Oregon’s win over USC didn’t just show off the Ducks’ depth up front. It also put a spotlight on one of their freshest pieces in the trenches.
The No. 15 Ducks used eight different offensive linemen to get past No.
18 USC, and one of them - true freshman interior lineman Tommy Tofi - has already started to stand out. Oregon leaned on him to help keep backup quarterback Dylan Raiola upright after the scary Dante Moore concussion, and the early returns have been loud.
Pro Football Network released its grades on Oct. 2, and Tofi checked in at 74.7, which puts him among the outlet’s highest-graded true freshmen. Among Big Ten Conference interior offensive linemen, that mark ranks third. Illinois’ Champ Smith is ahead of him at 75.8, while Purdue’s Brock Brownfield sits second at 75.7.
PFN listed Auburn’s Wilson Zierer as the top-graded interior offensive lineman overall, noting his strong play in Alex Golesh’s veer-and-shoot spread offense.
For Oregon, though, the bigger story is how quickly Tofi has translated recruiting hype into real value on the field. Dan Lanning and offensive line coach A’lique Terry landed a massive one: a 6-6, 360-pound blocker who can play tackle but has mostly lined up at left guard so far.
That gave the Ducks both power and flexibility, and it showed in the short-yardage and goal-line looks Oregon used against USC on Sept. 26.
It also showed up in the week three rout of Portland State, when Tofi teamed with fellow freshman standout Immanuel Iheanacho to overwhelm the left side in an 84-0 blowout. That kind of size and force is exactly why Oregon made the move to go after the Bay Area in the 2026 cycle, and why flipping a former California commit mattered.
The Ducks are getting more than bulk, too. Tofi has given offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer a “Jumbo” package option, and that kind of extra muscle figures to matter as Big Ten play gets heavier.
That stretch starts Oct. 10 against UCLA, which comes to Autzen Stadium ranked No. 23. The Bruins will bring the Big Ten’s fifth-best run defense, allowing 91.3 yards per game, though they rank 16th in red zone defense.
Duck fans in the building shouldn’t be shocked if Tofi gets on the field. Oregon looks ready to use him again, and with Ohio State, undefeated Nebraska and Michigan still ahead, there’s a clear path for him to keep growing into the kind of trench presence the Ducks clearly expected when they brought him in.
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