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Bo Nix assesses where Oregon is at as a team compared to last season

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•05/02/23•

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Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

When Bo Nix arrived at Oregon last year, he joined a roster that saw 17 commits come out of the high school ranks and 12 players come in with him via the transfer portal. This year, things are a bit different.

The Ducks brought in 30 high school recruits and 10 players from the portal. As Dan Lanning enters year two at the helm, he’ll have plenty of newcomers to integrate into his system. That means there are roles to be earned.

Nix said he has full faith in the coaching staff to make everything work.

“It’s a lot different,” Nix said. “A lot of new faces, new and different experienced guys, guys that are going to have to take a next step and fill a role that they may have sat behind or maybe transferred in to. But we have very capable guys, and I felt like last year, we had a lot of experience. This year, we have guys filling different roles. Our coaches are going to do a really good job putting those guys in situations to succeed.

“And I think as we go, we’ve just got to continue to keep the main thing the main thing, go out there and be the best that we can be. Play hard, play together, give great effort. Then, eventually, it will work out, and we’ll be the best that we can be.”

Oregon has an impressive group of newcomers coming in this year

Among the group of new faces is former Rhode Island offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius — the No. 4-ranked transfer to enter the portal this cycle, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. From the high school level, Oregon also has four-star defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei coming in. He came in as the No. 5-ranked player at the position ant the No. 40 player in the nation from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

As a group, Oregon landed the No. 8-ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking.

Oregon had an impressive season last year as Lanning took over the program. The Ducks went 10-3 to seal a berth in the Holiday Bowl, where they knocked off North Carolina in a 28-27 thriller. Nix looked good in his first season after transferring from Auburn, throwing for 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 510 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He could’ve tested the NFL Draft waters, but instead opted to return to Oregon for another go-round this year.