The Oregon Ducks’ 2026 season is getting closer, and the roster already has the look of a team with several breakout candidates. If you’re trying to sort out which players are most likely to shape the year, a few names stand out across both sides of the ball - and one freshman looks ready to force his way into the conversation early.
At quarterback, Dante Moore is the obvious headliner. He’s the most anticipated player on the roster, and that makes sense given what he’s already shown on the field. Moore is heading into his third season with the program and his second year as Oregon’s starter, which puts him in position to build on what came before.
One of the biggest reasons for optimism is what he did last season. Moore proved he’s willing to attack vertically, and with a more advanced receiver group plus Evan Stewart back in the mix, he could again be one of the Ducks’ biggest deep-ball threats.
Defense is a little trickier because there are so many viable choices. The unit is loaded enough that, as the source puts it, someone could throw a dart at a board full of Oregon defenders and land on a player with star potential. Still, EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei feels like the best bet to put together a huge year.
That case starts with the attention Teitum Tuioti will draw on the other edge. Add in the presence of interior linemen Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington, both of whom have some of the best gap presence in the country, and Uiagalelei should have room to fly off the edge in 2026.
The offensive breakout pick beyond Moore is Jeremiah McClellan. It’s easy to look at Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore and assume they’re the receivers set up for the biggest seasons, but McClellan has a real path to becoming a star. He’s slated to start in the slot, and that changes the way he’ll be used compared with Oregon’s other wideouts.
That slot role should also put him in matchups colleges won’t love, including snaps against linebackers. McClellan already showed last season that he’s dangerous with the ball in his hands, and that ability could make him a key difference-maker for the Ducks.
The freshman with the best chance to matter right away is Jett Washington. Picking the most impactful newcomer was the toughest call, but Washington’s profile makes him hard to ignore. At 6-5 and around 200 pounds, he has the kind of frame that usually earns playing time.
He’s expected to work as a rotational safety, and if he turns in a strong season, it could set him up for a bigger role later on.
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