The 2024 Oregon football season gets underway in earnest this week as the Ducks return to the practice field in preparation for their Big Ten debut.
Oregon won’t be devoid of star players going into its 12-game regular season, which kicks off at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 in Autzen Stadium against Idaho.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, wide receiver Tez Johnson and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa were named preseason all-Big-Ten in the USA TODAY media poll, with Gabriel, a transfer from Oklahoma, also being named the preseason player of the year and newcomer of the year.
Two other high profile transfers, receiver Evan Stewart and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, are expected to make an immediate and significant impact for the Ducks.
Those five will have an obvious role in what type of success Oregon has this fall, but several others will as well.
A deeper look at newcomers will come later during fall camp, but for now, here are 10 returning players —five offense, five defense — expected to play a pivotal role in racking up wins for the Ducks.
5 returning offensive players critical for Oregon football
OL Ajani Cornelius
The right tackle has already proven himself to be a top-end player. He was a 14-game starter in 2023 and named all-Pac-12 honorable mention by the conference coaches after a season in which he allowed zero sacks and 11 total pressures in 512 pass-blocking opportunities. But with a left-handed quarterback taking over behind center for the Ducks, the 6-foot-5, 308-pound senior will now be in charge of protecting Gabriel’s blindside, a significant responsibility for a player who has always risen to the occasion.
TE Patrick Herbert
Herbert’s injury-plagued start to his career has allowed the Sheldon High grad to get a sixth season of eligibility. Those injuries also appear to be a thing of the past as the 6-5, 255-pound tight end has played in all 27 of Oregon’s games the past two seasons with a combined 678 offensive snaps. He’s become a reliable target in the passing game during that stretch with 21 catches for 291 yards and four touchdowns since 2022. Herbert is also an exceptional blocker, both at the line of scrimmage and down field, and is a standout performer on special teams.
WR Traeshon Holden
Johnson and Stewart could be the best 1-2 punch at receiver in the country this season, but the Ducks will still need a productive No. 3 at the position. Enter Holden, who had 37 catches for 453 yards and six TDs in 2023, his first season at Oregon. That included five catches for 69 yards and a score against Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl. At 6-3 and 215 pounds, Holden provides a much larger target than his two speedy counterparts —Johnson is 5-10, 160 and Stewart is 6-0, 175 — and proved last season he has break-away ability himself with two touchdowns of 60 or more yards.
RB Jordan James
A short-yardage phenom as a freshman in 2022, James took over as Bucky Irving’s primary backup at running back last fall when Noah Whittington suffered a season-ending injury in September. James went on to rush for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns on 107 carries. He also caught 15 passes for 132 yards and a score. James’ role is expected to expand even more this season as he becomes the featured back in the Ducks’ offense.
OL Iapani Laloulu
As a true freshman in 2023, Laloulu was Oregon’s top reserve on the offensive line thanks both to his talent and his positional versatility. Of his 413 total snaps on offense, Laloulu played 183 at right guard, 116 at left guard and 111 at center. His first career start came at center in the Fiesta Bowl after Jackson Powers-Johnson opted out. He was also one of the starting centers in the spring game, getting paired up with Gabriel. The 6-2, 325-pound sophom*ore is the presumptive big-shoes filler for Powers-Johnson, the 2023 Rimington Award winner who is now with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.
5 returning defensive players critical for Oregon football
DE Jordan Burch
The senior was a 13-game starter and an all-Pac-12 honorable mention selection last season after matching his career-high and leading the Ducks with 7.5 tackles for a loss, including three sacks. And yet, the 6-6, 290-pound former consensus 5-star recruit and transfer from South Carolina still seems to be just scratching at the surface of his true potential. Six of his TFLs and all three sacks came in the first five games last season. Imagine his impact on the defense — and the Oregon season — if he’s able be as impactful through an entire season.
CB Jahlil Florence
The junior thrived last season playing opposite NFL draft pick Khyree Jackson until getting injured at Arizona State in November. He missed the last three games of the season and spent the spring rehabbing his knee. If healthy, Florence can give the Ducks an experienced and steadily improving cornerback to play with Muhammad. Florence (6-1, 193) made nine starts as a sophom*ore in 2023 and finished with 27 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss, one sack and an interception.
ILB Jestin Jacobs
The Ducks were able to get a taste of what the senior inside linebacker can do last season, now they’re ready for a bigger bite. After a preseason injury held him out of the first six games, the 6-4, 245-pound transfer from Iowa played the final eight — including five starts —and finished with 32 total tackles, one sack and a pass breakup. His 90.2 tackling grade from Pro Football Focus was the best among all Oregon defenders. He also didn’t miss a tackle in 2023, according to PFF.
S Tysheem Johnson
There’s been a complete overhaul in the safety room at Oregon with one notable exception — senior all-Pac-12 honorable mention Tysheem Johnson, who is coming off the most productive season of his career. In 2023, his first season at Oregon after transferring from Ole Miss, Johnson played a team-high 795 snaps on defense and finished third on the team with 70 tackles. He also had two interceptions, 4.5 tackles for a loss, a sack and a career-high seven pass breakups.
Edge Matayo Uiagalelei
As a freshman last season the 6-5, 270-pound edge rusher flashed the potential that made him the prize of the 2023 recruiting class. He played in 13 games and finished with 18 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 12 total pressures, 10 hurries, two pass breakups and played 330 defensive snaps. Uiagalelei has as much potential as anyone to have a massive breakout season for the Ducks, giving them a threatening presence on the outside of the defensive line.
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