Biggest Oregon-related questions ahead of Pac-12 Media Day
Pac-12 Media Day is just under 24 hours away, which means the 2023 college football season is just around the corner.
The conference’s coaches and a flurry of star players will take the podium at Resorts World Las Vegas to field questions from reporters. The event will begin with opening remarks from Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff at 8 a.m. PT, while coaches and players will begin a circuit of availability at 8:45 a.m.
The event will air on Pac-12 Networks.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning will be joined by quarterback Bo Nix and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa. Lanning is scheduled to speak at 1:35 p.m. PT, while Nix and Bassa will speak at 2 p.m.
Until then, here are three prominent Oregon-related questions that we hope to have answered on Friday.
Injury updates
As is commonplace with head coaches at powerhouse programs these days, Lanning has been reluctant to discuss injuries in detail during his time at Oregon.
It’s unlikely that changes anytime soon.
But it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the Ducks will enter fall camp with a handful of key players who have missed time due to injury in the spring. Tight end Terrance Ferguson, offensive lineman Marcus Harper, offensive lineman Junior Angilau, EDGE Jake Shipley, safety Daymon Daivd, and safety JJ Greenfield are among the players who were out or limited in March and April.
Ferguson, Harper, and Angilau, in particular, are going to play pivotal roles this season.
It would be surprising if Lanning reveals much regarding injuries.
Which newcomers will make the greatest impact?
In 2022, the Ducks received significant contributions from their group of offseason transfer portal additions.
Nix is the obvious example here. But Bucky Irving, Noah Whittington, Chase Cota, Christian Gonzalez, Casey Rogers, and several others proved to be difference-makers for last year’s squad.
Oregon turned to the portal once again this offseason to address several significant gaps on its roster. The Ducks made 14 scholarship portal additions — most of whom are going to be in the mix for a starting job in 2023.
On paper, the Ducks have made some savvy additions that could help them improve on last year’s 10-3 finish. They’re banking on the likes of Jordan Burch, Khyree Jackson, Jestin Jacobs, and Evan Williams to help improve a defense that struggled mightily to stop the pass last season.
Where does Matayo Uiagalelei fit best — and can he make an immediate impact?
There haven’t been many players in Oregon’s recent history who possess the type of versatility and potential that 4-star freshman Matayo Uiagalelei does.
A jumbo athlete who the On3 Industry Ranking tabbed as the No. 40 prospect in the nation for the 2023 class, Uiagalelei is an exciting prospect who could make an impact as an edge defender or a tight end. While he spent the majority of spring ball working with defensive line coach Tony Tuioti, Lanning hinted in April that Uiagalelei could potentially help solve the Ducks’ depth issues at tight end.
If Uiagalelei ultimately does stick on the defensive side of the ball, it’s worth wondering how Lanning and Co. will go about getting the most out of his immense talents.
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound freshman spent the spring splitting time at defensive end and Jack linebacker; but he was far from the only Oregon defender who spent time cross-training.
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