Season in Review: DL
01/27/23 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Ducks enjoyed stability in the starting lineup on the D line in 2022, and though injuries sapped some of the unit's depth, it provided a couple of the season's most notable highlights.
Reviewing Oregon's 2022 season and looking ahead to spring drills.
2022 ROSTER
DE: Brandon Dorlus, Jr.; Treven Ma'ae, So.; Keanu Williams, So.; Sua'ava Poti, So. (inj).
DT: Casey Rogers, Jr.; Taki Taimani, Jr.; Sir Mells, Fr.; Josh Simmons, So.; Popo Aumavae, Sr. (inj.)
DT: Jordon Riley, Sr.; Keyon Ware-Hudson, So.; Ben Roberts, Fr.; Ty Delgado, Fr.; Maceal Afaese, RFr. (inj).
Edge: DJ Johnson, Sr.; Mase Funa, Jr.; Jake Shipley, So.; Jabril McNeill, So.; Brandon Buckner, So.; Anthony Jones, Fr.; Emar'rion Winston, Fr.; Jaden Navarrette, RFr.; Malachi Hannah, Fr.
Starters: After Oregon's defensive line was beset by injuries in 2021, the unit enjoyed some stability in 2022 – at least among the starters. Brandon Dorlus started all 13 games and set a career high with 9.5 tackles for loss; his 40 quarterback hurries, as measured by Pro Football Focus, ranked in the top 10 among Power 5 players nationally. Dorlus also helped the UO defense rank fourth in the Pac-12 against the run in 2022, allowing 124.77 yards per game.
Casey Rogers, Jordon Riley and DJ Johnson also were full-time starters in the defensive front this past season. Riley and Rogers had experience together playing under first-year UO defensive line coach Tony Tuioti at Nebraska, and they thrived as transfers with the Ducks. Rogers is a tone-setting effort player as personified by his touchdown-saving tackle late in the Holiday Bowl that forced North Carolina to settle for a field goal, setting the stage for Oregon's comeback win. Johnson led the UO pass rush with six sacks, thriving in a full-time defensive role after playing both ways in 2021.
Reserves: For as relatively healthy as the starters on the defensive line were in 2022, other potential rotation guys weren't as fortunate -- Popo Aumavae, Sua'ava Poti and Maceal Afaese all were sidelined for the entire season. The good news was, Oregon had good depth at the position, with Taki Taimani also joining the group as a transfer and playing a key role as a down lineman, along with returners Keyon Ware-Hudson, Treven Ma'ae and Keanu Williams. On the edge, Mase Funa provided one of the biggest plays of the season with his late pick-six at Washington State, and he stepped up in the bowl game after Johnson opted out. Jake Shipley also provided depth off the edge.
Developmental squad: The Ducks have a couple of exciting young defensive line prospects who got seasoning as redshirts in 2022, Sir Mells and Ben Roberts. On the edge, Anthony Jones and Emar'rion Winston also made their collegiate debuts, and banked a year of practice reps. Depth in practice was further amplified up front by Jabril McNeill, Brandon Buckner, Jaden Navarrette, Josh Simmons, Ty Delgado and Malachi Hannah.
2023 SPRING PREVIEW
Veterans: Brandon Dorlus, Sr.; Casey Rogers, Sr.; Mase Funa, Sr.; Popo Aumavae, Sr.; Taki Taimani, Sr.; Keyon Ware-Hudson, Jr.; Sua'ava Poti, Jr.; Treven Ma'ae, Jr.; Jake Shipley, Jr.; Maceal Afaese, So.; Anthony Jones, RFr.; Ben Roberts, RFr.; Sir Mells, RFr.; Emar'rion Winston, RFr.; Josh Simmons, Jr.; Ty Delgado, RFr.; Malachi Hannah, RFr.
Newcomers: Jordan Burch, Jr.; Johnny Bowens, Fr.; My'Keil Gardner, Fr.; Jaeden Moore, Fr.; Tevita Pome'e, Fr.; Teitum Tuioti, Fr.; Matayo Uiagelelei, Fr.
What to Watch: The 2023 season will be a yearlong process of passing the torch on the defensive line for the Ducks. Dorlus, Rogers, Aumavae and Funa all announced their decisions to play one more season at Oregon, and they plus other returners like Ware-Hudson and Taimani will give the UO defensive line an impressive veteran core once fall rolls around. That said, the position was bolstered by an extremely impressive group of newcomers in the most recent recruiting class, a number of which already are enrolled at the university, are participating in winter workouts and will begin practicing in the spring. Teitum Tuioti got a head start on that process by joining the Ducks for bowl practices, and the group of newcomers is joined by a veteran transfer in Jordan Burch, who will challenge for reps on the edge.
Players Mentioned
