In a word, Dan Lanning's first season as Oregon head coach was tantalizing. Lanning restored some buzz around the program that hadn't been there since 2014. His team racked up more than 500 yards per game and averaged 38.8 points, ranking sixth and 10th nationally in those respective categories. That's the most points a Ducks team has scored since 2015. He made a splash on the recruiting trail, too, signing the nation's No. 8 recruiting class in 2023 per the 247Sports Composite rankings.
But ultimately, the campaign wound up feeling like so many during the Mark Helfrich and Mario Cristobal years: solid but a bit unsatisfying due to some late-season losses.
In the second season for both Lanning and star quarterback Bo Nix, the Ducks will look to put together a complete campaign and break back into the College Football Playoff for the first time since its inaugural season. In order to do so, they'll not only have to survive a loaded Pac-12, but a few key staff and personnel departures — most notably offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, who is now the head coach at Arizona State after lighting up scoreboards and resurrecting Nix's career last season.
Related: Pac-12 Spring 2023 Power Rankings
The journey toward doing so will start on Thursday when Oregon takes the practice field for the first time this spring. The practice sessions will culminate in the annual spring game on April 29.
5 Storylines to Watch During Oregon's Spring Practices
1. What does Will Stein's offense look like?
Oregon's new offensive coordinator will be making a significant jump this offseason, not only transitioning from UTSA, where he spent the past three seasons, but replacing Kenny Dillingham. Stein, a former quarterback at Louisville, has risen quickly through the coaching ranks. As recently as 2019, he was the offensive coordinator for Lake Travis High School in Texas. He spent the 2020 and '21 campaigns coaching wide receivers for UTSA, then got promoted to offensive coordinator a year ago.
The results from his unit were impressive. The Roadrunners ranked ninth nationally in total offense, 12th in scoring, and 12th in passing. Stein should also be stepping into a good situation at Oregon with the Ducks' starting quarterback, leading rusher, and top two receivers back from last season.
But with any new coordinator, there are going to be questions. A year ago, Dillingham seemingly went out of his way to excite fans with a downfield passing display during Oregon's spring game. Might we see Stein introduce his hallmarks in a similar way? We'll find out on April 29.
2. How is Nix handling the Heisman hype?
A year ago at this time, Bo Nix wasn't sure he would even start for the Ducks. He came to Oregon seeking a fresh start after disappointing sophomore and junior seasons at Auburn saw the former five-star recruit throw a total of 23 touchdowns in 21 games.
What a difference a year makes. After throwing for 29 scores and adding 15 on the ground last season, Nix is one of the most hyped returning quarterbacks in the nation. He's tied for the fourth-best odds to win the 2023 Heisman Trophy.
Always seemingly poised and humble, it feels unlikely that Nix will be distracted by the hype. The fifth-year senior has been in the spotlight since his high school days. But it's worth monitoring how he responds to the pressure to end his college career with a bang — and whether his production dips once again without Dillingham coaching him, as it did at Auburn.
3. A new-look offensive line
Oregon's offensive line, the anchor of its explosive offense last season, will feature a lot of new faces this spring. Four starters from last season — center Ryan Forsyth, guard Ryan Walk and tackles T.J. Bass and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu — are all gone to the NFL. A new coach is in charge of the unit, too, with Adrian Klemm leaving to join the New England Patriots staff and being replaced by A'lique Terry.
Who will replace those players in the starting lineup and can the new unit replicate last season's production? We will start to find out in the coming weeks. But the good news for Oregon fans is that, on paper, the offensive line room should still hold plenty of talent.
Steven Jones started all 13 games in 2021 and four last season before being sidelined by injury. He should man one of the interior spots. Marcus Harper also has starting experience, having filled in for the injured Jones for 10 games at left guard last season. Jackson Powers-Johnson has played all over the line (even making a cameo on the defensive front) in his first two seasons. And former five-star recruit Josh Conerly Jr. got quite a bit of game experience last season, regularly being used in the Ducks' jumbo personnel packages. He'll be in the mix to land the left tackle spot.
The other tackle spot will be up for grabs during the spring, but Ajani Cornelius has to be considered the favorite. The transfer started 22 games at right tackle during the past two seasons at Rhode Island and has already garnered some NFL draft buzz.
4. Who steps up in the back seven?
Oregon's defense as a whole will need to take a step forward next season if it's going to win the Pac-12 and advance to the College Football Playoff. The Ducks allowed a total of 124 points across their three losses.
The areas of most pressing concern have to be the linebackers and the secondary. The Ducks lost Christian Gonzalez, their top cornerback from last season, and safety Bennett Williams IV, the team's leading tackler. Plus, middle linebacker Noah Sewell, the two-time All-Pac-12 player, departed for the NFL as well.
There are a host of contenders to slot into their starting spots, including transfers at each position (we'll get to them shortly). But it seems unlikely that one player will be able to replicate the effectiveness of Gonzalez, in particular, who is expected to hear his name called in the first round of the upcoming draft. Duck fans will hope Lanning, a longtime defensive coordinator, can get the defense to jell a bit more and the returning players can improve and pick up some of the slack.
5. First look at the much-anticipated transfer class
While Lanning inherited plenty of talent when he took over the Oregon job, a huge part of the Ducks' success in 2022 was the contributions of players he added from the transfer portal. Nix and Gonzalez were the headliners, but leading rusher Bucky Irving, receiver Chase Cota and defensive linemen Casey Rogers and Jordon Riley were also among the Ducks' transfer haul.
On paper, at least, it looks like Lanning and his staff have attracted another impressive group of transfers to Eugene this offseason. Ten transfers have already signed with Oregon, and more could do so when the NCAA transfer window opens for a second time in May. 247Sports ranks the Ducks' transfer class ninth in the country.
Fans will get their first look at most of those transfers over the coming weeks. Of particular interest on the offensive side of the ball will be Cornelius. Defensively, several transfers could push for a starting job, including former South Carolina edge rusher Jordan Burch, former Iowa linebacker Jestin Jacobs, former Alabama cornerback Khyree Jackson and the safety duo of Tysheem Johnson (Ole Miss) and Evan Williams (Fresno State).
Burch, a former five-star recruit as a high schooler, should help replace the loss of leading sack man D.J. Johnson. Jacobs will be in the mix to replace Sewell. Oregon will hope Jackson can step in for Gonzalez as the team's top corner. Evan Williams should be as close to a replacement for Bennett Williams as possible — he's the younger brother of the departed safety, after all, and earned All-Mountain West honors each of the past three seasons. Johnson, a member of the SEC All-Freshman team in 2021, should bring depth to the defensive backfield and could take over the starting nickel spot.
While it might take some time for the newcomers to adjust to Oregon's scheme and work their way up the depth chart, spring ball should provide fans their first indication of what this year's transfer class can bring to the roster.
