The Complete Starter Projection Series for Oregon Football

If you missed anything from our 22-part series projecting the starters for Willie Taggart’s offense and Jim Leavitt’s defense, you can catch up here at ATQ.

Friday, the final piece was published featuring wide receiver Brenden Schooler. Clearly, these are NOT the opinions of the Oregon coaching staff. They are simply predictions from early in camp. Yet, we welcome your opinion and thoughts on the matter.

Once the starters are revealed by the team, we can be graded. Otherwise, if you missed anything you can reference below with their publishing dates. Here’s a breakdown of the projections on both sides of the ball:

WILLIE TAGGART’S OFFENSIVE 11

QUARTERBACK - Justin Herbert (8/8)

RUNNING BACK - Royce Freeman (8/9)

WIDE RECEIVER - Charles Nelson (8/10)

WIDE RECEIVER - Dillon Mitchell (8/11)

TIGHT END - Jacob Breeland (8/12)

LEFT TACKLE - Tyrell Crosby (8/13)

LEFT GUARD - Shane Lemieux (8/14)

CENTER - Jake Hanson (8/15)

RIGHT GUARD - Jake Pisarcik (8/16)

RIGHT TACKLE - Calvin Throckmorton (8/17)

WIDE RECEIVER - Brenden Schooler (8/18)

The Final Verdict: Clearly, I was reaching a bit with Brenden Schooler starting at wide receiver but you never know until you know. Schooler is one of those players that stands out when you watch an entire team. His effort, desire, skill-set, and athleticism give him a chance at everything he does in football. However, I can see a few guys sliding into the No. 3 receiver spot like Alex Ofodile, Johnny Johnson III, Darrian McNeal, Malik Lovette and/or Jaylon Redd. Aside from Schooler, the other 10 starters look correct for now. Yet, we all know one day of camp with Willie Taggart can change everything on his depth chart. For now, this is a solid offense that has room for drastic improvement. Until we know more and the starters are actually revealed, that is where I feel I could’ve improved.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

JIM LEAVITT’S DEFENSIVE 11

CORNERBACK - Arrion Springs (7/25)

LINEBACKER - Troy Dye (7/26)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE - Scott Pagano (7/27)

DEFENSIVE END - Henry Mondeaux (7/28)

DEFENSIVE END - Jalen Jelks (7/29)

LINEBACKER - Jimmie Swain (7/30)

LINEBACKER - A.J. Hotchkins (7/31)

CORNERBACK - Ugo Amadi (8/1)

CORNERBACK - Thomas Graham Jr. (8/2)

HYBRID LB/CB/S - Tyree Robinson (8/3)

SAFETY - Brady Breeze (8/6)

The Final Verdict: Hindsight is always 20/20, but until the actual starters are revealed by Leavitt and company, the presence of a few worry my predictions. Breeze could very well start at safety as a freshman. However, Tyree Robinson sliding back to safety makes more sense. He led the team in overall snaps last season and has miles of experience. With that move, Robinson would slide out of my hybrid spot and Justin Hollins would be inserted at outside linebacker/defensive end or edge rusher depending on Leavitt’s 3-4 formation. One could also slide Mondeaux to the pine, while Hollins or Jonah Moi provide support in the front seven. Regardless, I wanted to find a way to get Deommodore Lenoir on the field since he signed the dotted line with the Ducks, twice! When he’s ready, college football will know about it. Additionally, if Scott Pagano does not return from injury in time, freshman Jordon Scott has been a man among boys since arriving on campus. Not only will he start, but he will be on the field a majority of the time for the defense. Until we know more, that is where I feel I could’ve improved.

The NEXT new series will begin on Monday...Y’all come back now, ya hear?

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