Fall camp is in its final stretch, meaning the agonizing offseason wait for football is in its final throes. Believe it or not, only 11 days separate us from Oregon’s season opener vs. Bowling Green on September 1, and HOO BOY are we ready for kickoff.
As we grit our teeth and power through these final days, WFOD will be taking a look at the top five newcomers most likely to make an impact on both offense and defense once the season begins in earnest.
Today we examine the five offensive newcomers we expect to make waves in their debut season in Eugene.
5. Travis Dye
As if being the kid brother to the Ducks’ top defensive player, and arguably the best defensive player in the Pac-12 in Troy Dye wasn’t enough, true freshman running back Travis Dye comes to Oregon with lofty expectations all his own. Despite facing some of the stiffest competition in country in California’s Southern Section, Dye rushed for 2,383 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior at Norco (Calif.), which came on the heels of a junior campaign that saw him rush for 1,878 yards and 15 touchdowns. Though undersized at 5-foot-8, Dye appears physically capable of contributing early, having packed on solid mass since arriving in Eugene this past spring.
The final week of fall camp could be crucial for Dye in determining how much playing time he commands this upcoming season. Not only is the depth chart at running back stocked with comparable talent, but Dye has also had the misfortune of missing a handful of practices this month due to a minor injury. The good news for Dye is that notable competitors for playing time at the position, like CJ Verdell and Darrian Felix, have also been hampered by minor injuries, leaving open the opportunity for Dye to steal some spotlight.
4. Bryan Addison
Two months ago, the idea of Oregon adding a player the caliber of Bryan Addison before the start of the season was a pie in the sky wish. Formerly committed to play for UCLA this upcoming season, Addison, a former four-star recruit and the nation’s No. 3 ranked athlete from the 2018 recruiting class, was released from his letter of intent after a hold up with admissions caused a delay in his enrollment. The Bruins’ loss turned out to be the Ducks’ gain, however, as Addison moved quickly to switch allegiance to Oregon and arrive on campus in time for the start of fall camp.
Though he’s been reportedly sidelined with an injury in recent days, Addison has already shown glimpses of his towering potential when he’s been able to practice. With the ability to play either offense or defense, Addison has spent the majority of fall camp at wide receiver, giving the Ducks a freakishly athletic 6-foot-5 target who could one day emerge as a virtually indefensible No. 1 option. Returning to health and remaining healthy is job one for Addison, but if/when he does, don’t be surprised to see him come on strong as a big time weapon in the Oregon offense.
3. Dallas Warmack
As one of three grad transfers to join the Ducks this offseason, Dallas Warmack has hit the ground running better than just about any newcomer since his arrival. Originally recruited to Alabama by Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal during his four-year stint in Tuscaloosa, Warmack is the rare grad transfer who has two years of eligibility remaining.
After appearing in 16 games between his freshman and sophomore seasons before redshirting last year due to injury, Warmack is now healthy and in the thick of it with redshirt sophomore Jacob Capra for the starting right guard position. In fact, as has been reported over the past several practices, Warmack has frequently lined up with the first-string offensive line at right guard, perhaps signaling that the 6-foot-2, 336-pound steamroller has the current edge over Capra. Regardless of whether he wins the job, expect Warmack to be a mainstay in the offensive line rotation this season, as he represents the girth, toughness, and power that Cristobal is aiming to imprint in the offensive trenches.
2. Tabari Hines
After multiple swings and misses at wide receiver during the last recruiting cycle, the Ducks finally received some good news when Wake Forest grad transfer Tabari Hines announced that he would be playing his final season of college football at Oregon. And boy do the Ducks need him, as outside of Hines, Oregon has only four receivers (Dillon Mitchell, Johnny Johnson, Brenden Schooler, and Jaylon Redd) who have seen action in a college game. At Wake, Hines led the Demon Deacons in receptions in both his sophomore and junior seasons, finishing his career in Winston-Salem with 123 catches for 1,496 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Though he missed the first half of fall camp recovering from minor knee surgery, Hines has rapidly ascended the depth chart in recent days, even running with the first-team offense for large stretches during the Ducks’ second scrimmage this past Saturday. The final days of fall camp should foster healthy competition between Hines and Redd for the starting slot receiver position. If he can stay healthy and return to form, Hines could very well be the X-factor for the receiver group in 2018.
1. Penei Sewell
The crown jewel of Oregon’s 2018 recruiting class has reportedly lived up to the hype, and then some, since stepping foot on campus earlier this summer. Rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the nation’s No. 2 offensive guard, Penei Sewell is proving this fall camp that Cristobal isn’t paying lip service when he says the best man will play – regardless of age.
Listed at a hulking 6-foot-6 and 360 pounds, Sewell has the ability to play either guard or tackle. However, in recent days, the St. George, Utah native has been lining up at left tackle, relegating redshirt junior Brady Aiello to the second unit. The fact Sewell has had such a monumental impact so soon in his collegiate career is no small feat, as the talented Aiello was the team’s projected starting left tackle entering fall camp having appeared in 21 games the last two seasons with the Ducks. If he’s able to hold onto the job, Sewell will join veterans Shane Lemieux, Jake Hanson, and Calvin Throckmorton to form what is arguably the best – and deepest – offensive line in the Pac-12.