The anticipation in the air can only mean one thing: The onset of fall camp is upon us!
August 3 is the date circled on the calendars of Duck fans near and far, as that is the day fall camp officially opens at the University of Oregon. The month of practices that follow will not only give coaches, members of the media, and fans a sneak peek at the team for the upcoming season, but it will also serve as an opportunity to simultaneously answer and facilitate a litany of questions surrounding position battles and movement along the depth chart.
More importantly, it means we’re only one month away from the start of football season.
As we countdown the days, WFOD will preview each position group, providing an early snapshot of the depth chart, as well as handout a few superlatives to help set expectations for the season.
Today, WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives series continues with the cornerbacks.
Cornerback:
The Projected Depth Chart:
CB: Deommodore Lenoir (So.)/Haki Woods (Sr.)
CB: Thomas Graham (So.)/Verone McKinley (Fr.)/Kahlef Hailassie (Fr.)
The Duke: Thomas Graham
Thomas Graham may only be entering his sophomore season, but you wouldn’t necessarily have known that had you never peeked at the Oregon roster last season. That’s cause as a freshman, Thomas Graham quickly established himself – along with nose guard Jordon Scott – as a blossoming star and a Day 1 starter on an Oregon defense that was in desperate need of an infusion of young talent. In his first season as a Duck, Graham tied for the team lead in interceptions (3) and finished the year as Oregon’s third leading tackler (62), setting the stage for what could be a super sophomore campaign. The odd part about Graham’s place as “The Duke” of the cornerback group is both his precociousness, and the striking lack of depth at cornerback for Oregon. If you’ve been following along this offseason, you know that the Ducks lack bodies at corner in a serious way, placing a huge burden on the shoulders of the Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) native. If Graham can stay healthy and rise to the challenge of leading this group, he will have truly earned all the recognition receives.
The X-factor: Deommodore Lenoir
After appearing in 13 games as a true freshman in 2017, Deommodore Lenoir enters 2018 with enough seasoning to assume the other starting cornerback job opposite Graham. Like Graham, Lenoir was a former four-star recruit, though possesses perhaps greater physicality and overall athleticism compared to his sophomore counterpart. Those traits, however, have still yet to be demonstrated in a significant way come game time. While he did come away with an interception last season, Lenoir posted rather modest numbers in the tackling department, finishing the year with 25 total stops. There’s no questioning whether Lenoir has the physical wherewithal to be a breakout star in 2018, particularly coming off a spring campaign that saw him make marked improvement in his overall game. The question, instead, centers on consistency. If Lenoir can elevate his game to a 1B-level compared to Graham’s 1A, it will give defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt slightly less to be concerned about with regard to his cornerback conundrum.
The Upstart: Verone McKinley
It may be a little unfair to assign this designation to Verone McKinley, but the truth is, he’s pretty much the only candidate who qualifies given the current circumstances. That’s not to say McKinley is devoid of the ability to assert himself as a critical contributor for the Ducks this upcoming season. The Carrollton (Texas) native and former three-star recruit was on hand this past spring to get a head start on the season and stake his claim to early playing time given the lack of depth at corner. And while McKinley did experience the typical true freshman growing pains (with more to come, to be sure), he was reported to have gained confidence as spring drills wore on, which was typified by his three-tackle, two-pass break-up performance in the spring game. At 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, McKinley isn’t necessarily the physical player that Graham and Lenoir are, though he does have terrific skills as a cover corner. Whether he’s ready or not, McKinley will receive no shortage of opportunities to carve out a significant role for himself this season.
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Quarterback Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Running Back Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Wide Receiver Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Tight End Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Offensive Line Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Defensive Line Preview
WFOD’s Preseason Superlatives: Linebacker Preview