Oregon football came up one win short of the first national championship in program history last postseason, and now they're left to sort out the post-Marcus Mariota era and retool for another run at the College Football Playoff. As we look foward, there are still plenty of things to be addressed before we punch Oregon's return trip to the CFP. Here's the 5 Biggest Questions For Oregon Football Heading Into Fall Camp.
5. Who's Going To Emerge Alongside DeForest Buckner?
Oregon's defensive line was taken to the woodshed during the College Football Playoff championship game as Ohio State continuously targeted and gashed the unit throughout. Things are even sketchier right now with Arik Armstead off to the NFL, but a returning DeForest Buckner (81 tackles in 2014, led team in tackles for a loss) is a nice foundation to have as the line goes forward into fall camp. Look to Alex Balducci and converted tight end TJ Daniel to play pivotal roles during regular season and to be key names to watch as camp progresses.
4. How Will The Secondary Handle Transition?
Redshirt sophomore Chris Seisay is a breakout candidate after some impressive isolated outings last season, but the secondary remains one of the biggest question marks for Oregon going forward. Forced to reload with the departure of impact players Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Erick Dargan, and Troy Hill, the spotlight will be shining bright on the team's secondary as the pieces get put together during fall camp.
3. Is Royce Freeman Ready To Run Over The Pac-12?
The soon-to-be sophomore running back emerged as a major piece of Oregon's running game puzzle last season, showcasing a power running style akin to a bowling ball at full speed. There's not a whole lot of experienced depth ready to challenge him for carries at this point, so the onus is on Freeman to take "the leap" as the 2015 season moves on. Fall camp is the perfect place to get that (bowling) ball rolling.
2. Can The Offensive Line Reload And Move Forward?
Three All-Pac-12 players - Jake Fisher, Hroniss Grasu and Hamani Stevens - all need to be replaced, which is a tall task and added challenge coupled with the flux at quarterback. Senior tackle Tyler Johnston is returning from a torn ACL, but his 26 games of college experience will prove integral to the rebuilding of the line. Also keep an eye on sophomore Doug Brenner who stepped in for Grasu while he was out due to injury last season.
1. How Will The Quarterback Situation Shake Out?
Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams is expected to arrive late for fall camp as he finishes his coursework at EWU and averts what could have been a major transferring snafu that could have cost him the 2015 season. He's expected to enroll at Oregon next month, where he'll jump right into a QB competition with incumbent Jeff Lockie. Lockie is already taking a leadership role this offseason and it's possible head coach Mark Helfrich will choose to embrace continuity over raw physical talent. But, nothing is decided and likely won't be until late in fall camp.
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