Phil Steele projects starting lineup for Oregon Ducks in 2023 season
As we continue through the content void of summer in the world of college football, more and more preview articles and predictions have started to pop up around the landscape. While some people are looking at rankings and record predictions, others are diving into depth charts ahead of the 2023 season.
That’s the case for Phil Steele, one of the most respected college football analysts in the world, with one of the most popular college football magazines that hits the shelves each year.
In Steele’s 2023 preview magazine, he laid out predictions for Oregon’s starting offensive and defensive rotations this year. We took a look and made not of where we agree and disagree.
Quarterback
(Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
Phil Steele Projected First String: Bo Nix
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Ty Thompson
Our Take: No surprises here at all. Bo Nix didn’t turn down the NFL to come back and not start for the Ducks, and after what he showed he was capable of a year ago, it’s no surprise that the is a Heisman favorite this season.
Running Back
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Phil Steele Projected First String: Bucky Irving
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Noah Whittington
Our Take: While they are listed as first string and second string, I think that these two will likely split reps going forward once again, so as to keep both fresh throughout the game.
Wide Receivers
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Steele Projected First String: Troy Franklin
Phil Steele Projected First String: Traeshon Holden
Phil Steele Projected First String: Tez Johnson
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Gary Bryant Jr.
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Kris Hutson
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Kyler Kasper
Our Take: Not many shocks here, either. Maybe you consider Tez Johnson over Kris Hutson surprising, but I’ve been predicting that for several months now. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Gary Bryant Jr. sneak into a starting role by the end of the year, but for the most part this all looks plausible to me.
Tight End
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Phil Steele Projected First String: Terrance Ferguson
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Patrick Herbert
Our Take: Assuming that Terrance Ferguson can get back to full health by the time the season rolls around, then this looks right. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that Kenyon Sadiq takes over the No. 2 spot this year, either.
Left Tackle
Phil Steele Projected First String: Josh Conerly Jr.
Phil Steele Projected Second String: George Silva
Our Take: Josh Conerly has been the de facto starting left tackle for Oregon ever since the end of the 2022 season, so this looks right. I’m also not surprised to see that Steele has Silva at the No. 2, thought I could have seen Faoope Laloulu in there as well.
Left Guard
(AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Phil Steele Projected First String: Marcus Harper
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Junior Angilau
Our Take: This is the first really interesting decision. I think Marcus Harper has a great chance to win the starting LG spot. I also think that Junior Angilau could really push him for the starting spot as well. I’d call it a toss-up at this point, but Steele gives the edge to the returning starter.
Center
(AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Phil Steele Projected First String: Jackson Powers-Johnson
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Iapani Laloulu
Our Take: Another interesting decision, since you could say Marcus Harper is competing for this starting spot as well. I like going with JPJ, though. It feels like the right call.
Right Guard
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Steele Projected First String: Nishad Strother
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Steven Jones
Our Take: I have thought all spring that Steven Jones was a lock to get the starting RG spot, but the transfer from Nishad Strother definitely makes things interesting. Steele gives Strother the nod, but I want to see him play a bit in fall camp before I’m ready to do the same.
Right Tackle
Phil Steele Projected First String: Ajani Cornelius
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Faaope Laloulu
Our Take: No surprises here at all. Ajani Cornelius is your surefire starting RT, and Faoope should be a solid backup behind him.
EDGE
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Steele Projected First String: Jordan Burch
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Mase Funa
Our Take: Chalk. Jordan Burch and Mase Funa project to be among your best defensive players in Eugene this year.
Nose Tackle
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Steele Projected First String: Popo Aumavae
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Taki Taimani
Our Take: A lot of people seem to forget how good Popo Aumavae was before the injuries over the past couple of years. He deservedly gets the starting nod here as a returning First-Team All-Pac-12 player in 2021. Taki Taimani rightfully gets the spot behind him.
Defensive Tackle
Phil Steele Projected First String: Casey Rogers
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Keyon Ware-Hudson
Our Take: Nothing too surprising here at all. Casey Rogers had a great end to the 2022 season and should be in line for another big year, while Keyon Ware-Hudson continues to be a solid player.
Defensive End
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Steele Projected First String: Brandon Dorlus
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Emar’rion Winston
Our Take: This is the first selection from Phil Steele where I was legitimately surprised. I would always project Matayo Uiagalelei over Emar’rion Winston here, but maybe Steele knows something that I don’t know.
Will Linebacker
Phil Steele Projected First String: Jeffrey Bassa
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Connor Soelle
Our Take: Again, no real major surprises here other than Connor Soelle getting the No. 2 spot at Will over someone like Devon Jackson. We will see how Soelle looks in fall camp, but the staff seems to like what they’ve got in the Arizona State transfer.
Mike Linebacker
Phil Steele Projected First String: Jestin Jacobs
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Jamal Hill
Our Take: I think that Jestin Jacobs over Jamal Hill is correct. Jacobs is a big body who has Big Ten experience, while Hill is a talented player, but still making the transition from safety to linebacker.
Nickel/Star Safety
(AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Phil Steele Projected First String: Jahlil Florence
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Khamari Terrell
Our Take: I love Jahlil Florence at the STAR spot, backed up by Khamari Terrell. I originally thought that Tysheem Johnson would play the STAR, but through spring it looked like they had him deeper in the secondary.
Cornerbacks
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Phil Steele Projected First String: Dontae Manning
Phil Steele Projected First String: Khyree Jackson
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Trikweze Bridges
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Nikko Reed
Our Take: Taking Trikweze Bridges down to the second string definitely surprised me. I think that Dontae Manning can be a good player, but I personally would switch him and Bridges, while Khyree Jackson and Nikko Reed feel like they’re in the correct spots.
Safeties
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Steele Projected First String: Evan Williams
Phil Steele Projected First String: Tysheem Johnson
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Bryan Addison
Phil Steele Projected Second String: Steve Stephens IV
Our Take: I don’t think this is too crazy at all. Both Evan Williams and Tysheem Johnson were brought to Eugene for a reason, and while Addison and Stephens are good players, I think that the other two are better.
Special Teams
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Steele Projected First String Kicker: Camden Lewis
Phil Steele Projected First String Punter: Luke Dunne
Phil Steele Projected Second String Kicker: Andrew Boyle
Phil Steele Projected Second String Punter: Matthew Rigney
Our Take: No surprises on the special teams. Camden Lewis is 100% your starting kicker, and Luke Dunne should be able to win the punting battle this fall.
