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The Oregon Ducks kicked off the spring football season earlier this month with a pair of practices that were meant to get the juices flowing and immerse their new roster in the system before the University went on spring break. It offered a chance to talk to some coaches and get a sense for how things were looking early in this highly anticipated 2025 season for Dan Lanning and the Ducks.
Now, after having been off for the past couple of weeks, Oregon is set to get back on the field in Eugene in the coming days and resume the spring season, ramping things up as we approach the annual Spring Game on April 26.
After the massive success of Oregon's 2024 campaign, going into the College Football Playoffs as the No. 1 overall seed with a Big Ten Championship under their belt, expectations are high going into this new year. Of course, a relatively young and unproven roster has intrigue at an all-time high for fans who are trying to figure out who the playmakers will be, and what the new-look team will do in the 2025 season.
Gone are players like Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, Terrance Ferguson, Jeffrey Bassa, and Jordan Burch, but Oregon has incredible talent to replace them with. At this point in the year, it's all about finding out which of those talented players will rise to the top and take over as the starter on the depth chart.
Nothing will be decided in the spring, but we can get a good sense of where this team is, and who the difference-makers are going to be. At this point, though, all we want to pay attention to is the position battles. Here are the top competitions we will follow over the next several weeks in Eugene.
Unsurprisingly, this position battle is at the top of the list. Oregon has had elite quarterback play over the past few years, sending Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel to New York City as Heisman Trophy finalists. It's safe to say that expectations are high for the next guy, with hopes that he will uphold the standard of success in Eugene.
So who will that next guy be? Dante Moore and Austin Novosad are set to go head-to-head this spring and try to jockey for the top spot. The prevailing thought is that Moore will ultimately win the job, as there has been a lot of buzz from former players about his high ceiling, but don't discredit Novosad and what he brings to the table.
Lanning won't name a starter in the spring season, but the spring game will give us a great look at where both players stand, and help everyone forecast what's possible for the Ducks in 2025.
Gary Bryant Jr. or Dakorien Moore? Evan Stewart or Kyler Kasper? Malik Benson or Justius Lowe? We could write an entire article on the intricate position battles within the WR room as a whole, so I chose just to mention the entire room here and try to go into detail.
At the X position, it seems more likely than not that Evan Stewart gets the starting role after coming back for another year. Still, players like Kyler Kasper, Jurrion Dickey, or Jeremiah McClellan could quickly push for more playing time. At the Z position, it will be fascinating to see if incoming Florida State transfer Malik Benson can take over, beating out Justius Lowe for the top spot. You could also have a high-upside player like McClellan in this conversation.
And then we have one of the most intriguing battles in the slot. Will it be the veteran Gary Bryant Jr. in his final year of eligibility, or true freshman phenom Dakorien Moore, the No. 1 WR in the 2025 class? There is so much talent in this room that watching players jockey for position and try to grab starting roles will be fascinating this spring.
With Jordan James off to the NFL, there is a lead back spot to fill in Oregon's offense, and a pair of incredibly deserving players looking to take over. Noah Whittington has been in Eugene for three seasons, splitting time with James and Bucky Irving, so it would be no surprise to see him step up and fill the RB1 role.
Of course, the Ducks also went into the transfer portal and landed former Tulane Green Wave star Makhi Hughes, one of the top RBs available this year. Hughes has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, and over 2,700 total yards and 22 TDs in his two-year career. Seeing him come to Eugene and quickly become a star wouldn't be a surprise.
I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Ducks adopt an RB-by-committee approach, much like they did with Irving and Whittington a couple of years back.
The offensive line will look quite a bit different for Oregon this year. The Ducks are losing starters Josh Conerly Jr., Ajani Cornelius, Marcus Harper, and Nishad Strother to the NFL. While center Iapani Laloulu returns, the pieces around him will be different. At left tackle, the expectation is that Nevada transfer Isaiah World will step in as the starter. Next to World at the left guard spot, and on Laloulu's right side, there are questions about who will be the guy.
