The Oregon Ducks aren’t short on freshman talent this year, and a handful of newcomers could make noise fast if they prove they’re ready. Dan Lanning already showed last season that age won’t block opportunity, using true freshmen like Brandon Finney Jr., Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison when they earned it. With another strong class in Eugene, the door is open again for first-year players to carve out real roles in 2026.
The biggest question is which freshmen can force their way onto the field early. A few of them already look the part.
Tommy Tofi was one of the spring’s most noticeable newcomers. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound lineman has the kind of frame that fits right into the Big Ten, and he handled himself well against Oregon’s defensive front.
He can play right tackle or slide inside to guard, which gives him a path to snaps even with veterans currently ahead of him. Oregon still has holes to fill up front after losing both tackles and a guard, and that only increases the odds Tofi gets a real chance.
Offensive line coach A’lique Terry put it plainly earlier this spring: “It’s early, he’s been in college for a month, but it's clear he's gonna help us in some shape or form,” Oregon offensive line coach A’lique Terry said earlier this spring. “Like most times with linemen, you talk about strength and conditioning being a little bit of the issue.
Can they catch up? He's physically ready.”
On the edge, Tank Jones enters a room that already has plenty going on. Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti are back for their final season in Eugene, Nasir Wyatt flashed as a speed rusher last year, and Elijah Rushing is also pushing forward.
That makes the immediate path tricky to read, but Jones brings a strong mix of power and speed and has the size to work either outside or inside. He may be more of a late-season impact piece than an early starter, but the staff has already shown it can create specific roles for the right freshman.
Jones could be next in that line.
At tight end, Kendre Harrison looks like the next name to watch in a room Oregon has turned into a strength. Jamari Johnson has the top spot for now, but Harrison will battle Andrew Olesh and Markus Dixon for the No. 2 job.
The five-star from North Carolina brings a 6-foot-5 frame and natural movement after the catch, and he’s focusing solely on football in his first year in Eugene. That matters, especially with Oregon using three tight ends often and with no one in the room besides Johnson having any catches.
Harrison’s combination of size and athleticism gives him a clear shot to get on the field.
Davon Benjamin may have the cleanest path to a starting role. The nickel spot is one of the more intriguing battles in fall camp after Jadon Canady handled it so well last season before becoming a fourth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Benjamin has a similar build to Canady at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, and he brings the same kind of quick, instinctive play that fits the position. He’s comfortable at nickel, plays aggressively at the line, and tackles well, which matters a lot against Big Ten offenses.
Baylor transfer Carl Williams IV and sophomore Na'eem Offord are in the mix too, but Benjamin has the kind of ready-made skill set that could put him in the rotation quickly.
Immanuel Iheanacho is the other offensive lineman worth watching. At 6-foot-6 and 345 pounds, he has the same kind of rare size as Tofi and can line up inside or outside.
The difference is timing: Iheanacho didn’t go through spring practice and enrolled in the summer, so he’s less likely to win a job right away. Still, the five-star lineman has enough physical tools to make the coaches take notice if he adjusts quickly.
Oregon doesn’t usually lean on true freshmen up front, but Iheanacho and Tofi both have the kind of talent that could challenge that tendency. For now, it’s a wait-and-see situation, but the optimism around his high school tape is obvious.
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