Predicting Oregon football offensive depth chart for final week of spring football

USA Today

21-04-2025

Predicting Oregon football offensive depth chart for final week of spring football
It's been a fun spring season for the Oregon Ducks, jam packed with storylines of young players and potential breakouts coming in Eugene. With one final week in the season before Oregon's annual spring game on April 26, the players are working hard to get their last bits of work in before putting it all on display for the world to see.
In a new year with many new faces, there have been endless storylines, from the quarterback battle to the search for elite weapons around him. On the defensive side of the ball, some veteran experience returns. At the same time, high-level transfers also come to Oregon with an expectation of vaulting their stock and preparing for the NFL.
Oregon's roster will look wildly different in 2025 than it did a year ago, with new faces at nearly every position. Most notably, former Duck stars like Dillon Gabriel, Jordan James, Terrance Ferguson, Tez Johnson, Josh Conerly, Jordan Burch, and Jeffrey Bassa are all off to the NFL, so Lanning and the Ducks have some big shoes to fill.
While nothing will be set in stone this spring, we will get a good chance to see where Oregon's roster currently stands and who has set them up to contribute significantly come fall.
How do we see things with one final week to go before the spring game? That's an important question. With so many open spots on the starting lineup, the depth chart looks a bit muddled as we wait to see who can separate themselves this offseason. For now, though, there's no harm in trying to project where things are at.
Here's our first look at what the offensive depth chart will look like for the Ducks this spring:
Quarterback
Starter: Dante Moore
Dante Moore Backup: Austin Novosad
Austin Novosad Other Names to Know: Luke Moga/Akili Smith Jr.
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: None
Analysis: While we havent' seen any spring practices thus far, the buzz is still around Dante Moore to be the QB1 this year. As one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy in 2025, there are high expectations in his first year as the starter at Oregon, and we should get a good look at what he can do this spring.
Running Back
Starter: Makhi Hughes
Makhi Hughes Backup: Noah Whittington
Noah Whittington Other Names to Know: Jayden Limar/Da'Jaun Riggs
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: None
Analysis: There was no change in the depth chart from before spring ball started, but if I had to put a percentage on things, I would up my confidence in Makhi Hughes as the starter. It sounds like he is having a great spring season and standing out in the room. Behind Hughes and Whittington at RB1 and RB2, I'm curious to see what we get from Jayden Limar and Da'Jaun Riggs. Riggs showed some real explosiveness in limited work as a freshman and could be poised for a breakout this spring.
Wide Receiver (X)
Starter: Evan Stewart
Evan Stewart Backup: Kyler Kasper
Kyler Kasper Other Names to Know: Jurrion Dickey/Jeremiah McClellan
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: None
Analysis: Evan Stewart projects to be the Ducks' WR1 going into the year, taking over for Tez Johnson. I think Kyler Kasper will get some nice run here as well, especially considering that he appears to be fully healthy once again. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see guys like Jeremiah McClellan and Jurrion Dickey step into more prominent roles as well.
Wide Receiver (Z)
Starter: Jeremiah McClellan
Jeremiah McClellan Backup: Justius Lowe
Justius Lowe Other Names to Know: Malik Benson/Jurrion Dickey/Cooper Perry
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: Moved Lowe ahead of Benson, added Cooper Perry
Analysis: Last time around, I flipped Jeremiah McClellan and Malik Benson in the starting role, and I'm going to continue with that line of thinking and put Justius Lowe ahead of Benson as well. While we haven't seen any practice this year, players and coaches have done very little talking about Benson, while Lowe's name has come up a bit. I also think that freshman Cooper Perry will be in the mix a bit more than we thought at this position.
Wide Receiver (Slot)
Starter: Dakorien Moore
Dakorien Moore Backup: Gary Bryant Jr.
Gary Bryant Jr. Other Names to Know: Justius Lowe
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: None
Analysis: Again, no change in the depth chart order, but a strengthened resolve in the belief that true freshman Dakorien Moore will be the starter. We've heard enough, and seen clips of videos from the university, at this point, to feel confident in his ability to be a game-changer from the start.
Tight End
Starter: Kenyon Sadiq
Kenyon Sadiq Backup: Jamari Johnson
Jamari Johnson Other Names to Know: A.J. Pugliano (or transfer to be named)
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: None
Analysis: The top of this depth chart remains intact, but I have removed Roger Saleapaga from the "names to know" section, as it appears that he will likely not be fully healthy by the time the season rolls around. Because of this, I think Oregon likely finds another transfer portal addition in the TE room to add to the depth chart.
Left Tackle
Starter: Isaiah World
Isaiah World Backup: Kawika Rogers
Kawika Rogers Other Names to Know: Fox Crader/Ziyarre Addison
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: None
Analysis: I think that Isaiah World will undoubtedly be the starter at LT, but I'm uncertain what things will look like behind him. Kawika Rogers has the most experience, but redshirt freshman Fox Crader and true freshman Ziyarre Addison bring a lot of talent to the table.
Left Guard
Starter: Emmanuel Pregnon
Emmanuel Pregnon Backup: Dave Iuli
Dave Iuli Other Names to Know: Iapani Laloulu
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: None
Analysis: Much like the LT spot, Emmanuel Pregnon should be the starter at LG, but behind him things are muddled. With Dave Iuli moving down in the RG depth chart, I moved him up on the LG hierarchy. I also think that starting center Iapani Laloulu could slot in here as well if needed.
Center
Starter: Iapani Laloulu
Iapani Laloulu Backup: Charlie Pickard
Charlie Pickard Other Names to Know: Dave Iuli/Bryce Boulton
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: Moved Dave Iuli into names to know
Analysis: Iapani Laloulu took over as the starting center as a true sophomore in 2024, so there is no reason to believe that he won't once again be the guy in 2025. Behind him, we will likely see Charlie Pickard, who acted as the starting center when Laloulu moved around to guard in the wake of an injury early in 2024. I also moved Iuli into the names to know category, with the knowledge that he has been taking snaps ad reps there this spring as well.
Right Guard
Starter: Matthew Bedford
Matthew Bedford Backup: Dave Iuli
Dave Iuli Other Names to Know: Alex Harkey/Lipe Moala
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: Added Alex Harkey to the list.
Analysis: I'm still very uncertain on whether or not it will be Bedford or Iuli as the starter at RG, but those two will occupy the top two spots in some fashion. Behind them, there are a number of guys who can slot in, but I like Lipe Moala for the No. 3 spot. I also put Alex Harkey in play after a conversation with Geoff Schwartz on his potential fit on the line — more on that next.
Right Tackle
Starter: Alex Harkey
Alex Harkey Backup: Gernorris Wilson
Gernorris Wilson Other Names to Know: Kawika Rogers/Trent Ferguson
Change From Mid-Spring Prediction: None
Analysis: Talking to Geoff Schwartz this past week on the Bleav in Oregon Podcast, this position is a bit in question for me. Geoff, a former Duck and longtime NFL offensive lineman, sees Harkey more at the guard spot than at tackle, but it sounds like Harkey has been playing out wide at tackle so far in Eugene. Ultimately, it will be between Harkey and Gernorris Wilson for the starting spot.
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