Ducks Ready To Tackle Preseason Camp

EUGENE, Ore. — If there was any summer break for members of the Oregon football program, it's just about over.

The Ducks will open preseason practices Wednesday, looking to "double down" on last season's success, in the words of head coach Dan Lanning. That means building on a 2024 season that began with 13 straight wins, and ended with the UO football program in the College Football Playoff.

Such success is not easily attained. And certainly not by taking things easy in preseason camp. When the Ducks hit the field for practice Wednesday, they'll need to be in regular-season mode already.

"Our goal with fall camp," Lanning said Monday in a press conference with local media, "is how can we create the same anxiety you have on game day?"

Overcome those anxieties in August, and the Ducks will be well-positioned to overcome the challenges their season will present come fall — and potentially beyond. And really, that work is already well underway, from spring practice and summer strength and conditioning.

When practice begins Wednesday and the Ducks walk out to the field, they'll look the part of a championship contender based on their offseason work with strength coach Wilson Love.

"As far as production over summer workouts, I think we've seen as much from a measurable standpoint as we have since we got here," Lanning said. "Coach Love and his staff did a great job."

There's some hay in the barn already, to use one of Lanning's favorite aphorisms. But the work is never truly done.

"Excited to see what questions we're able to answer this fall camp," the UO coach said. "I know guys are excited to work."

Lanning and several dozen players met with local media Monday to begin trying to answer some of the lingering questions surrounding the Ducks this preseason. Among them ….

1. How the quarterbacks will balance battling for reps with establishing leadership

After two seasons with Bo Nix behind center and then last year with Dillon Gabriel as the trigger man in the offense, the Ducks' fourth season under Lanning won't feature quite as much experience at quarterback. Dante Moore has starting experience in college, Austin Novosad has developed steadily under position coach Will Stein and Luke Moga had a breakout spring, but now the competition really ratchets up.

Yes, the quarterbacks need to focus on self-improvement and winning the job. But they also need to build chemistry with teammates, both in practice and vocally.

"There's been some of that this summer; these guys have had some throwing sessions this summer, this spring," Lanning said. "But this is when you do it."

Moore, who started five times for UCLA in 2023 before redshirting at Oregon last season, said the quarterbacks can handle both tasks.

"During this fall camp it's gong to be a great time to connect with the team and be out there on the field," Moore said. "Of course the quarterback room is always going to be competing; that's how we are as a quarterback group. We're always going to be teaching each other, helping ether other, making sure we improve every day."

2. The process of dominating the trenches with new faces on both sides of the ball

New faces will abound on both lines of scrimmage when the Ducks open the season at home against Montana State on Aug. 30. Gone are the likes of Josh Conerly Jr. and Ajani Cornelius on the offensive line, and likewise Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch on defense.

Oregon reloaded through the transfer portal, particularly on offense with the additions of Alex Harkey, Emmanuel Pregnon and Isaiah World. They have a few more weeks to cement their chemistry with returners including Matthew Bedford, who is coming off an injury marred 2024.

"Guys have been melding in this entire time," Bedford said. "As spring went along and then even going into summer, guys have just been getting closer and closer and closer. You see that connection popping up at times during runs and lifts and things. And we're only going to get closer, so I'm really excited about that."

Defensively, the staff will look on young linemen to develop into bigger roles. The Ducks did add one new face through the portal on the line, Bear Alexander.

"I'm excited to see what Bear does," Lanning said.

3. What will an injury at receiver mean to the rotation among the pass catchers

Among the adversity the Ducks will look to overcome this fall, at least in the early going, is the absence of Evan Stewart. An injury has him sidelined to open the year.

Stewart is Oregon's top returning receiver from 2024, when he caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns. Already, there was a need to replace Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden and tight end Terrance Ferguson.

"We'd be lying if we said there wasn't an opportnity for other guys to step up and create a role for themselves," Lanning said.

Among those looking to step up in their absence is Gary Bryant Jr., who caught just two passes in five games while battling injury last season.

"I challenge myself big time, in every role, from being a leader to making plays on the field and guiding this team to winning a lot of games this year," Bryant said. "The biggest challenge is on me personally, to lead the receiver room and then obviously the team as a whole."

Some young faces could help fill the void as well, notably among them tight end Kenyon Sadiq, a junior that Lanning said Monday is "one of the most dynamic players in college football."

4. How quickly can new faces blend on the back end of the defense

Another position group with several veterans to replace is the defensive secondary. The Ducks are looking to replace two of their top three leading tacklers from a year ago, safeties Tysheem Johnson and Kobe Savage, as well as cover guys Jabbar Muhammad, Nikko Reed and Brandon Johnson.

Enter a talented crop of freshmen on the back end of the defense, along with transfers Theran Johnson, Jadon Canady and Dillon Thieneman. They'll compete with vets like Jahlil Florence, Sione Laulea, Kingston Lopa, Peyton Woodyard and others to quiet any doubt in the absence of last season's seniors.

"There shouldn't be no question marks when it comes to our room," Florence said. "We've got a lot of talent and a lot of depth. In camp we're gonna put in the work, and come first game, you guys are gonna see the room we have in our secondary. It's gonna be a real elite group of guys."

Like Bryant at receiver and Bedford on the offensive line, Florence wants to be one of those guys after injuries marred his 2024 season.

"The time I missed and watching them guys go out there, it was a sad year for me mentally," Florence said. "So just coming back right now, I'm really looking at it different — just every single day, not taking it for granted, just knowing that it could be taken from me any time. Just got to go out there and just take each day by each day."

5. What does Oregon's second season in the Big Ten Conference have in store

The Ducks aren't new to the Big Ten anyone, but there will be fresh experiences in 2025, including road trips to Northwestern, Penn State, Iowa and Rutgers. Is there a match-up among those, Lanning was asked Monday, that he's most anticipating?

"Montana State is the one I'm most excited about," Lanning said with a smile. "That's your coach-speak for the day."

The Bobcats are Oregon's opening opponent, and they'll merit the Ducks' full attention for multiple reasons. One being, the Ducks will be looking to start a little sharper than they did a year ago, when they were challenged by Idaho and Boise State — albeit both ended in wins.

"The key is, you hope you can grow through wins and not through losses," Lanning said.

It won't be long before opponents create some stressful situations for the Ducks in the regular season. Lanning and his staff will prepare the team by making the next few weeks of preseason camp stressful, as well.