As the Oregon Ducks prepare for their second season in the Big 10, insider reports suggest significant changes may be coming to the team’s depth chart. With ten players drafted to the NFL this year (the most in program history) Dan Lanning’s squad faces a substantial rebuild while maintaining championship expectations.
The Ducks are experiencing roster turnover across both sides of the ball, creating unique opportunities for new stars to emerge. While many anticipate a step back following their impressive 13-0 regular season run, Duck Territory insider Matt Prehm hinted that Oregon’s development pipeline might produce immediate replacements at several key positions.
Oregon Football QB Battle Heats Up As Dante Moore Faces Pressure From Rapidly Improving Backups
When asked about presumed starting quarterback Dante Moore, Prehm acknowledged Moore remains the frontrunner but revealed surprising developments among the backups.
“Dante Moore, he didn’t do anything to say like he shouldn’t be the odds on favorite… the most likely candidate to win the job. He looked good,” Prehm said.
However, Prehm’s following assessment raised eyebrows about the competition level in the quarterback room.
“But I walked away saying Austin Novosad and Luke Moga in particular have gotten significantly better and they are capable of my opinion leading this team and Oregon could win nine or 10 regular season games with either of those guys at the helm,” Prehm said.
While Moore remains positioned to elevate the team’s ceiling, the insider’s comments suggest the gap between QB1 and his backups has narrowed considerably. This creates both security in quarterback depth and potential for mid-season changes should Moore struggle with consistency.
True Freshman Receiver and Transfer Portal Additions Poised To Make Immediate Impact
Perhaps the most shocking depth chart revelation involves true freshman wide receiver Dakorien Moore, who appears poised for immediate playing time despite Oregon’s typically cautious approach with first-year players.
“Dakorien Moore… I don’t say this lightly,” Prehm explained. “Every single peer player, whether it’s a defensive prospect or a fellow offensive guy, a skilled guy, has just gushed about his playmaking ability.”
The comparison Prehm used speaks volumes about Moore’s potential impact.
“There are guys, every program has them,” Prehm said. “At Oregon, there was a guy named Marcus Mariota that when he showed up as a true freshman… the talk was of the freshman and not the junior all-conference quarterback.”
KEEP READING: WATCH: Oregon Ducks Head Coach Dan Lanning Goes All In Literally After Securing 5-Star EDGE Richard Wesley’s Commitment
Oregon’s aggressive approach to the transfer portal continues to be a cornerstone of their rebuild. The Ducks particularly focused on offensive line reinforcements, with Isaiah World from Nevada drawing extraordinary praise.
Despite losing three defensive linemen to the NFL Draft, Prehm expressed surprising confidence in that unit.
“It’s crazy, but defensive line,” Prehm answered when asked where the team might actually improve. “This isn’t a rebuild. This is a reload.”
With battles brewing across the roster and championship expectations unchanged, Oregon’s approach to finalizing their depth chart may determine whether they can maintain their trajectory as a title contender.
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