Spencer Schultz

As the Oregon Ducks head into the 2019 season, they are ranked 11th in the country in the preseason AP poll. In the second season under head coach Mario Cristobal, they hope to make some noise in the Pac-12.

Last Year’s Record: 9-4 (5-4 PAC)

In an up-and-down 2018 season, Oregon was upset by #13 Washington as well as getting blown out by Arizona. In the end, the Ducks finished 9-4 in Cristobal’s first season. Oregon’s run ended on a positive note in an ugly 7-6 win in the Redbox Bowl over Michigan State.

Oregon Ducks Key Losses:

WR Dillon Mitchell is the lone loss on the offense from last season. With that being said, Mitchell was by far Oregon’s most productive receiver, leading the team in catches (75), receiving yards (1,184), yards per catch (15.8), and touchdowns (10).

Defensively, Oregon loses two of their top three tacklers and four of their top seven. OLB Justin Hollins was a game-changing playmaker for the Ducks, leading the 2018 team in tackles for loss (14.5), sacks (6.5), and forced fumbles (5). Jalen Jelks (7.5 TFL), Kaulana Apel (65 tackles), and Ugo Amadi (3 INTs) will be difficult guys to replace as well.

Oregon Ducks Projected Returning Starters

Offense: 11

  • QB Justin Herbert
  • RB CJ Verdell
  • WR Jaylen Reed
  • WR Johnny Johnson III
  • TE Jacob Breeland
  • TE Cam McCormick
  • OT Calvin Throckmorton
  • OG Shane Lemieux
  • C Jake Hansen
  • OG Dallas Warmack
  • OT Penei Sewell

Oregon returns all but one starter, Mitchell, on the offensive side of the ball in 2019. The strength of this team begins with quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw 29 TDs in 2018. Conversely, he’s shown some flaws, as evidenced by his 59.4% completion percentage. Therefore, the QB looks to be a bit more consistent this season, particularly in big games. Seen as a potential first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Herbert is protected behind one of the better offensive lines in college football, led by projected first-round OT Calvin Throckmorton and OG Shane Lemieux, whom was selected to the preseason first-team AP All-American team Tuesday. Throckmorton was selected to the second-team. Oregon returns all five starters from the OL in 2018, with all of them being seniors other than sophomore OT Penei Sewell.

The Ducks return starting running back CJ Verdell as well. In his freshman season, he ran for 1,018 yards on 5.0 YPC while also racking up 315 receiving yards. Despite not becoming the starter until October, Verdell managed to end the season with 12 total touchdowns in 13 games. Travis Dye will also contribute at the running back position, as he ran for 739 yards and four TDs in his true freshman season.

Jaylon Reed and Johnny Johnson III return as the top receivers and are crucial to the success of this 2019 team. Cam McCormick returns at the tight end position after breaking his leg in the season opener last year against Bowling Green. Starting TE Jacob Breeland has established himself as one of the better tight ends in America over the past two seasons, combining for 42 catches, 697 yards, and seven TDs.

Defense: 8

  • NT Jordon Scott
  • DE Austin Faoliu
  • OLB La’Mar Winston Jr.
  • MLB Troy Dye
  • S Nick Pickett
  • CB Thomas Graham Jr.
  • CB Deommodore Lenoir
  • S Jevon Holland

Oregon returns its leading tackler in second-team all-Pac-12 MLB Troy Dye (109) as well as the team leader in interceptions with in safety Jevon Holland. Starting cornerbacks Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir return as well, as they were tied-for-second on the team in interceptions with three. Daewood Davis could be a name to watch here in the CB room, as he made the transition over from wide receiver this summer. Lastly, Defensive linemen Jordon Scott and Austin Faoliu return to a group looking to improve in 2019.

Special Teams: 2

  • K Adam Stack
  • P Blake Maimone
  • PR Travis Dye
  • KR Jaylon Reed

K Adam Stack and P Blake Maimone return to their respective duties in 2019. Stack was one of six kickers in the Pac-12 to not miss an extra point, going 36-for-36. Oregon attempted just 11 kicks last season, as Stack went 6-for-10 in his attempts. Backup Zach Emerson saw time as well, missing his lone FG attempt and going 21-for-22 on XPs. In addition, Maimome was solid last season, punting 45 times, the lowest of any punter in the Pac-12, for an average of 42.5 yards per punt, ranking sixth in the conference. KR Tony Brooks-James and PR Ugo Amadi each graduated after solid seasons, as it’ll be up to be skill-position players Travis Dye and Jaylon Reed to now handle those duties.

Key Offensive Newcomer: WR Juwan Johnson

Grad transfer wide receiver Juwan Johnson will play a huge role in this team’s outcome. Losing their lone productive wideout, Oregon needs a few guys to step up and Johnson could be one of them. A starter for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Johnson compiled 79 catches and 1,053 yards over the last two seasons. He found the end zone twice as well, including the memorable walk-off TD against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium in 2017.

Key Defensive Newcomer: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux

The top overall recruit in ESPN’s 2019 class, Thibodeaux looks to make an instant impact for the Ducks this season. The 6’5′ 242 lb. DE takes over in multi-year starter Jalen Jelks’ spot. Projected to be the starting defensive end, the five-star recruit provides talent for a Ducks team that struggled to generate pressure at times in 2018. If he lives up to his massive upside, this Oregon defense could help put this team over the top.

Game to Watch: Auburn – August 31

Oregon has their usual in-conference tough opponents in Stanford, Washington, and Washington State, so the opening game is the one to keep an eye on. Starting the season against Gus Malzahn’s 16th-ranked Auburn will be a difficult task and will show the Ducks just where they are as a team early in 2019. The matchup to watch in this one will be Auburn’s stout defensive line against the offensive line of Oregon. It’s strength against strength here, as Oregon possesses a top OL in the country and Auburn has top prospects Derrick Brown and Nick Coe to head arguably the best DL in college football. Escape with a win here and Oregon sets themselves up well for the rest of the season.

Wins Pac-12 IF:

Playmakers step up and defense continues to improve. Beyond Mitchell last season, Oregon lacked a #2 WR that made plays consistently. The Ducks need the wideouts and tight ends to perform better whether it be Johnson or one of the returnees. If so, that’ll only make things easier for Herbert and the offense. Defensively, the secondary was a strength in 2018, leading the Pac-12 in pass deflections (69) and finishing second in interceptions (17) and defensive touchdowns (3). If the pass rush can improve, this defense will be one of the best in the conference.

Oregon Ducks 2019 Outlook

In conclusion, Oregon returns a vast majority of their talent to this year’s squad. That, coupled with a more consistent Herbert, could mean potentially an even bigger season in Eugene than 9-4. Expect them to make some noise in 2019, contending for the Pac-12 Championship and perhaps even being a dark horse College Football Playoff contender.

How do you think the Oregon Ducks will perform this season? Comment or let us know on twitter @StudentUnionSports