Alex Forsyth mentoring Jackson Powers-Johnson early in Oregon career

Not many Oregon players have endeared themselves to Duck fans the way that true freshman Jackson Powers-Johnson has early in his college career.

The former 4-star signee who is fondly referred to as “Big Jax” has an electric personality, has been an active recruiter for the Oregon program on social media, and had a stellar preseason camps by all accounts.

If Oregon fans needed any further reason to be excited about Powers-Johnson, it sounds as though he has formed a quick mentor-mentee relationship with Oregon center Alex Forsyth.

This isn’t a case of a veteran dragging a reluctant freshman through workouts, or griping at him to learn the playbook; Powers-Johnson sought out Forsyth soon after he arrived in Eugene because he wanted to hit the ground running.

“He’s one guy who I’ve tried to take under my wing a little bit,” Forsyth said Tuesday when asked which freshman have impressed him. “He’s done a great job and he’s a great kid who loves to learn.

“Really, he’s the one who reached out to me and asked for help. That’s the biggest thing you can do as a young guy.”

The early returns of that relationship have been phenomenal for Powers-Johnson. Forsyth, an all-Pac-12 second-team selection in 2020, allowed just one sack during 440 offensive snaps last fall. He’s the heart and soul of Oregon’s offensive line and will rarely leave the field this season.

But sitting right behind him on the depth chart is Powers-Johnson. That might partially be a product of true freshman Jonathan Denis being out injured. But by all accounts, both Powers-Johnson and Denis had great camps and were in the mix for the No. 2 spot at center.

“All the younger guys have done a great job, but (Powers-Johnson) especially is really reaching out and asking for help on everything — whether it’s class stuff, football, the weight room,” Forsyth said. “Whatever it is, he’s done a great job just learning and executing.”

At first glance, Forsyth and Powers-Johnson are an interesting pairing. Forsyth has a laid-back personality, while Powers-Johnson is a baby-faced Energizer bunny who epitomizes the smash-mouth mentality that Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal has instilled in his offensive line room.

JUICY PUMPS 😈😈 @coachfeld #45dayChallenge pic.twitter.com/nt0x5FHcIn

— Jackson James Powers-Johnson (@Bigjax54) May 4, 2020

“That’s him about 24/7,” Forsyth said. “It’s kind of funny, because I’m not really like that. But we do get along really well. … He’s energetic, he’s charismatic and he’s a great guy to have on the team.”

Part of what enabled Powers-Johnson thrive early is his fearless mentality and willingness to do whatever it takes to improve.

“As a young buck, you know, I want to challenge the older guys for sure,” Powers-Johnson said earlier this month. “Because now, I don’t think about like, ‘Oh, I might lose.’ I’m learning from it.

“You know, (Brandon) Dorlus and Popo (Aumavae), I want to go against them as much as possible because they’re going to get me better, or they’re going to give me a taste of what college football’s like.”

Cristobal said Monday that Powers-Johnson and freshman Marcus Harper II have both “earned” playing time. But he still isn’t ready to say when, or how, both of them will figure into the offensive line rotation.

“We feel comfortable going into the game, and confident that we have guys that we can rep in there, and that we have a solid starting five or six,” Cristobal said.

Offensive line cohesion

Forsyth also said Monday that the chemistry among Oregon’s offensive line is much-improved from where it was last season.

“I wouldn’t say we had no chemistry, but we were still over communicating some stuff,” Forsyth said. “It wasn’t until later on in the year that we could pass off a lot of d-line stunts and all that a lot easier — just because you build up trust with guys.”

It makes sense; the Ducks were building a new offensive line from scratch last season. But every starter from 2020 has returned this fall, and the Ducks are already reaping the benefits of that continuity.

“Especially now, we have really built up that chemistry,” Forsyth said. “We have a great defensive front we go against every day, and I think that’s a huge challenge. … Just going through all that, I can’t say how important it is.”