Greg McElroy identifies Oregon’s breakout star entering 2023 season

Greg McElroy is calling his shot, believing offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius to be Oregon’s breakout star for 2023.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide and NFL quarterback believes Cornelius’ abilities will be invaluable to the Ducks’ campaign. He’s joining Oregon after being lauded as the most wanted man in the transfer portal, coming from Rhode Island to Eugene to help block for star quarterback Bo Nix in 2023.

McElroy explained as much, as Cornelius chose the Ducks over a litany of other offers, and he believes it’s going to pay off.

“The breakout star … Ajani Cornelius is a transfer from Rhode Island, everybody wanted him. Everybody, I mean we’re talking about a guy that had zero stars coming out of high school, but at 6’4, 6’5, 320 pounds, very athletic, a late bloomer, has started two full years at Rhode Island, and now he’s likely going to be starting at the tackle spot, protecting your most precious asset in Bo Nix,” explained McElroy. “Now this is a guy that spurned Ohio State. Didn’t consider — I mean, he had offers everywhere. One of the top tackle prospects in the portal. He chose Oregon. He’s got a chance to really break out.”

Evidently, McElroy recognizes the gravity of the situation for Cornelius, as he has a chance to enter an upper-echelon of college football players in 2023. According to Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, he’s on the right track, as he’s been nothing but professional since joining the squad.

“Ajani’s approach is a guy that really wants to develop. He saw the opportunity here to grow as a player,” said Lanning, earlier this offseason. “He has aspirations of what are the things that he wants to accomplish; (he) has clear goals of the things he wants to accomplish. 

“I think he saw that he could check all those boxes here; that he could make sure make sure he reached those goals here. I think he is a professional. Very intelligent and certainly takes the approach of a learner, which is exciting for me; a guy that’s looking to get better.”

Alas, Cornelius’ stats fit his billing, as he started 22 games over the past two seasons at Rhode Island. He sat out his first two years on campus, but took over as the starting right tackle last year and earned first team All-Colonial Athletic Conference this season.

Entering the PAC-12 with Oregon, 2023 could be Ajani Cornelius’ breakout season, as Greg McElroy is predicting.