Oregon’s offensive line is in the middle of a reset, but one familiar name remains at the center of the conversation: Dave Iuli.
The Ducks are sorting through a rotation to fill three spots up front this season, and Iuli’s status has mattered throughout fall camp. He started every game last year, mostly at right guard, yet he spent the offseason working back from a torn triceps he said he suffered in the Orange Bowl against Texas Tech. He tried to push through it in the Peach Bowl against Indiana, but left that game in the third quarter.
That recovery kept him out of spring camp and the spring game, making his return a key subplot as Oregon builds toward the opener. Still, offensive line coach A'lique Terry sounded upbeat about where Iuli stands now.
"Dave is cooking. Man, Dave's back grilling," Terry told reporters on Monday.
"Dave was doing a really good job today in one-on-ones. He's doing a really good job.
He's done a phenomenal job of getting back and rehabbing too. I expect Dave to be around when it's time for ball to be played too."
That’s encouraging news for an Oregon front that has only two returning starters, with Iuli joined by center Iapani Laloulu. For a unit still sorting itself out, having Iuli trending back in the right direction is a major development.
If all goes as expected, Oregon should have him available when it opens the season on Sept. 5 against Boise State at Autzen Stadium.
In Other News...
Dylan Raiola Faces A Different Test As His Oregon Chapter Begins
Dylan Raiolas move from Nebraska to Oregon has brought the kind of attention that follows him everywhere, but this latest chapter is less about the spotlight and more about what he does with it. Oregon coach Dan Lanning has liked the way Raiola has handled the scrutiny, and there is real value in that as he settles into a new setting and tries to establish himself in a quarterback room that already has plenty of competition.
Raiola also arrives with two years of eligibility left, which gives Oregon some runway to see where he fits as this situation develops. The Ducks are still evaluating how the pieces line up behind center, and Raiolas next challenge is not just learning the offense but proving he can turn steady practice work and steadying presence into something more in a crowded race. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons O-Line Battle May Depend On Two Freshmen Sooner Than Expected
Oregons offensive line picture is still coming into focus, and the conversation around it has started to include two true freshmen who were not supposed to be part of the immediate answer. Alique Terry said Immanuel Iheanacho and Tommy Tofi have the kind of size and physical gifts that turn heads, and both have also drawn notice for the work they have put in since arriving in Eugene. The Ducks are still sorting through a group of linemen to find the best five, but there is real interest in how quickly those younger pieces can move from promising bodies to viable options.
The intrigue comes from the balance between talent and timing. Iheanacho got to campus later in the offseason, while Tofi has made clear strides in conditioning as he adjusts to the pace and demands of college football. Oregon has no shortage of players to evaluate, but the lines long-term upside may depend on whether those freshmen can close the gap sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon May Need An Early Backfield Shakeup Over Jordon Davison
Oregons running back room is getting a little more attention than the Ducks probably wanted this early in fall camp, with Jordon Davison dealing with a possible injury during the second week of workouts. The concern matters because his availability could shape how the staff sorts out carries and touches in a backfield that already figures to lean on other options like Dierre Hill Jr. and DaJuan Riggs while camp rolls on.
The uncertainty comes from the fact that the original concern sounded more serious than what has followed. One report suggested a recovery window that could stretch into the middle of the season, but there is also information pointing to Davison getting back on the field in practice, which would obviously change the picture for Oregons depth chart and the urgency of any early shakeup. [Read more 🡒]