Depth Chart Deep Dive: Oregon right guards
With spring ball in the rearview, and the transfer portal closed, we’re beginning to get an idea of what Oregon’s depth chart might look like in 2023.
Since the end of the 2022 regular season, Dan Lanning’s program added 14 players via the portal while 30 former Ducks opted to seek opportunities elsewhere.
As we near the start of fall camp, the ScoopDuck staff is taking an in-depth, position-by-position look at the Oregon roster.
Next up, the right guard position.
QuarterbackRunning BackX-ReceiverZ-RecieverSlot ReceiverTight End
Spring Synopsis
After 15 spring practices, the right guard position is still a bit of a question mark for Oregon.
That isn’t due to a lack of quality options; the Ducks feature several players who could excel there in 2023.
Sixth-year senior Steven Jones opened the 2022 season as Oregon’s starting right guard but suffered a left foot sprain during the Ducks’ Week 2 win over Washington State that kept him sidelined until Week 12. Jones was fully healthy this spring and started at right guard during the April 29 spring game. He also worked there during the lone 11-on-11 portion of practice that reporters were able to watch this spring.
Kawika Rogers, a former 3-star signee in the ’21 signing class, spent the spring repping at right guard there and also featured there during the spring game.
Projected Starter
Jones is the closest thing Oregon has to a returning starter along the offensive line.
With T.J. Bass, Ryan Walk, Alex Forsyth, and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu having exhausted their eligibility, Jones is the elder statesman of the Ducks’ OL room. He’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder next fall after losing the majority of the 2022 campaign to injury.
Throughout his career, Jones has spent significant time at left tackle, right tackle, and right guard. Midway through the 2021 season, he shifted over from right tackle and became Oregon’s full-time starter at right guard and spent the final nine games of the season there. During that stretch, he allowed just one sack and nine quarterback pressures, according to PFF.
While the Ducks boast a handful of players capable of starting at right guard, Jones would seem to be the favorite to take hold of the starting job at this point.
Other than injury, what can change?
The sheer versatility of Oregon’s offensive line room makes it difficult to project who fits best where at this point.
Jackson Powers-Johnson played 350 snaps at right guard last season but is also in the mix to start at center for the Ducks in 2023.
After Jones’ injury in the season-opener last season, Ryan Walk shifted from left guard to right guard, and Marcus Harper II became the Ducks’ starting left guard. Harper, who is also a candidate to start at center, is an uber-versatile player who could slot in at right guard if needed.
During his last fully-healthy season at Texas in 2021, Angilau played 369 snaps at right guard and 366 at left guard.
Long story short: Oregon has options aplenty at both guard spots. We’ll have to wait until fall camp to find out where Terry plans to deploy each player.
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