Fall camp has wrapped for the Oregon football team. With less than a week until the Ducks take the field for the first time in 2025, key position battles are still being waged but getting close to being finalized.

Every Oregon practice and scrimmage took place behind closed doors this fall, with no viewing opportunities for local media. After chatting with players and coaches for the last month, here's our best stab at who we think will hold down key positions for the Ducks this season on the depth chart.

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Oregon football depth chart projections

Quarterback

• Starter: Dante Moore
• Backups: Austin Novosad, Luke Moga, Akili Smith Jr., Brock Thomas, Ryder Hayes, Mark Wiepert
• What to know: Moore should get the starting nod here. The second-year transfer has reportedly been pushed by third-year QB Novosad during spring ball and fall camp, but his unique arm talent and athletic ability have had coaches and players alike raving about what the former five-star recruit can do in Oregon's scheme.

Wide receivers

• Starters: Gary Bryant Jr., Malik Benson, Dakorien Moore
• Backups: Justius Lowe, Kyler Kasper, Jeremiah McClellan, Dillon Gresham, Jack Ressler, Cooper Perry, Nathan McCoy II, Jovon McRae II, Darrian Anderson, Brady Bidwell, Evan Stewart (injured), Jurrion Dickey (suspended)
• What to know: An unproven group that has lost much after Evan Stewart's injury and Jurrion Dickey's suspension, the Ducks will likely lean on experience early in the year. Gary Bryant Jr. and Malik Benson have played plenty of college ball, at Oregon or otherwise, and are proven blockers and receivers. That leaves a third spot, which could fall on true freshman top-5 recruit Dakorien Moore. The first-year player has earned rave reviews from coaches and players alike so far through camp.

Running backs

• Starter: Makhi Hughes
• Backups: Noah Whittington, Jayden Limar, Da'Jaun Riggs, Jay Harris, Dierre Hill Jr., Jordon Davison, Zander Quinn
• What to know: Hughes, the Tulane transfer, has proven to be a dependable three-down back, rushing for almost 3,000 yards across the past two seasons. But he likely won't get the same amount of carries in the Ducks' scheme. Boasting a talented a deep pool of running backs, expect Whittington, Limar, Riggs and Harris to all get touches, too, though Hughes will likely get the lion's share.

Tight ends

• Starter: Kenyon Sadiq
• Backups: Jamari Johnson, Zach Grace, Roger Saleapaga, A.J. Pugliano, Kade Caton, Vander Ploog
• What to know: Sadiq is the clearcut No. 1 target, not just in the tight end room but in the offense as a whole after biding his time behind Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert. The junior stands 6-foot-3, 245 pounds and could be in for a huge year for the Ducks as one of its top weapons. Expect Johnson to play plenty, also.

Offensive line

• Starters: Isaiah World (LT), Emmanuel Pregnon (LG), Iapani Laloulu (C), Matthew Bedford (RG), Alex Harkey (RT)
• Backups: Dave Iuli, Gernorris Wilson, Kawika Rogers, Charlie Pickard, Fox Crader, Bryce Boulton, Trent Ferguson, Lipe Moala, Demetri Manning, Devin Brooks, Douglas Utu, Zac Stascausky, Ziyare Addison, Beau CressAllen, Auston Mims
• What to know: The left side of the line and center should be set in stone. World is a projected first-round NFL draft pick, Pregnon was one of the most experienced players in the transfer portal last season, and Laloulu is the lone returning starter from last season. The right side is much more interesting, though seventh-year player Bedford will likely earn a start if he can stay healthy. Harkey offers more experience after transferring from Texas State. Look out for Gernorris Wilson, Dave Iuli and Kawika Rogers, as well.

Secondary

• Starters: Theran Johnson, Ify Obidegwu, Daylen Austin, Dillon Thieneman, Kingston Lopa
• Backups: Jahlil Florence, Sione Laulea, Dakoda Fields, Brandon Finney Jr., Na'eem Offord, Solomon Davis, Dorian Brew, Aaron Flowers, Jadon Canady, Zach Grisham, Kilohana Haasenritter, Xavier Barksdale, Cruz Rushing, Cormac O'Flaherty, Trey McNutt (injured)
• What to know: Replacing all five of its primary starters in the secondary from a season ago, Oregon went to the portal for two replacements in corner Johnson and safety Thieneman, but should otherwise start reserves from last season. Austin primarily backed up Brandon Johnson a year ago at nickel, while Obidegwu has earned strong praise at outside corner standing 6-foot-1, 203 pounds. Florence, a starter in 2023, could also earn the start and will play at outside corner plenty in 2025 after missing all of 2024 with injury. At the opposite safety spot, Lopa earned late playing time last season and appears to be the favorite to start with Thieneman in the back, but watch out for Woodyard.

Inside linebackers

• Starters: Bryce Boettcher, Devon Jackson
• Backups: Jerry Mixon, Brayden Platt, Dylan Williams, Kamar Mothudi, Gavin Nix, Will Straton, Jay Harden
• What to know: Penciling in Boettcher's name is perhaps the easiest part of this exercise. He's the heartbeat and face of Oregon's defense, if not the whole team. Jackson, a fourth-year junior, will likely earn the starting spot at the other ILB position while a swath of younger players battle for playing time behind the two. Mixon has the most experience behind Boettcher and Jackson, but Williams, Platt and Mothudi have grown in their second year in the system.

Defensive line

• Starters: Bear Alexander, A'Mauri Washington
• Backups: Aydin Breland, Tionne Gray, Jericho Johnson, Terrance Green, Xadavien Sims, Matthew Johnson
• What to know: Oregon's coaches are excited about this group, and for good reason. Alexander offers significant experience along the interior with Washington is one of the fastest-rising players on Oregon's entire team. Outside those two, there's a wealth of young talent that could see the field, with Breland, Gray, and Jericho Johnson earning lots of praise from coaches. Expect plenty of players to play up front for the Ducks this season, often rotating frequently.

Edge rushers (OLB)

• Starters: Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti, Blake Purchase
• Backups: Ashton Porter, Elijah Rushing, Nasir Wyatt, Torrence Williams, Tobi Haastrup
• What to know: Uiagalelei and Tuioti started as freshmen and have held on to their spots with an iron grip on the outside after strong seasons in 2024. There's no reason either won't be a starter and play lots of snaps heading into 2025, with Uiagalelei also likely playing on the defensive line, as well. Purchase, also a member of the 2023 recruiting class, will likely have more playing time in 2025 along with Porter.

Specialists

• Starter: Atticus Sappington (K), Ross James (P)
• Backups: James Ferguson-Reynolds, Andrew Boyle, Gage Hurych, Rocco Graziano
• What to know: Sappington and James handled most of the kicking duties a year ago, and there's no good reason either will give up the majority of their playing time to other players. Boyle stepped in sporadically for longer field goals last season while Ferguson-Reynolds was brought in from Boise State via the transfer portal to give Oregon depth at punter.

Kick/punt returners

• Starter: Noah Whittington and Jayden Limar (KR), Gary Bryant Jr. (PR)
• Backups: Dierre Hill Jr., Dakorien Moore, Malik Benson, Makhi Hughes
• What to know: Oregon special teams coach Joe Lorig called Whittington and Limar the best kick return duo in the country in early August, and there's no reason that won't be the primary pairing heading into the season. When talking about punt returners, Lorig mentioned Bryant first as someone who has taken reps at that position before Tez Johnson was the primary returner a year ago.

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at [email protected] and you can follow him on Bluesky and X.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon football depth chart projections: Who will be starter at QB?