I am cautiously optimistic. These players have been developing in the system, so there should be more of a known factor than bringing a guy from the portal.

I think the biggest 'win' was not seeing so many of leave like the D line just did.

On the upside, we should see them play well as a unit because they have been practicing together for so long in the same system.

Last point: Seaton was great in the Big 12, but they don't have same kind of defensive players as the Big 10, except for Texas Tech. It will be interesting to see how he does vs SEC rushers.

There will be one addition. Transfer from Yale.

But I think development in the OL takes time and sometimes those timelines don't match up with need. However, keep in mind that Oregon have been finalists for the Joe Moore best O line award for the past three years. So they're still doing something right.

However I'd say this seasons line was a step down from the previous two. Harkey and World just weren't as refined at tackle.

As Urban Meyer and many others have noted, in today's CFB, the O-line is the most difficult position to recruit and portal pick.

In recognition of Yale's Michael Bennett committing to OBD -

"Eli, Eli, Bulldog, Bulldog, Bulldog, Bow, wow, wow!"

From one of Yale's fight songs, written by Cole Porter, Yale Class of 1913, in honor of Yale's mascot, bulldog Handsome Dan.

Here's hoping Mike brings some of that Bulldog with him. WOOF!

Extra credit for the Cole Porter reference.

Looking at the roster for returning o line guys I see:

1 five star

7 four stars

6 three stars

That doesn't include in coming freshman. I'd rather let these guys play than bring in portal guys and watch them all leave.

Lanning is pretty good at assessing the teams needs. If he wasn't confident the existing OL room could do the job then he would have gone after more OL hard in the portal. IMHO Seaton was a "nice to have" not a "have to have" guy. It's possible that the Yale transfer was just added for depth and DL and Terry are very happy with the existing crew and incoming recruits.

One thing I've noticed the past two seasons is that an OL loaded with transfers takes a while to gel. Hopefully with the experience this crew has playing together they will hit the ground running.

1 hour ago, The Kamikaze Kid said:

That doesn't include in coming freshman. I'd rather let these guys play than bring in portal guys and watch them all leave.

There is only one way to find out if your position coaches can actually develop players...

A lot of people seem to be down on portal OL and I get it. I will throw in Pregnon came in and had to play on an OL with two other portal OL and was an AP first team All-American. He was good.

I think that is the Ducks third AP 1st team AA OL since 1920. Over 100 years of regular OL development and two AP 1st team OL (and one of the two has been described as an absolute OL unicorn).

Since the portal opened up, I think the Ducks have brought in 7 new OL and now have a 3rd AP 1st team AA OL.

The Duck staff brought in a two year starter from FBS USC, and then added two G5 OL from Nevada and Texas State who they hoped to "fine-tune" or "fix" in 9 months, and these two particular OL I think (arguably) turned out to be mostly who they were on film the last 4 years. I think Harkey was 3rd team All-Sun Belt in 2024 and World was honorable mention All-Mountain West in 2024.

Like all recruiting, the portal is at least in part projection. On college football boards, I see the term JAG used a lot, simply meaning "just another guy". If you bring in 3 hopefulls on the OL and get 2/3 JAGs, of course it isn't going to always look great.

World and Harkey did help the team to 13-2 and into a game to have a shot to play in the National Championship. I'd say still not bad.

6 hours ago, oregon123 said:

I am cautiously optimistic. These players have been developing in the system, so there should be more of a known factor than bringing a guy from the portal.

I think the biggest 'win' was not seeing so many of leave like the D line just did.

On the upside, we should see them play well as a unit because they have been practicing together for so long in the same system.

Last point: Seaton was great in the Big 12, but they don't have same kind of defensive players as the Big 10, except for Texas Tech. It will be interesting to see how he does vs SEC rushers.

I think Seaton will be really good at LSU. There’s no denying that unless he gets injured. I’m very interested to see what a O-Line with a few years experience in the offensive system looks like. I know Crader and Pancho will be solid. I have high hopes for newcomers Nacho and Bennett, but I have the same hopes for Wilson, Luli, Rogers, Addison, Utu, et al.