SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW: WIDE RECEIVER

from 3-31-22 Emerald Media - Week of Welcome

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Budding youth movement poised to drive the Ducks’ wide receiver corps.

BY AARON HEISEN

Ducks wide receiver Kris Hutson (14) rises from a kneel after the Ducks rushed the field for the 124th Ducks vs Beavers football game. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted and defeated the Oregon State Beavers 38-29, claiming the Pac-12 North champions title. (Ian Enger/Emerald) “Let the kids play.”

What started out as a Major League Baseball marketing slogan turned into former UO football coach Mario Cristobal’s philosophy.

At the start of the 2021 season, Cristobal featured a slew of veteran talent at wide receiver, including Johnny Johnson III, Jaylon Redd and Mycah Pittman. By the end of the year, the torch was transferred to Kris Hutson, Troy Franklin and Dont’e Thornton.

With the former trio either injured or declared to transfer Hutson, Franklin and Thornton started the Alamo Bowl. The Ducks lost to Oklahoma 47-32, but each receiver found the end zone. Thornton led the way with 90 yards, and Hutson racked up a team-high six catches.

Spring practice provides a chance for the current sophomores, along with redshirt junior Isaah Crocker and UCLA transfer Chase Cota to build a rapport with the quarterbacks and separate themselves as starters.

Like most Ducks teams of the recent past, depth is a luxury at wide receiver.

Biggest storyline: youth

The three presumed starters at the position are all sophomores: Franklin and Thornton will line up on the outside with Hutson assuming the slot position. Sophomore Seven McGee also has a chance to make noise at the slot position if he chooses to stay at receiver instead of running back.

Youth can be a crutch, but that’s the furthest thing from what it is for Oregon. In a season of retooling the team with sophomore quarterback Ty Thompson, first-year coach Dan Lanning, offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham and wide receivers coach Junior Adams, youth provides a chance to grow together.

Young receivers carry a chip on their shoulder. Expectations are lower than past seasons, but the receivers are ready to break out.

Coach: Junior Adams

Adams coached Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington in 2013. Adams received high praise from the Super Bowl champion Kupp. “I really believe that one day he’s going to coach at the highest level,” Kupp said of Adams in a 2019 interview with the Seattle Times. “He’s that talented. He’s that good. He’s that knowledgeable. I know the direction that his career is going.”

Figurehead player: Kris Hutson

Hutson played in each of the Ducks 14 games last season. He led all of their returning receivers with 31 receptions, 419 yards and two touchdowns. His stats were impressive, but his inexperience was apparent. “He’s that talented. He’s that Coach Cristobal good. He’s that knowledgeable. scolded Hutson for I know the direction that his over-celebrating a first career is going.” down as the first half clock ran out against COOPER KUPP LA Rams receiver on coach the Arizona Wildcats, Junior Adams. costing the Ducks a field goal. Hutson dropped passes and lost two fumbles — one coming against UCLA and the other in the red zone against Cal — that almost cost the Ducks two wins. He continued to remain on the field because he was one of the Ducks' best run-blockers at the position and outworked his position-mates in practices. Hutson’s had growing pains. Now it’s time to show that his game has improved from them. Check out the feature on Kris Hutson from earlier this season.

X-Factor/player to watch: Dont’e Thornton

Thornton has the best big play ability of any of the Ducks receivers. He showcased that when he turned Thompson’s 20 yard throw into a 60 yard touchdown for his first collegiate score. The Ducks will need those big plays from Thornton to come more consistently throughout the season to propel their offense.

SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW: DEFENSIVE LINE

Brandon Dorlus has ascended to the face of the Oregon defensive line.

BY DYLAN CONWAY

Ducks defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus (3) dodges one player while Arizona Wildcat Paiton Fears (74) reaches out for the tackle. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)

On April 28, Ducks football fans will be locked into the NFL draft to see where and when Kayvon Thibodeaux will get drafted.

Thibodeaux's arrival to the NFL is exciting, but his departure from Oregon raises questions about its defensive line. The good news is that outside of Thibodeaux, the defensive line showed flashes and was always consistent last year. The Ducks will have plenty of returning starters to the defensive line in 2022 as well as experienced transfers and talented recruits.

Defensive-minded head coach Dan Lanning will also be a great new voice for the defensive line. At Georgia, Lanning loved to confuse offenses by using certain schemes, which he’ll look to convert over to Oregon’s line.

These strategies stem from the defensive line being the focal point of Lanning’s defenses. His primary goal is to stop the run, which his Bulldogs excelled at last year, finishing No. 2 in the nation by allowing fewer than 80 rushing yards a game.

The problem for Lanning is that defensive line talent isn’t necessarily flourishing out west. Recruiting for this position may be a challenge, but Lanning fortunately has great returning talent for 2022.

Brandon Dorlus is one returning player who made a huge impact in the 2021 season. Dorlus had seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, becoming one of the most consistent rushers for the Ducks all year. He was also frequently touted for the plays he made which didn’t show up in the stat sheet.

Dorlus’ talent and versatility suit Lanning’s past schemes at Georgia. His ability to line up on the outside and in the middle will fit right into Lanning’s tendencies to trick offenes through rush angles.

Another player to look out for on Oregon’s defensive line is Washington transfer Sam Taimani. With two years of collegiate experience, the 6-foot2, 330 pound defensive tackle will be a candidate to split reps with a returning player or even steal a starting role.

Taimani’s power stood out on the Huskies, as he was often double-teamed. He should be a great piece to tie up the run defense, which the Ducks showed improvement on last year.

The voice inside the defensive line room in 2022 will be newly hired defensive line coach Tony Tuioti.

“I am thrilled to have Tony Tuioti joining us here at Oregon,” Lanning said. “He is one of the top defensive line coaches in the country, and he has a tremendous track record both in recruiting and player development.”

Tuioti has extensive coaching experience including tenures at Nebraska, California, Hawaii and Michigan. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2014 to 2015.

While he was at Nebraska in 2020, Tuioti’s line allowed 4.17 yards per rush and 4.16 in 2021. His recruiting skills will also help the Ducks, as he assisted the Huskers to a top-25 recruiting class in 2021.

For the first time in three years, there will be no Thibodeaux to highlight on Oregon’s defensive line, but with Lanning’s defensive schemes and many returning starters, the Ducks’ line should continue to be a strong suit in 2022.