When many people project the Oregon Ducks are going to find success in the 2022 season under new head coach Dan Lanning, a lot of that is on the basis it will come of the backs of the defense.
However, you shouldn’t be so quick to overlook the offensive line.
One of the most valuable position groups on the field, Oregon has a real strength on the line this season, returning a handful of starters from last season and bringing in some talented young pieces as well. Though there have been a couple of injuries to monitor — T.J. Bass and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu have missed time during fall camp — the Ducks look largely healthy and ready to go for the start of the season.
If you’re looking for it, there is also an upside that comes with the injuries on the front line as well. While we expect the veteran players to be ready to go by Week 1, their missing practice has allowed some young guys — five-star offensive tackle Josh Conerly, four-star offensive guard Dave Iuli and three-star OT Kawika Rogers — to get valuable reps early on in practice.
“Fortunate for us we’ve been able to get a lot of young guys reps early,” Lanning said earlier this week. “And there’s been some guys that have stuck out and had really good days. You know, Josh Conerly had a good day, had a really good rep and competition today. Competition drill — we do kind of a one-on-one drill — he did a really good job. Seen some good things from Dave (Iuli), seen some good things from Kawika (Rogers). A lot of those young guys have done well up front.”
As it stands, the Ducks should feel confident about where their OL stands going into the season. But where do they stack up when it comes to the best position groups in the nation? Here’s where On3 ranked them: