Idaho Test: Is Oregon’s Positional Depth for Real? | FishDuck (2024)

With all that has happened, it is hard to believe that Dan Lanning has only been at Oregon for two years. Yet the talent stacked up from both high school and portal recruiting has been the most impressive to me in all my time of covering Duck football. I had to take some time away from my fun at ducky luck casino (Is that the most perfect name for an Oregon Duck fan?) to ponder whether the assumed depth will actually play-out, and the Idaho game is a good first indicator for what I am cogitating on.

I wish to cover a couple of position groups, and get your feedback in our free forum…

Quarterbacks

We all know the stats and experience of Dillon Gabriel coming in, and frankly–it appears that he throws a better long-ball than Bo Nix. Yet I believe that a reason for so few sacks in the past two years was Nix’s ability to get rid of the ball, and yet complete the pass. Normally if you are throwing the ball away to prevent sacks–your completion percentage declines, but we did not see that with Bo.

I doubt that Gabriel will have this ability, thus my expectation this season is more sacks, but also more Bird-Bombs completed between Our Beloved Ducks. Evan Stewart shows a sweet tendency to come down with “Jump-balls” that are highly contested. This matches up well with Dillon, as it allows him to throw long more often as the percentages are on our side. Do you sense the same tendencies? How OC Will Stein will use Gabriel is going to be fascinating to watch as well.

Running Backs

We are thrilled to have the new depth at this position, but I could not help but note how Oregon recruited running backs who could catch the ball out of the backfield in a superior way. Jordan James is superb in the open field after gathering in a pass, and Noah Whittington was originally recruited as a wide receiver at Western Kentucky. He has WR speed and hands that really stressed opposing defenses in 2022, and early 2023 before his injury.

Jay Harris is the surprising transfer that could really blow up defenses this fall, and not just because he is a big back, but because he demonstrated in the Spring Game how he catches the ball like a receiver, and can jump-cut in open field like a running back. All three running backs are difficult match-ups for linebackers to cover, so what if Stein has twin backs next to Gabriel, sends the WRs on vertical routes, and sends both RBs into the flat? Great matchups for Our Beloved Ducks, and to watch for!

Offensive Line

Our first seven O-Linemen I have great confidence in, but if we are to have any success in 2025…the young guns must be developed. Hence I wish to see Kawika Rogers, Trent Ferguson, JacQawn McRoy, and Fox Crader get some serious playing time. The talent is there, but they need the reps in case of injury, to prevent the season from wearing down the starters, and to build for the future. Of all the position groups, the recruiting depth is thinnest for the offensive line, thus development of the current roster is essential. Let’s see them against the Vandals!

Defensive Line

This is the “Show-Me” position group because I’ve never witnessed the amount of depth built in Lanning’s first two recruiting classes as we have now. Yet last winter Lanning scored huge recruiting victories in securing defensive line stars such as Jamaree Caldwell from Houston and Derrick Harmon from Michigan State. This takes the pressure off the very young defensive linemen to perform immediately, but again for 2025…we need development and talent to emerge from this group to justify the lofty recruiting rankings.

At the top of the forum is a drop-down menu titled, “Repository” where the Chile Duck Football roster is located and continuously updated. The depth at Nose Tackle is one example of how crazy some of the recruiting has been at Oregon…

Nose Tackle
No. 90 Jamaree Caldwell Sr. 6’1″ 340 lbs.
No. 52 A’Mauri Washington So. 6’3″ 320 lbs.
No. 99 Terrance Green R-Fr. 6’5″ 330 lbs.
No. 50 Tionne Gray Fr. 6’6″ 330 lbs.
No. 77 Jericho Johnson Fr. 6’4″ 340 lbs.

Good gosh that is stunning above! During the 2014 ‘Natty runner-up campaign….the Ducks made do with a tough, but undersized 290 lb. Nose Tackle because it is so hard to recruit that position! There has been quite a bit extensively written about each of the backups to Caldwell, and since this is the position that wears down the fastest, and most prone to injury–this remarkable depth for the B1G is comforting. Can’t wait to see them on the field!

The talent recruited into the defensive backfield is the deepest ever in my decades of watching the Ducks, but this one corner position below really jarred me for the uber-talent that is congregated at this position…

Cornerback
No. 18 Kam Alexander Sr. 5’11” 190 lbs.
No. 13 Sione Laulea Jr. 6’4″ 190 lbs.
No. 16 Rodrick Pleasant So. 5’9″ 180 lbs.
No. 27 Daylen Austin R-Fr. 6’1″ 200 lbs.
No. 11 Dakoda Fields Fr. 6’2″ 190 lbs.

The group above were all huge recruiting victories, with each one having top-end speed with enormous fast-twitch fiber to stay in phase with receivers. Alexander is considered sprinter-speed fast, while Laulea was the No. 1 JUCO recruit at all positions in the nation. A player that tall with corner athleticism is simply a freak rarely seen on an Oregon practice field before. The others were heated battles with USC and LSU for their commitment, as these other teams noted the tremendous talent.

These corner backups could be starting at any number of schools, (the majority!) and Oregon has them five-deep? It is simply astounding to me; watching the growth and development of these underclassmen at the different positions is not only crucial for the future, but increases our entertainment factor as…..

“Oh, how we love to ponder about Our Beloved Ducks!”

Charles Fischer (Mr. FishDuck)
Eugene, Oregon
Top Photo by Tom Corno

Share your thoughts about this team in the only free, “polite and respectful” Oregon Sports message board, the Our Beloved Ducks forum!