Ducks Boast PFF's Highest-Graded Returning Offensive Linemen in Pac-12
Oregon's offensive line was among the best in the nation in 2022. The Ducks only allowed five sacks all year and as a result had one of the hottest offenses in college football.
Heading into 2023 they lost a bulk of their starters, headlined by center Alex Forsyth and left tackle TJ Bass among others.
On Thursday Pro Football Focus released their highest-graded offensive linemen in the Pac-12 and the Ducks led the way.
Rhode Island senior transfer Ajani Cornelius is the highest-graded lineman in the Pac-12, boasting a grade of 90.1. He's projected to slide in at right tackle for the Ducks, a spot that was mainly occupied by Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of this year's NFL Draft.
Right behind Cornelius is junior interior offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, with a grade of 84.1. JPJ enters his third year with the Ducks after signing in the 2021 class out of Corner Canyon High School in Utah.
He made an instant-impact upon arriving in Eugene, playing a variety of positions for Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal as a true freshman and becoming a key piece of the rotation for Adrian Klemm in 2022.
With Marcus Harper II suffering an injury in spring practice, Powers-Johnson could be the team's leading candidate to take over at center this season. The Ducks also added Texas transfer Junior Angilau from the portal, who projects to hold down one of the guard spots in 2023.
While the starting offensive line unit is still a work in progress, expect both Powers-Johnson and Cornelius to help Oregon set the tone as one of the premier units in the Pac-12.
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