Last year, the Ducks brought Matthew Bedford from Indiana to fill a starting guard spot, but a preseason injury held him out. Should he be healthy and ready to play, he can contend for the starting spot again, but his availability remains in the air. The Ducks also have Dave Iuli, who got some good run last year at the guard spot as a rotational player. On top of those two options, Oregon got USC transfer Emmanuel Pregnon, the No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the portal this year.
Three highly capable players, and two spots to fill. We'll see who comes out on top after the spring season.
Much like the competition in the wide receiver room, there are a million ways you could go in the cornerback room when looking at the many position battles. With Jabbar Muhammad, Nikko Reed, and Dontae Manning graduating, Oregon will have a pair of new starters in 2025.
Will it be Jahlil Florence or Northwestern transfer Theran Johnson? A guy like Rodrick Pleasant has been in the Ducks' system for a couple of years and could easily step into a more prominent role. What about Ify Obidegwu, Dakoda Fields, or Sione Laulea? All of them are former highly-rated recruits who have been working their way up the depth chart. And then you have the new, young guard: 5-star Na'eem Offord and 4-star Dorian Brew would surprise nobody by making waves in spring practice.
Like the WR room, this position group has unlimited talent, but we need to see who steps up and starts leading the way over the next month.
Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman will undoubtedly lock down one starting safety position, but who plays alongside him will be interesting to see. The Ducks have several young guys capable of a more prominent role, but at the top of the list are Peyton Woodyard and Kingston Lopa. Both are bigger-bodied players who have high upside. Lopa got some good experience playing in the Big Ten Championship game last year, and the Ducks also used Woodyard a lot in special teams as a true freshman.
This battle could go either way at the moment, but I can't wait to see how it plays out.
We already talked about the running back battle between Makhi Hughes and Noah Whittington for the RB1 spot, but I am also very interested to see how Jayden Limar and Da'Jaun Riggs battle for the RB3 spot. A year ago, we saw Limar serve as the third back behind Whittington and Jordan James, but there seems to be a chance that he gets leapfrogged by the redshirt freshman.
In limited action last year, Riggs looked explosive out of the backfield, rushing 11 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. I don't think that Riggs will take over in a predominant role in the backfield this season, but it wouldn't surprise me if he ate into Limar's limited role and became a more significant weapon in the offense. This spring will tell us a lot.
With Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell heading to the NFL, the interior defensive line will look quite a bit different for the Ducks next year. There is an expectation that USC transfer Bear Alexander will lock down the nose tackle spot, but as far as defensive tackle goes, it is seemingly up for grabs. A'Mauri Washington is probably the leader in the clubhouse in getting the starting job, but I am curious to see if former blue-chip recruit Aydin Breland can push for the starting job this spring.
One of the offensive linemen Oregon brought in via the transfer portal this offseason is Texas State tackle Alex Harkey, who many fans are penciling in as the starter at right tackle. However, I wouldn't be shocked to see one of the guys in Oregon's program for a couple of years, notably Gernorris Wilson, step up and contend for that spot. We won't know the OL rotation after spring football, but we can get a good sense of the hierarchy after the spring game.
We know that Matayo Uiagalelei will lock down the defensive end position, and Teitum Tuioti will hold things down at the JACK linebacker spot. Still, when the Ducks roll out a 3-4 with a strongside linebacker, I'm curious to see who is out there. In his true freshman season, Blake Purchase showed a high ceiling, but he didn't play much last year, which could open the door for someone like Ashton Porter to step in and pick up a more prominent role.
Going into the offseason, it looked like Daylen Austin was a sure-fire starter at the nickel cornerback position after Brandon Johnson's graduation. However, the Ducks got Jadon Canady in the transfer portal. He will contend for that starting spot. It will be interesting to see how both players play in the spring game, and what the hierarchy is at the position going into the summer.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks top position battles to watch in 2025 spring practice
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Now, after having been off for the past couple of weeks, Oregon is set to get back on the field in Eugene in the coming days and resume the spring season, ramping things up as we approach the annual Spring Game on April 26.
