Behold! Football season is nigh!
Believe it or not, mere weeks separate us between now and the start of fall camp for the Oregon Ducks. As preseason camp fast approaches, we at WFOD will be rolling out a series of previews to help fully prepare you for the upcoming season.
Saturday marks the continuation of our Fall Camp Questions series, which aims to address the most pressing questions surrounding each position group in the build up to the 2018 campaign.
Today’s question…
Beyond Graham and Lenoir, who can be counted on at corner?
Finding and developing quality cornerbacks has seldom been an issue at Oregon.
Though the group can’t necessarily boast the run of success the Ducks have had at positions such as quarterback and running back, it’s been a unit that has been as steady as any over the past two to three decades.
Over the years, players such as Alex Molden, Kenny Wheaton, Rashad Bauman, Walter Thurmond III, and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu have each, in their own way, carried on the proud legacy of stellar cornerback play in Eugene, forever branding their names in both the school’s history books and the hearts and minds of Duck fans spanning generations.
In terms of who might be the next player to etch his name alongside that list of all-timers, it’s possible that one need look no further than Thomas Graham. Though he enters the 2018 season as just a sophomore, he demonstrated as a true freshman that his youth and inexperience wasn’t going to prevent him from taking someone’s job. From virtually the moment he arrived on campus two springs ago, the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. native established himself as a force to be reckoned with, and is a major reason why the Ducks felt comfortable enough to move Ugo Amadi from cornerback to safety midway through last season.
At 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds, Graham is built like an upperclassman and his play on the field reflects that in kind. As a freshman, Graham tied for the team lead in interceptions (3) and finished the year as Oregon’s third leading tackler (62), proving that his game is already quite well-rounded for such a young player.
Expected to join him in the starting lineup this fall is fellow sophomore Deommodore Lenoir. Like Graham, Lenoir was a highly-touted four-star recruit coming from the prep ranks, though unlike Graham, Lenoir’s debut season wasn’t nearly as noteworthy. That’s not to say that the Los Angeles native didn’t provide glimpses of his own tantalizing abilities, however. Standing 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds, Lenoir possesses the kind of physical package that could see him develop into an all-conference performer before his career comes to a close. Coming off a season in which he showed steady improvement, and a spring that reportedly saw him take the next step as a contributor on defense, there are encouraging signs that Lenoir’s physicality and athletic prowess will be showcased in full in 2018.
Beyond that, however, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will provide much needed support.
Measuring 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 201 pounds, JUCO transfer Haki Woods looks like Tarzan, though his first spring was largely underscored by inconsistent performances over the course of several practices. The same can be said for true freshman Verone McKinkey, who endured his own share of struggles before reportedly stringing together a handful of impressive practices which culminated in a solid spring game performance that saw him credited for three tackles and two pass breakups. They will be joined by true freshman Kahlef Hailassie and UNLV grad transfer Tim Hough, who appeared in 34 games for the Rebels over three seasons.
WFOD’s Prediction:
Oregon’s depth at cornerback closely resembles its depth along the defensive line, and if you’ve been following along over the past several days, you know that that’s not exactly a good thing. To say the Ducks are thin at cornerback would be an understatement. The health of Graham and Lenoir will be absolutely paramount this season. In addition to that, the Ducks have to hope that at least one of their newcomers can exceed expectations and step up as a reliable contributor throughout the year. Based on how he finished up the spring, McKinley looks like the player who might be best positioned to make an impact, but there’s simply not enough tangible evidence to draw any sort of solid conclusion there. If we’re to guess, it seems most likely that the Ducks will look to cross-train some of the depth they have at safety. Given his experience at corner, Amadi seems like a shoe-in to see action as a corner in nickel packages, but don’t be shocked to see true freshmen Steve Stephens and Jevon Holland get some reps at corner this season, as well. Regardless, we’re likely to find out what kind of MacGyver skills cornerbacks coach Donte Williams and co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Keith Heyward have as they work to overcome this unit’s glaring depth issue this season.
Fall Camp Questions: Part I – Who backs up Justin Herbert?
Fall Camp Questions: Part II – Is Tony Brooks-James equipped to be Oregon’s lead back?
Fall Camp Questions: Part III – Will consistent difference-makers emerge at receiver?
Fall Camp Questions: Part IV – Is Jacob Breeland an All-Pac-12 level tight end?
Fall Camp Questions: Part V – Which O-line newcomer will make the biggest impact in 2018?
Fall Camp Questions: Part VI – How dire is Oregon’s depth at defensive line?
Fall Camp Questions: Part VII – Who starts at linebacker next to Troy Dye?