Projecting Ducks 2023 depth chart heading into final week of fall camp
The month of August has been long and productive for the Oregon Ducks, and at this point in fall camp, they are ready to hit someone wearing a different color jersey.
Fortunately, there is only one more week of camp before we officially get into game week, and the team can start preparing for the Portland State Vikings to come to town on September 2.
After that, the marquee non-conference matchup against the Texas Tech Red Raiders is on the docket.
As the Ducks continue to prepare for the start of the season, they will now start to shift from schematic install and start focusing more on nailing down the depth chart. While Dan Lanning won’t announce any starters ahead of the first game, there are a number of players who we think are in line to win the top jobs.
Here is our projection for the Ducks’ depth chart going into the final week of camp:
Quarterback
(Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
QB1: Bo Nix
QB2: Ty Thompson
Analysis: No changes at the QB spot. This is the first year that Oregon has been without competition for the starting QB spot since Justin Herbert was in town heading into the 2019 season. I’ve got to say, it’s refreshing.
Running Back
(Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
RB1: Bucky Irving // Noah Whittington
RB2: Jordan James
Analysis: Again, there isn’t much of a change in the RB depth projection. The only thing that changed in my mind is how much I expect true freshmen Dante Dowdell and Jayden Limar to play. RB coach Carlos Locklyn had some comments earlier this month that alluded to the fact that they won’t be rushing them onto the field before they’re ready.
Wide Receiver
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WR1(X): Troy Franklin
WR2(X): Kris Hutson
WR1(Y): Tez Johnson
WR2(Y): Gary Bryant Jr.
WR1(Z): Traeshon Holden
WR2(Z): Kyler Kasper
Analysis: What’s going to be most interesting about the WR position for Oregon is seeing how many they line up with depending on the personnel. They may opt to go with a less traditional 10 personnel (1 running back, 0 TE) in order to get more elite speed on the field. Between Franklin, Johnson, Holden, and Bryant Jr., the Ducks have four players that are going to be hard to keep off the field.
Tight End
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
TE1: Terrance Ferguson
TE2: Casey Kelly // Patrick Herbert
Analysis: The only difference between this projection and the last one I put out is the fact that I put Casey Kelly ahead of Patrick Herbert in that No. 2 spot. I also don’t think that we will be seeing as much of true freshman Kenyon Sadiq as a lot of fans hoped to. Based on what we hear from the coaching staff, he is still working hard to learn the ropes of the offense.
Offensive Line
(Photo Courtesy of Zachary Neel | USA TODAY)
LT1: Josh Conerly Jr.
LT2: Faaope Laloulu
LG1: Junior Angilau
LG2: Marcus Harper II
C1: Jackson Powers-Johnson
C2: Marcus Harper II
RG1: Nishad Strother
RG2: Steven Jones
RT1: Ajani Cornelius
RT2: George Silva
Analysis: The offensive line is by far the hardest group to predict at this point. I feel confident that we can write down Conerly and Cornelius on the depth chart in pen, but outside of that, I could see a lot of things happening. If healthy, Powers-Johnson would be my lock at starting center, but he has missed the last week of practice and did not participate in the team’s scrimmage on Saturday. I could see the two guard positions going to any of the four top options — Marcus Harper, Junior Angilau, Steven Jones, or Nishad Strother. In this projection, I put Strother ahead of Jones at RG, just based on a hunch.
Defensive Line
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DE1: Brandon Dorlus
DE2: Blake Purchase
DT1: Casey Rogers
DT2: Keyon Ware-Hudson
NT1: Popo Aumavae
NT2: Taki Taimani
EDGE1: Jordan Burch
EDGE2: Matayo Uiagalelei
Analysis: I have one new addition on the DL depth chart, putting Blake Purchase up in the DE2 spot behind Dorlus. I have heard fantastic things about Purchase following both of the scrimmages this fall, so it would not at all surprise me to see him getting some time early this season.
Linebackers
MLB1: Jestin Jacobs
MLB2: Devon Jackson
WILL1: Jeffrey Bassa
WILL2: Jamal Hill
SAM1: Mase Funa
SAM2: Connor Soelle
Analysis: We’ve got a couple of changes here. I am putting Devon Jackson up to the MLB2 behind Jestin Jacobs, and I am moving Connor Soelle into the SAM2 spot instead of Jake Shipley.
Cornerbacks
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
FIELD1: Nikko Reed
FIELD2: Dontae Manning // Jahlil Florence
BOUNDARY1: Khyree Jackson
BOUNDARY2: Trikweze Bridges
Analysis: I don’t see much of a change so far in the cornerback depth chart, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it looks different once the season starts. Nikko Reed told us last week that he has been working at the STAR safety spot a lot this offseason, so that could change things up quite a bit if he moved there. For that reason, I added Jahlil Florence to the Field2 spot to fill out the depth there.
Safeties
(Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
FIELD1: Bryan Addison
FIELD2: Kodi DeCambra
BOUNDARY1: Evan Williams
BOUNDARY2: Steve Stephens IV
STAR1: Tysheem Johnson
STAR2: Cole Martin // Nikko Reed
Analysis: I remain confident that Evan Williams will be one of the starting safeties, and I am gaining confidence that Tysheem Johnson will be the starting STAR safety as well. Outside of that, I could see this group playing out in several different ways. In my mind, Bryan Addison is the leading candidate to join them as the trio.
Special Teams
K1: Camden Lewis
K2: Andrew Boyle
P1: Luke Dunne
P2: Matt Rigney
LS1: Luke Basso
LS2: Nick Duzansky
PR1: Tez Johnson
PR2: Gary Bryant
KR1: Bucky Irving
KR2: Noah Whittington
Analysis: No change here, other than Matthew Rigney replacing Ross James as the backup punter behind Luke Dunne. Outside of that, I think we should have a pretty good idea of who is going to start on special teams. At the start of the year, I have a feeling the team will rotate through punt returners until they feel confident with what they have in game situations.
