Oregon walked out of its Week 1 win over Boise State with plenty to clean up, but the opener also gave the Ducks a clearer picture of which young players are ready for bigger roles. Dan Lanning is still sorting through some position battles and fine-tuning the rotation, and Saturday’s game offered five names that should keep climbing the depth chart against Oklahoma State.
The most obvious candidate is Nasir Wyatt. Oregon only gave the edge rusher seven snaps, which stands out because he made the most of them.
Wyatt logged two quarterback pressures in that limited work and looks like one of the most dangerous pass-rushing talents on the roster. The only possible explanation for the light workload is caution, since he’s playing with a club on his hand, but the impact was obvious.
At tight end, Andrew Olesh showed enough to matter even in a room headlined by Jamari Johnson, who remains one of the best tight ends in the country. Olesh played just five snaps, but his blocking was a real plus in his Oregon debut. Even without catching passes, he can still help the Ducks by creating space in the run game.
Na’eem Offord also made his case for more run at cornerback. Oregon appears to be sorting out who starts opposite Brandon Finney Jr., and Offord was on the field for 27 snaps.
Boise State targeted him twice; one of those plays resulted in a pass interference call, but he finished by breaking up the Broncos’ final throw of the game to seal the win. The upside is there, and Oregon would like to keep giving him chances to prove he can be the elite corner the Ducks expected when he signed out of high school.
The STAR spot also looks unsettled, and freshman Davon Benjamin may have done enough to change the conversation. Baylor transfer Carl Williams IV got the start, but Boise State found success attacking him early, including a long third-down conversion and a slot fade for the opening score. Benjamin entered and played 18 snaps, and his performance was strong enough to suggest he should at least be pushing Williams IV, if not already overtaking him in the competition.
Then there’s Dylan Williams, who may have taken a real step toward filling the void left by Bryce Boettcher. Linebacker is the biggest defensive question facing Oregon, and Williams offered one of the cleanest answers on Saturday.
In a game where the Ducks struggled to tackle consistently, he finished a perfect 5-for-5. Lanning made it clear after the game that he expects more from him, saying, "I'm anticipating Dylan (Williams) having a big year for us."
In Other News...
Oregons Offensive Line Battle Just Took An Unexpected Early Turn
Oregons offensive line picture got a little clearer, and a little more crowded, in its recent game, where the Ducks mixed veterans with second-year players up front. Ziyare Addison, Douglas Utu, Iapani Laloulu, Michael Bennett III and Fox Crader were among the starters, while Trent Ferguson, Dave Iuli and Gernorris Wilson also saw work as the staff continued sorting through its options.
The more interesting part was who did not get into the rotation. Freshmen Tommy Tofi and Immanuel Iheanacho were held out of playing time, while Kawika Rogers, Devin Brooks and Bryce Boulton were absent or unavailable because of injury or other reasons. For a unit still taking shape, that kind of early sorting can say plenty about where the competition stands, even if there is still room for the depth chart to shift again. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah McClellan May Have Forced His Way Into Oregons Plans
Jeremiah McClellan turned in the kind of outing that can change how a coaching staff thinks about its receiver rotation. In Oregons recent game, the sophomore tied his career high with six catches and set a new personal best with 150 receiving yards, a performance that came with the sort of steadiness Dan Lanning has been asking for from his playmakers.
McClellan also added a touchdown on an eight-yard reception that was reviewed and confirmed, giving the Ducks another weapon in the red zone. Dante Moore praised his dedication and big-play ability afterward, and for Oregon, the question now is less about what McClellan did in one game than how quickly that showing pushes him into a bigger role going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Boise States Rough Trip Adds An Unexpected Twist Before Oregon Opener
Heavy rain turned Boise States trip to Eugene into a slog before it ever reached Autzen Stadium, with the teams plane unable to land at Eugene Airport and diverted instead to Portland International Airport. From there, the Broncos had to finish the journey by bus, a detour that pushed their arrival to the hotel later than planned on the eve of the Oregon opener.
The weather created an inconvenient start to game week, even if it is not expected to interfere with the 12:30 p.m. PT kickoff. For Oregon, it is a small reminder that the Ducks first opponent is already dealing with a disrupted routine before the first snap, and those kinds of travel issues can linger longer than the bus ride itself. [Read more 🡒]