ScoopDuck roundtable: 2022 Oregon football awards and superlatives

With Oregon’s 2022 season officially in the books, it’s time to take a look back at what stood out from Dan Lanning’s first season at the helm of the program.

The ScoopDuck staff has made their selections for year-end awards and superlatives and highlighted the brightest moments from a roller coaster of a season.

Here are our picks for Oregon’s offensive MVP, defensive MVP, standout freshman, and favorite moment from the 2022 campaign. We’re also looking toward next season and have each selected a breakout candidate for 2023.

Offensive MVP

Joel Gunderson: Bo Nix

I struggled for a brief moment due to my love of Bucky Irving’s style. But the answer is, of course, Bo Nix, and we need to look no further than the final minute of the UW game and entire Utah win to understand why. 

Oregon’s offense was nearly unstoppable with a healthy Nix at the helm; with no or injured Bo, it was pedestrian at best. Nix was arguably the best Portal signee in the country based on what we assume his wins over replacement would be.

(also, a massive shout out to Troy Franklin, who showed us how valuable a true #1 WR is after many years of not having one)

Jarrid Denney: Bo Nix

Oregon’s offense was as enjoyable to watch this season as it has been in a long, long time.

There were standouts at every position group. The offensive line was one of the best in the nation. Troy Franklin and Bucky Irving both emerged as full-fledged stars. Terrance Ferguson was dynamic as both a pass-catcher and a blocker.

But none of it would have been possible without Bo Nix. He produced one of the greatest seasons ever by an Oregon quarterback from a sheer statistical standpoint. He probably still doesn’t get enough credit for the pre-snap work he did all season, and he showed incredible toughness at the end of the season.

His encore in 2023 is going to be fun to watch.

Justin Hopkins: Bo Nix

Only answer that could go in here. No single player meant more to this team than Bo Nix. Even an injured Bo Nix was vital to this team’s success. And I can’t believe Oregon is lucky enough to get him back for another season. 

Nix is easily Oregon’s offensive MVP from this past season and should repeat again this season. If you are asking me for a non-Bo Nix pick, just for the sake of discussion, I would probably have to go with Troy Franklin. Even though he didn’t have the numbers to suggest it, he was clutch when Oregon needed him. He was also a guy that demanded teams to double team and pay a lot of attention to, allowing others to see single coverage often.ds

Defensive MVP

Joel Gunderson: Casey Rogers + Jordan Riley

Christian Gonzalez comes to mind first, but his talent almost hurts him in this category since teams stayed away from him for large swaths of the season.

But the unsung heroes of Oregon’s defense — mediocre as it may have been — was the cornbread duo of Casey Rogers and Jordan Riley. After following coach Tony Tuioti over from Nebraska, Rogers and Riley were stalwarts up front, and Oregon’s run defense was a massive bright spot for much of the year (OS game aside).

Jarrid Denney: Bennett Williams

Christian Gonzalez was undoubtedly Oregon’s best defensive player in 2022.

But I think Bennett Williams was the player the Ducks could least afford to lose during the season. His versatility and leadership were immense. He was a dynamic run-stopper and one of the surest tacklers on the team.

Williams played more snaps than any Oregon player this season for a reason. He was a major difference-maker for Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi’s defense.

Justin Hopkins: Christian Gonzalez

In a league, or conference, where the ball is thrown a lot, good corners are a necessity. And Gonzo was easily one of the best to do it this year. His season should be even more appreciated with the fact that Oregon was lacking a consistent pass rush. Which meant Gonzo was guarding the opposing team’s best receiver for even longer. 

A close, very close second for me was Casey Rogers. He was easily one of my favorite players on this team that didn’t get the love he deserved. He was disruptive, made several big plays and was really a team leader out there on defense.

Best freshman

Joel Gunderson: Jordan James

Bringing much-needed size to the running backs room, Jordan James proved to be a reliable 3rd-down back for coach Locklyn and set himself up nicely to take over once Irving and Noah Whittington are gone (along with Dante Dowdell, presumably).

Oregon flipped James from Georgia at the 11th hour, and it almost immediately paid off. His performance against BYU in week two, with significant 4th-down conversions, was a sign of things to come.

Jarrid Denney: Jahlil Florence

Jahlil Florence was one of the Ducks’ few true freshmen to carve out a consistent role in 2022, and the only freshman on the defensive side of the ball who saw significant playing time.

There was a ton of buzz about him during fall camp, and he more than lived up to the hype during his first college season. Florence played 208 snaps in eight games and had some really bright moments.

He should absolutely be in the mix for a starting job in 2022.

Justin Hopkins: Jordan James

It wasn’t because they needed him, but he was so darn good they had to put him on the field. And every time he touched the ball he plowed ahead for whatever Oregon needed. James is just scratching the surface of his talent and his second season should be even better. 

Standout moment

Joel Gunderson: WSU Comeback

Selfishly, the entire UCLA experience was hard to top; for the first time in a long time, that whole day felt like the Autzen of old. But for pure “moment,” nothing beats the craziness that was Oregon’s come-from-behind win at WSU…specifically, Mase Funa’s interception return for a TD.

This win felt like one that Oregon would have gotten 15 or so years ago, when they found themselves with improbable wins multiple times per year. This was also the first time we saw Dan Lanning in a spot where the team had to rally, and he proved he had the chops for the job.

Jarrid Denney: The UCLA win

I would argue that Oregon reached its apex this season with its emphatic Week 8 win over UCLA.

The Ducks boat raced the No. 9 Bruins in front of a national audience, the Bo Nix Heisman campaign was officially up and running, and the Ducks looked like legitimate national title contenders.

The College Gameday atmosphere on campus created a fantastic setting at Autzen Stadium and led to one of the more memorable days in recent program history.

Justin Hopkins: Holiday Bowl Win

I could have easily gone with several wins here. But the Holiday Bowl win was my pick for two reasons. For starters, it was just a fun game to watch. But it also was Oregon’s 10th win, which is a key number to hit in a season. That 10th win puts a bow on a strong season and also gives the staff some mojo this offseason as well. I also point to this win because it helped get rid of that bad taste in our mouths from the tough Oregon State loss to end the regular season.

Breakout candidate for 2023

Joel Gunderson: Jahlil Florence

Maybe it’s out of necessity or because he looked that good in his limited opportunities, but I’m confident — and hopeful — that this proves to be correct. From the moment he arrived in Eugene, Florence showed that he was too talented not to play, and he bookended the season with a great Holiday Bowl performance. 

Losing Gonzalez opens up a spot, and Florence looks poised to seize the job. And, let’s face it: Oregon’s pass defense has nowhere to go but up, so they better hope Florence is ready. They also need a few of his buddies to leap, too.

Jarrid Denney: Jackson Powers-Johnson

It’s no secret that Oregon is going to need to rebuild its offensive line quickly, as it is set to lose four starters.

In Jackson Powers-Johnson, the Ducks have a tremendous player to build with. As a true sophomore this season, Powers-Johnson logged 400 snaps and was Oregon’s de-facto “sixth-man” up front. His overall Pro Football Focus grade of 84.1 was the best on the team among offensive linemen, and his versatility was a major asset for Adrian Klemm.

Expect Powers-Johnson to hit the ground running as he settles into the starting lineup next season.

Justin Hopkins: Josh Conerly

This probably isn’t totally fair but hear me out. I know Conerly played heavily in the rotation this year. And the offensive line was as good as it’s ever been from a production standpoint. I think Ajani Cornelius is going to come in and anchor one side of the line at Oregon. But I think another year for Conerly to get bigger and stronger will have him into a more national spotlight as one of the country’s top tackles.