It’s hard, objectively, to not be optimistic about Oregon football in 2024, based on Dan Lanning returning and the Ducks posting impressive results on the trail and in the transfer portal. We asked our Pac-12 (Big Ten?) football panel about its biggest reasons for optimism about Oregon in 2024.
Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire: Dillon Gabriel. He wins games. He’s talented. He has pieces around him. Great fit, great situation.
Zachary Neel, Ducks Wire: I would say that my biggest reason of optimism for the Ducks in 2024 is based on several factors, the main ones being a culture that has been set which is drawing some of the best players from the 2023 team back for one more year instead of testing the NFL Draft waters, mixed with a skilled usage of the transfer portal to stock the cupboards with experienced talent to rest on top of top-rated recruiting to build the depth of a roster. If nothing else, we’ve seen that Dan Lanning knows how to build a championship-level team. Now we need to see him coach one.
Matt Wadleigh, Trojans Wire: Dillon Gabriel. Is he going to be as good as Bo Nix? Probably not, but he’s maybe just behind Nix.
Don Smalley, Ducks Wire: The defense. Nearly everyone is back from this season and they have some young guys ready to make their mark. And of course Gabriel with the rest of those skill players.
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