Three key Oregon offensive tackles storylines ahead of fall camp 2023
Fall camp is just around the corner for the Oregon Ducks ahead of Dan Lanning’s second season at the helm of the program.
After a 10-3 finish in 2022, Lanning and his staff went to work this offseason overhauling the Ducks’ roster to fit their vision. Oregon will welcome a 30-player signing class that ranked eighth nationally, and it has also added 14 players by way of the transfer portal.
It goes without saying that the 2023 version of Lanning’s Ducks will look vastly different than the 2022 iteration.
As we inch closer to August, the ScoopDuck staff has identified three prominent storylines regarding each of Oregon’s position groups.
Next up, the offensive tackles.
Josh Conerly’s time to shine
Josh Conerly Jr. arrived in Eugene last fall as one of the highest-rated offensive line signees in program history. After a bright true freshman campaign, he will begin fall camp as the frontrunner to become Oregon’s next starting left tackle.
Conerly played 118 snaps in 2022 — the most among any offensive player from Oregon’s ’22 singing class. He carved out a role in Kenny Dillingham’s vaunted “14-J” package and he became the first Oregon offensive lineman in 27 years to catch a touchdown pass.
Three-year starter T.J. Bass performed at an all-conference level for the Ducks over the last several seasons. But due to his immense athletic talent, Conerly could provide even greater upside.
While the 6-foot-4 sophomore possesses the physical tools required to thrive at the Pac-12 level, there could still be a bit of a learning curve this fall. After Oregon’s April 29 spring game, Conerly was asked what area he feels he will need to improve before the start of the 2023 season.
“Just having a nasty streak,” Conerly said. “I feel like a lot of people will tend to say I really don’t have that grit and grind. Finishing people off, finishing all my blocks is something I really want to work on.”
The addition of Ajani Cornelius
While Conerly is expected to lock down the starting left tackle spot, Rhode Island transfer Ajani Cornelius is in line to start at right tackle — and could prove to be one of Oregon’s most impactful offseason additions.
Cornelius chose Oregon over Ohio State, Nebraska, and Tennessee, among many others. Pro Football Focus rated him the seventh-best offensive tackle in all of college football last season and issued him an overall grade of 90.1.
A strong debut season in Eugene could quickly launch Cornelius up NFL Draft Boards. The Harlem, N.Y., native chose to transfer to Oregon, in part, because of the competitive atmosphere within the program.
“Early on, it was obvious that the level of competition had risen,” Cornelius said in April. “And that forced me to raise my level of competition, which ultimately was what I wanted. It’s been a great thing for me. I feel like I keep on growing as a player because of it.”
Who will provide depth?
In Conerly and Cornelius, the Ducks have two very good No. 1 options at left and right tackle. But it’s a little unclear at this point who might provide depth behind them.
Oregon saw Bass, starting right tackle Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, and veteran reserve Dawson Jaramillo all depart the program during the offseason. Former 4-star signee Bram Walden transferred away from the program, too.
Meanwhile, the Ducks added a highly-coveted JUCO prospect in former Fullerton College standout George Silva in December. The 6-foot-7, 295-pound junior spent the majority of spring ball repping at right tackle and his physicality stood out during the open portions of practice.
Junior Faaope Laloulu and redshirt freshman Michael Wooten, both of whom are former 3-star recruits, could push for playing time during the fall. While fifth-year senior Steven Jones will be in the mix to start at right guard, he also spent the spring repping at right tackle according to first-year offensive line coach A’lique Terry.
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