Oregon’s offensive line picture is starting to come into sharper focus, and a recent workout video gave Ducks fans a fresh look at where two of the biggest names in the room may be headed.
The line remains the clearest question mark on the offensive side of the ball because of the lack of on-field experience. Center Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu, guard Dave Iuli and tackle Kawika Rogers are the most seasoned returners from last season’s group, but there are still openings to sort out, especially at tackle.
That leaves a crowded competition heading into fall camp. Young players will be battling alongside the returners and the lone transfer addition, Michael Bennett from Yale, for those starting jobs.
Two of the most watched names are incoming freshman and five-star recruit Immanuel Iheanacho and four-star recruit Tommy Tofi, and both recently showed how they’re spending their time before the 2026 season. Iheanacho posted a workout video featuring himself and Tofi going through inside and outside zone blocking reps, core stabilization work, and footwork drills in several formats, including off clap, flat and off a medicine ball. Iheanacho also narrated the session with a voice-over, giving offensive line hopefuls a useful look at the work.
The video appears to have been shot on a turfed area outside Autzen Stadium, not far from the 2.MO facility that’s being built nearby.
For Oregon, the encouraging part is that Iheanacho and Tofi are still pushing each other away from the practice field. No coaches are shown in the video, suggesting the two are taking the initiative to work together on their own time and sharpen each other.
The path to a starting role is still steep for both players. Oregon is coming off another Joe Moore Award finalist offensive line, and Iheanacho and Tofi will need to show real star power to crack the first team.
Even so, there’s a clear chance one or both could end up in a valuable rotation role if they don’t win a starting spot, similar to Fox Crader’s freshman season last year. That possibility is tied to the recent NCAA Division I governing body vote to limit eligibility to a five-year age-based model, which means coaches have to lean on younger players more heavily now that redshirts are no longer in play.
Right now, the clearest projections put Laloulu at center and Iuli back at right guard. Douglas Utu, an incoming sophomore, looks like the best bet at left guard, with Rogers serving as the backup there. The tackle spots are where the real fight is, and that’s where Tofi and Iheanacho are expected to compete with Crader and Bennett for starting and swing roles.
Back in April, during spring practice, Oregon offensive line coach A’lique Terry said the younger returners were bringing something different after he had deliberately built a mostly transfer-portal-based line to give them more time to develop. He also pointed to players like Tofi and Iheanacho as having the kind of talent that could put them in the mix for starting jobs, while noting that freshmen still face a learning curve, especially when it comes to strength and conditioning.
“It’s been competitive as ever. And we literally just said that right now when we just left off the field right now.
And it was cool because Dave is watching and he’s like, man, Trent (Ferguson's) getting better. And I’m like, all right, now I hope everybody pays attention to that, right?"
Terry said. "There’s a culture amongst our room that’s really elite.
And I love it because it allows everybody to play at the highest level. And it brings out a competitive energy every single day."
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