By Olivia Mock
Eugene, Ore. — On Saturday, April 27, the Ducks return to Autzen Stadium for their annual spring exhibition game. The spring game will split the roster into green and white teams as they face off in front of the home crowd. Significant roster changes marked this offseason, with 11 players declaring for the NFL draft. The Ducks countered this with an arsenal of additions through both recruiting and the transfer portal. The game will put these players at the forefront, giving fans a taste of what’s to come in the 2024 season.
Offense
The most impactful departure is quarterback and Heisman finalist Bo Nix. The Denver Broncos drafted Nix 12th overall on Thursday, following his record-breaking senior season. Former Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel is the star of Saturday’s affair, taking over for. Nix. In his final season at Oklahoma, he threw for 3,660 yards with a 69.3% completion rate, as well as 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. Come Saturday, fans will get a good look at their new QB1 donning Oregon green for the first time. Another notable addition to the quarterback room is UCLA transfer and former five-star recruit Dante Moore, who will be dressing for the white team. “At the end of the day all I can do is learn,” said Moore, referring to his decision to recommit to Oregon. This QB matchup will give fans a glimpse of both the present and future of Oregon football. “We’ve got really good depth in that room, competition, and then great camaraderie,” said offensive coordinator Will Stein, “It really shows on the field.”
Outside of the quarterback position, fans will see the future of the UO offense. Although Troy Franklin left for the draft, the receiving core seems to have bounced back. Slot receiver Tez Johnson returns for the 2024 season to pick up where he left off, and top portal prospect Evan Stewart suits up with the Ducks for the first time. Both will be playing for the green team this weekend. Additional receivers to pay attention to are Jurrion Dickey (green) and Kyler Kasper (white), both trending toward a larger role in 2024. “Whenever you can roll six, seven deep at wideout you know you’ve got a really good room,” said Stein. Stein also spoke on his intentions to bring tight ends into the passing game more often, so expect to see a taste of this on Saturday. The backfield, however, will look different than in the 2023 season. Fans should also look out for RBs Jordan James (white), Noah Whittington (green) and Jay Harris (green), who all aim to fill the shoes of Bucky Irving. As for the offensive line, three out of five starters return. Iapani Laloulu (green) will take over for Rimington Trophy-winning center Jackson Powers-Johnson. At right guard, Matthew Bedford and Nishad Strother will compete for the starting job as they face off on opposing teams.
Defense
Oregon’s secondary is particularly intriguing this year. “We want to play with a relentless effort, we want to attack the ball at a high level, and I want to see those guys playing for each other,” said defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. Atop the list of top new prospects is former Washington cornerback Jabbar Muhammad (green). Last season, he had 41 solo tackles, 14 passes defended and three interceptions. The cornerback room seems to be the biggest defensive improvement this offseason. With the addition of Muhammad as well as former UTSA CB Kam Alexander (white), keep an eye out for some interesting WR vs DB matchups. Safety Kobe Savage, who transferred from Kansas this year, will also be an interesting watch in this secondary. As for the pass rush, Matayo Uiagalelei (white) and Jordan Burch (green) will give a preview of what’s to come this upcoming season. Ducks fans will also get a first look at how freshmen DE Elijah Rushing (green) and DL Aydin Breland (green) fit into the scheme.
Looking Ahead
Lanning stressed emphasis on creating an authentic game-day atmosphere this weekend. “When you talk about ‘football matters at Oregon,’ I think one of the things that displays that is our fan support,” said Lanning. The Ducks’ Big Ten debut and a new era of Oregon football loom closer, and the spring game serves as a preview for how each piece will fall into place ahead of the 2024 season. With all signs pointing towards a national championship or bust in Eugene, the Ducks will open their 2024 season back at Autzen Stadium vs Idaho on August 31.