
Running Back | Jordon Davison | Dierre Hill Jr | Simeon Price |
X-WR | Jeremiah McClellan | Jalen Lott | Gatlin Bair |
Z-WR | Dakorien Moore | Messiah Hampton | Dillon Gresham |
Slot WR | Evan Stewart | Iverson Hooks | Jack Ressler |
Tight End | Jamari Johnson | Markus Dixon | Kendre Harrison |
Left Tackle | Fox Crader | Immanuel Iheanacho | Zac Stascausky |
Left Guard | Douglas Utu | Kawika Rogers | Trent Ferguson |
Center | Iapani Laloulu | Devin Brooks | Koloi Keli |
Right Guard | Dave Iuli | Michael Bennett III | Zyaire Addison |
Right Tackle | Tommy Tofi | Gernorris Wilson | Michael Bennett III |
There are several easy positions to project on offense; Dante Moore will be under center, receiving snaps from Iapani Laloulu as arguably the best players at their positions. Some combination of Evan Stewart, Dakorien Moore, Iverson Hooks, and Jeremiah McClellan will be on the field at wide receiver with Jamari Johnson at tight end. The Ducks will also lean on the duo of Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr in the running game.
Where things become impossible to predict is with the offensive line the Ducks will trot out in the season opener, aside from Iapani Laloulu. In the Non-Conference portion of the season, the Ducks will likely deploy a wide variety of players to try and find the best unit to head into Big Ten play with. Freshman Tommy Tofi has been the star of the offseason playing both inside and outside, and he looks to be in a position to earn the starting gig.
During the early portion of the season, it'll be exciting to watch which of the wide receivers between Gatlin Bair, Messiah Hampton, and Jalen Lott make plays in the game, as they've all flashed in camp. The tight end room is quietly one of the deepest on the team, and how the Ducks deploy Kendre' Harrison, Markus Dixon, and Andrew Olesh as each can make plays with different skill sets.
Defensive Depth Chart
Position | 1st-string | 2nd-string | 3rd-string |
|---|---|---|---|
Edge Rusher | Matayo Uiagalelei | Elijah Rushing | Tank Jones |
Defensive Tackle | A'Mauri Washington | Matt Johnson | Tank Jones |
Defensive Tackle | Bear Alexander | Aydin Breland | D'Antre Robinson |
Edge Rusher | Teitum Tuioti | Nasir Wyatt | Bleu Dantzler |
Inside Linebacker | Jerry Mixon | Gavin Nix | Nasir Wyatt |
Inside Linebacker | Devon Jackson | Dylan Williams | Brayden Platt |
Cornerback | Brandon Finney Jr | Aaron Scott Jr | Dorian Brew |
Cornerback | Ify Obidegwu | Na'eem Offord | Tre Watson |
STAR | Carl Williams IV | Davon Benjamin | Devin Jackson |
Safety | Aaron Flowers | Peyton Woodyard | Xavier Lherisse |
Safety | Koi Perich | Trey McNutt | Jett Washington |
The Ducks' defense is going to be one of the best units in the Country, and the only question is how great the group can be. The defense is led by the monsters in the trenches with Teitum Tuitoti, Matayo Uiagalelei, Bear Alexander, and A'Mauri Washington all back for another season. After the group had an impressive season last year, if they each can take a leap, they're going to be impossible to block.
The secondary has two of the best players in the Country in Koi Perich and Brandon Finney Jr who seem to be locked into starting positions. Early in the season, everyone will have an eye on Ify Obidegwu, Carl Williams IV, and Aaron Flowers, as there's plenty of talent in the secondary pushing the trio for bigger roles in the defense.
At linebacker, Jerry Mixon is back in the fold and will be tasked with being the quarterback of the defensive unit. The lone question has been over whether it'll be Devon Jackson next to Mixon or if one of the younger players will make a push, but to start the season, it looks like Jackson will have the right to prove he's the best fit for the Ducks.
The Ducks should have a nice three game stretch in the Non-Conference schedule to experiment with a ton of different looks, get plenty of players playing time if the team handles business, and take command early. Finding out who can contribute in these first 3 games will only help the Ducks in the long term, making it important that the starters handle business early.
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