After the massive success of Oregon's 2024 campaign, going into the College Football Playoffs as the No. 1 overall seed with a Big Ten Championship under their belt, expectations are high going into this new year. Of course, a relatively young and unproven roster has intrigue at an all-time high for fans who are trying to figure out who the playmakers will be, and what the new-look team will do in the 2025 season.
Gone are players like Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, Terrance Ferguson, Jeffrey Bassa, and Jordan Burch, but Oregon has incredible talent to replace them with. At this point in the year, it's all about finding out which of those talented players will rise to the top and take over as the starter on the depth chart.
Nothing will be decided in the spring, but we can get a good sense of where this team is, and who the difference-makers are going to be. At this point, though, all we want to pay attention to is the position battles. Here are the top competitions we will follow over the next several weeks in Eugene.
Dante Moore vs. Austin Novosad
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Unsurprisingly, this position battle is at the top of the list. Oregon has had elite quarterback play over the past few years, sending Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel to New York City as Heisman Trophy finalists. It's safe to say that expectations are high for the next guy, with hopes that he will uphold the standard of success in Eugene.
So who will that next guy be? Dante Moore and Austin Novosad are set to go head-to-head this spring and try to jockey for the top spot. The prevailing thought is that Moore will ultimately win the job, as there has been a lot of buzz from former players about his high ceiling, but don't discredit Novosad and what he brings to the table.
Lanning won't name a starter in the spring season, but the spring game will give us a great look at where both players stand, and help everyone forecast what's possible for the Ducks in 2025.
The Entire Wide Receiver Room
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Gary Bryant Jr. or Dakorien Moore? Evan Stewart or Kyler Kasper? Malik Benson or Justius Lowe? We could write an entire article on the intricate position battles within the WR room as a whole, so I chose just to mention the entire room here and try to go into detail.
At the X position, it seems more likely than not that Evan Stewart gets the starting role after coming back for another year. Still, players like Kyler Kasper, Jurrion Dickey, or Jeremiah McClellan could quickly push for more playing time. At the Z position, it will be fascinating to see if incoming Florida State transfer Malik Benson can take over, beating out Justius Lowe for the top spot. You could also have a high-upside player like McClellan in this conversation.
And then we have one of the most intriguing battles in the slot. Will it be the veteran Gary Bryant Jr. in his final year of eligibility, or true freshman phenom Dakorien Moore, the No. 1 WR in the 2025 class? There is so much talent in this room that watching players jockey for position and try to grab starting roles will be fascinating this spring.
Makhi Hughes vs. Noah Whittington
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With Jordan James off to the NFL, there is a lead back spot to fill in Oregon's offense, and a pair of incredibly deserving players looking to take over. Noah Whittington has been in Eugene for three seasons, splitting time with James and Bucky Irving, so it would be no surprise to see him step up and fill the RB1 role.
Of course, the Ducks also went into the transfer portal and landed former Tulane Green Wave star Makhi Hughes, one of the top RBs available this year. Hughes has a pair of 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, and over 2,700 total yards and 22 TDs in his two-year career. Seeing him come to Eugene and quickly become a star wouldn't be a surprise.
I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Ducks adopt an RB-by-committee approach, much like they did with Irving and Whittington a couple of years back.
Emmanuel Pregnon vs. Dave Iuli vs. Matthew Bedford
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The offensive line will look quite a bit different for Oregon this year. The Ducks are losing starters Josh Conerly Jr., Ajani Cornelius, Marcus Harper, and Nishad Strother to the NFL. While center Iapani Laloulu returns, the pieces around him will be different. At left tackle, the expectation is that Nevada transfer Isaiah World will step in as the starter. Next to World at the left guard spot, and on Laloulu's right side, there are questions about who will be the guy.
Last year, the Ducks brought Matthew Bedford from Indiana to fill a starting guard spot, but a preseason injury held him out. Should he be healthy and ready to play, he can contend for the starting spot again, but his availability remains in the air. The Ducks also have Dave Iuli, who got some good run last year at the guard spot as a rotational player. On top of those two options, Oregon got USC transfer Emmanuel Pregnon, the No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the portal this year.
