Oregon's Ajani Cornelius, Josh Conerly Jr. tabbed among PFF's top returning offensive tackles for 2024
During the 2023 season, Josh Conerly Jr. and Ajani Cornelius entrenched themselves as Oregon’s starting left and right tackles.
Both were honorable mention all-Pac-12 selections last fall, and both will be back bookending the Ducks’ offensive line in 2024. According to at least one publication, Conerly and Cornelius each rank among the top returning offensive tackles in all of college football.
Earlier this month, Pro Football Focus released its list of the top 10 returning tackles in the nation. Cornelis landed at No. 4 on the list, while Conerly fell one spot short but was PFF’s ‘honorable mention’ pick.
Cornelius, who transferred to Oregon in December 2022, ranked second among the Ducks’ players last season with 899 snaps. Here’s the rundown from PFF’s Max Chadwick on why Cornelius is ranked near the top of his list.
“Cornelius, a product of FCS school Rhode Island, was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal a year ago. He showed why as Oregon’s right tackle this past season, not allowing a sack or hit on any of his 115 true pass sets.
“The junior also surrendered pressure on only 2.1% of his total pass-blocking snaps in 2023 — the lowest rate of any returning Power Five tackle.“
Conerly, the highest-rated offensive line signee in program history, took hold of Oregon’s starting left tackle spot last fall as a true sophomore. He led the Ducks with 901 offensive snaps. Here is Chadwick’s breakdown of the player who will be protecting Dillon Gabriel’s blindside in 2024.
“While LSU may roster the best tackle duo college football has to offer, Oregon isn’t far behind with Cornelius and Conerly. The latter became the Ducks’ starting left tackle as a true sophomore and impressed as a pass protector. The former top-40 recruit yielded pressure on 3.3% of his pass-blocking snaps in 2023, ranking sixth among Pac-12 tackles. His 0.6% knockdown (sacks plus hits) rate allowed placed third in that same group.”
While Oregon is set at both tackle spots, it will have to find a way to replace Rimington Trophy winner Jackson Powers-Johnson, as well as starting right guard Steven Jones. Powers-Johnson declared for the NFL Draft, and Jones has exhausted his eligibility.
Kelvin Banks, a former Oregon commit who now stars at Texas, landed at No. 2 on Chadwick’s list. LSU rising senior Will Campbell, who ranked fifth among tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade last season, is Chadwick’s pick as the top returning tackle in the nation.
