Oregon didn’t go back to the transfer portal for a wholesale offensive line makeover this offseason, and Fox Crader thinks that was the right call.
That’s notable in Eugene because the Ducks have built a pretty clear recent pattern. In 2024, they replaced a Joe Moore Award finalist line with a new starting five that included four veteran portal additions around center Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu.
The following year, Oregon dipped into the portal again for another wave of experienced tackles and a guard. Both seasons ended with Joe Moore Award finalist recognition.
This time, though, the 2026 offseason brought just one portal addition on the line: Yale tackle Michael Bennett. That came despite the departures of 2025 starters Alex Harkey, Isaiah World and guard Emmanuel Pregnon.
Crader, now a redshirt sophomore and a key depth piece in the trenches, said Oregon already has what it needs in-house.
“We're gonna play the best five, and it's a boost of confidence knowing the head coach believes in us," Crader said. "And I also believe we didn't need to go to the portal.
I believe everybody we need is in the room right now. You know, a lot of people don't see this, but these young guys are getting after it, and they're pushing these other guys, including myself.
So it's just making all all of us better.”
His comments line up with what offensive line coach A'lique Terry said during spring training, when he explained why Oregon’s approach to the group has become more measured.
"We have a ton of guys. We evaluated really well," Terry said in April.
"But the last two years, they were a little young. So we're like, ‘Let's take some portal guys who are one-year guys.'
That gives them still another 9-12 months to develop. And now that’s starting to pay dividends."
Oregon has added plenty of bodies and talent over the last two years, including Crader, Devin Brooks, Trent Ferguson, Demetri Manning, Douglas Utu and Ziyare Addison. The Ducks also brought in freshmen Tommy Tofi and Immanuel Iheanacho, two players with enough high school buzz to be expected to push for early action.
The idea is straightforward: build around a veteran center in Laloulu, then layer in developed players and high-end young talent around him. Quarterback Dante Moore said he trusts the way Terry has handled that process.
"Yeah, starts with Coach (A'lique) Terry," Moore said. "Coach Terry has done a great job producing linemen and coaching them.
Of course, Poncho that came back. I mean, he's doing a great job just molding everybody as a line.
You know, at the end of the day, we got some guys that came in. At the end of the day, we're working in the weight room, putting on some muscle out there."
Moore said he’s “not worried at all” about the group protecting him this season, and he’s seen firsthand how the line is leaning into its younger pieces.
Now the question is whether that internal growth is enough to get Oregon over the hump and make a serious run at its first Joe Moore Award. The first answer comes when the Ducks open against Boise State on Sep. 5 at Autzen Stadium.
In Other News...
Gernorris Wilson Just Reentered Oregons Tackle Battle
Gernorris Wilsons first start at right tackle was supposed to be a big step forward, a chance to see how the redshirt freshman fit into Oregons offensive line plans. Instead, the game turned quickly when he broke his foot and the injury wiped out the rest of his 2025 season, then kept him sidelined through spring practice as the Ducks kept sorting out the edge of their front.
Now Wilson is back in the conversation as fall camp approaches, and that alone gives Oregon another live competition to watch on the line. He says he expects to be fully ready when camp opens, and he is open to lining up wherever he is needed, which should make him part of a crowded battle for a starting spot as the Ducks try to settle the tackle picture. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Just Raised The Stakes For Oregon's New-Look Offense
At Oregon media day, the conversation around the Ducks offense had a clear theme: continuity with a twist. Offensive lineman Kawika Rogers had praise for new coordinator Drew Mehringer, and Dan Lanning underscored the value of keeping things in-house when staff changes hit. The message was that Oregon is not starting from scratch as it retools, even with a different voice guiding the unit.
Lanning also pointed to the running back room as a group that should help define the offense early, while outside linebacker Nasir Wyatt offered a snapshot of how the roster is changing physically this offseason. Wyatt talked about his own added weight and also noted teammate Matayo Uiagaleleis trimming down, a detail that caught attention because of the way it fits the Ducks broader push to get faster and more efficient across the board. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons New Quarterback Just Added Intrigue Behind Dante Moore
Dylan Raiolas arrival gives Oregon another layer at quarterback, even with Dante Moore clearly in line to lead the offense. After transferring from Nebraska, Raiola is working his way back from the broken ankle he sustained during his sophomore season, but he is healthy enough to take part in practice and begin settling into the Ducks system. For a program that has leaned on quarterback depth and development, adding a player with Raiolas starting experience is a meaningful move.
Raiola is expected to learn from behind Moore for now, which makes the transition as much about patience as it is about talent. He has already handled the pressure of being a starter at Nebraska, and now the task is adjusting to Oregons offense while finding a way to help in a reserve role. The bigger question is how quickly he can carve out a real place in the room, and whether his recovery and comfort level keep building from here. [Read more 🡒]