Three highly capable players, and two spots to fill. We'll see who comes out on top after the spring season.
The Entire Cornerback Room
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Much like the competition in the wide receiver room, there are a million ways you could go in the cornerback room when looking at the many position battles. With Jabbar Muhammad, Nikko Reed, and Dontae Manning graduating, Oregon will have a pair of new starters in 2025.
Will it be Jahlil Florence or Northwestern transfer Theran Johnson? A guy like Rodrick Pleasant has been in the Ducks' system for a couple of years and could easily step into a more prominent role. What about Ify Obidegwu, Dakoda Fields, or Sione Laulea? All of them are former highly-rated recruits who have been working their way up the depth chart. And then you have the new, young guard: 5-star Na'eem Offord and 4-star Dorian Brew would surprise nobody by making waves in spring practice.
Like the WR room, this position group has unlimited talent, but we need to see who steps up and starts leading the way over the next month.
Peyton Woodyard vs. Kingston Lopa
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Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman will undoubtedly lock down one starting safety position, but who plays alongside him will be interesting to see. The Ducks have several young guys capable of a more prominent role, but at the top of the list are Peyton Woodyard and Kingston Lopa. Both are bigger-bodied players who have high upside. Lopa got some good experience playing in the Big Ten Championship game last year, and the Ducks also used Woodyard a lot in special teams as a true freshman.
This battle could go either way at the moment, but I can't wait to see how it plays out.
Jayden Limar vs. Da'Jaun Riggs
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We already talked about the running back battle between Makhi Hughes and Noah Whittington for the RB1 spot, but I am also very interested to see how Jayden Limar and Da'Jaun Riggs battle for the RB3 spot. A year ago, we saw Limar serve as the third back behind Whittington and Jordan James, but there seems to be a chance that he gets leapfrogged by the redshirt freshman.
In limited action last year, Riggs looked explosive out of the backfield, rushing 11 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. I don't think that Riggs will take over in a predominant role in the backfield this season, but it wouldn't surprise me if he ate into Limar's limited role and became a more significant weapon in the offense. This spring will tell us a lot.
A'Mauri Washington vs. Aydin Breland
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With Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell heading to the NFL, the interior defensive line will look quite a bit different for the Ducks next year. There is an expectation that USC transfer Bear Alexander will lock down the nose tackle spot, but as far as defensive tackle goes, it is seemingly up for grabs. A'Mauri Washington is probably the leader in the clubhouse in getting the starting job, but I am curious to see if former blue-chip recruit Aydin Breland can push for the starting job this spring.
Alex Harkey vs. Gernorris Wilson
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One of the offensive linemen Oregon brought in via the transfer portal this offseason is Texas State tackle Alex Harkey, who many fans are penciling in as the starter at right tackle. However, I wouldn't be shocked to see one of the guys in Oregon's program for a couple of years, notably Gernorris Wilson, step up and contend for that spot. We won't know the OL rotation after spring football, but we can get a good sense of the hierarchy after the spring game.
Blake Purchase vs. Ashton Porter
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We know that Matayo Uiagalelei will lock down the defensive end position, and Teitum Tuioti will hold things down at the JACK linebacker spot. Still, when the Ducks roll out a 3-4 with a strongside linebacker, I'm curious to see who is out there. In his true freshman season, Blake Purchase showed a high ceiling, but he didn't play much last year, which could open the door for someone like Ashton Porter to step in and pick up a more prominent role.
Jadon Canady vs. Daylen Austin
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Going into the offseason, it looked like Daylen Austin was a sure-fire starter at the nickel cornerback position after Brandon Johnson's graduation. However, the Ducks got Jadon Canady in the transfer portal. He will contend for that starting spot. It will be interesting to see how both players play in the spring game, and what the hierarchy is at the position going into the summer.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks top position battles to watch in 2025 spring practice
Continue reading...
