Oregon spring football preview: Offensive line

Oregon is set to open spring practices on March 10. There is plenty of excitement surrounding Dan Lanning’s program, and there is no shortage of storylines related to the Ducks’ roster. In the coming days, ScoopDuck will have you covered with position-by-position previews that highlight a key returner, key newcomer, and a breakout candidate at each spot.

Next up: the offensive line

Previously:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Wide receivers
• Tight ends

Scholarship players

• Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (Senior)
• TJ Bass (Senior)
• Jonathan Denis (R-Fr.)
• Alex Forsyth (Senior)
• Marcus Harper (Soph.)
• Dave Iuli (Signee)
• Dawson Jaramillo (R-Jr.)
• Jaylan Jeffers (R-Fr.)
• Steven Jones (R-Jr.)
• Faaope Laloulu (R-Fr.)
• Jonah Miller (R-Fr.)
• Jackson Powers-Johnson (Sophomore)
• Kawika Rogers (Signee)
• Bram Walden (R-Fr.)
• Ryan Walk (Senior)
• Michael Wooten (Signee)

Key returner

The entire starting line

At one point during the offseason, Oregon was at risk of losing its top six offensive linemen.

T.J. Bass, Alex Forsyth, Ryan Walk, and Steven Jones all weighed their options of turning pro. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu even declared for the NFL Draft at one point. George Moore has exhausted his eligibility and did not have the option of returning to school.

By New Year’s Eve, though, all five Oregon OL starters who were eligible to return for the 2022 season announced that they will do so. And now, the Ducks are set to bring back one of the top offensive lines not just in the Pac-12, but possibly the entire nation.

According to Pro Football Focus, here is the 2021 snap breakdown for Oregon’s five returning offensive linemen.

• Ryan Walk: 577
• Alex Forsyth: 572
• T.J. Bass: 856
• Steven Jones: 706
• Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu: 635

Those five players are not only excellent, entrenched starters but also extremely versatile players who are capable of lining up at multiple positions. Oregon offensive line coach Adrian Klemm will have no shortage of talent at his disposal next season.

Key newcomer

Dave Iuli

Dan Lanning and his staff landed a gem in 4-star OL Dave Iuli of Puyallup, Wash.

At 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, he could have an incredibly bright future with the Ducks. After he signed, QB11 wrote a really thorough evaluation of Iuli and compared him to former Oregon standout Shane Lemieux.

He’s never not been the biggest most physically dominant player on the field. With Iuli you’re taking a big powerful frame with a good natural athletic skillset and projecting what that athletic aspect looks like after a few years of good professional training. The work with Wilson Love and company should help reveal improved lateral mobility and range which will make for a complete package on the interior.

QB11 on Dave Iuli.

Breakout candidate

Dawson Jaramillo

Oregon has the luxury of returning redshirt junior Dawson Jaramillo, a swiss-army knife of a player who can essentially play anywhere along the offensive line.

During the 2021 season, Jaramillo garnered a grade of 60.2 and was one of the top-graded run-blockers in Oregon’s OL rotation. The 371 snaps he played is not a small sample size, and he gave the Ducks 25-40 quality snaps each game.

Ideally, the Ducks won’t lose Alex Forsyth and Ryan Walk to injuries in 2022 like they did last season. So Jaramillo may have a hard time finding consistent snaps if Oregon’s starters stay healthy.

But he is an incredibly valuable player to have on the roster, and there is a very real possibility he continues his progression and pushes for a starting job.

Of note:

Jackson Powers-Johnson had a really bright true freshman season along the offensive line in 2021. He might have been tabbed as a breakout candidate here if not for the fact that he may be set for a position change.

Powers-Johnson said last month that he will start spring ball working as a defensive lineman for the Ducks. Time will tell which side of the ball he ultimately ends up on, but regardless of where he plays, Dan Lanning and co. have an exceptional player on their hands who will be a difference-maker.