The Oregon Ducks are finally close to getting a real look at their newest talent. Saturday’s opener against Boise State won’t tell the whole story, but it should give fans their first chance to see which young players are ready to force their way onto the field.
Oregon enters the season with plenty of star power already in place, from Dante Moore and Matayo Uiagalelei to A'Mauri Washington, Jamari Johnson, Brandon Finney Jr., and others. But if the Ducks are going to look like a true national title contender, the younger players have to start taking on bigger jobs. Boise State is a useful first step for that process.
A few freshmen and underclassmen stand out as the names fans are most eager to track in Week 1.
Tommy Tofi may not take long to make his debut. The true freshman offensive lineman enrolled early, had a strong spring, and carried that momentum into fall camp. He has worked at both tackle and guard, and there’s a real chance he ends up being one of Oregon’s five starters up front.
Jett Washington is the kind of recruit people circle immediately. The 5-star safety stands 6-foot-5 and brings a rare frame to the position. Oregon is loaded at safety, but Washington’s size makes him a different kind of player in that room, and his first snaps should be worth watching closely.
Immanuel Iheanacho arrived in Eugene with a lot of attention as the Ducks’ top signee and the 7th-ranked player in the country. Oregon’s needs on the offensive line only add to the intrigue. He enrolled in the summer, which slowed him a bit, but the talent level has already drawn praise, and he could work himself into the starting mix quickly.
Gatlin Bair is another high-end talent fans have waited a while to see in a Ducks uniform. Oregon signed him as a 5-star receiver, but he didn’t arrive on campus for two years while serving an LDS Mission. He has shown his ability during the offseason, and getting him back into live action early would be an important part of his development.
At tight end, Kendre Harrison brings a different kind of upside. Oregon already has Jamari Johnson as a possible 1st round pick, and the offense showed last season with Kenyon Sadiq that multiple tight ends can matter. Harrison, a 5-star prospect with two-sport potential, has the size and leaping ability to become a red zone weapon.
Jalen Lott is another 5-star athlete who could have ended up on the other side of the ball, but he’s joining Oregon’s receiving corps. He enrolled in the summer and has flashed quickly, which should put him in line for meaningful snaps. With injuries affecting the receiver room a year ago, getting Lott involved early would help keep the group fresh.
There’s also plenty of buzz around Messiah Hampton. The freshman receiver put up huge numbers in New York high school football and has backed up the hype since arriving in Eugene. Dan Lanning has talked a lot about Hampton’s progress in camp, and he should get a fair amount of run to start the season.
On defense, Tank Jones is a name to remember along the line. Oregon has veteran depth there, so consistent snaps won’t come easily.
Still, Jones has worked to find a role, even if that means rushing from the defensive tackle spot. How he handles the interior could determine whether he gets used in pass-rushing situations later on.
Na'eem Offord may be one of the most interesting young defenders in the group. Oregon beat out Ohio State for the 12th-ranked recruit in the country, and camp reports say he has taken a big jump.
Brandon Finney Jr. has already locked down one cornerback spot, but Offord is pushing Ify Obidegwu for a starting job. If he lives up to the billing, Oregon could have one of the country’s top cornerback pairings for the next two seasons.
The last name on the list is Davon Benjamin, who has drawn steady praise throughout camp. The freshman is in the mix for the starting nickel spot with Baylor transfer Carl Williams IV, and he’s another piece of a young secondary that keeps looking more intriguing by the week. If Benjamin breaks through early, it only adds to the sense that this freshman class could be something special.
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The post-cutdown picture was not uniform, though, and that is what makes this stretch of the calendar so volatile for former college standouts. Some ex-Ducks ended up on injured reserve or worked through injury settlements, while others were able to survive the roster squeeze and make 53-man rosters elsewhere, leaving a familiar Oregon pipeline scattered across the NFL with very different short-term outlooks. [Read more 🡒]