Kermit said it best – it’s not easy being green.

It’s particularly true if you’re less than four months removed from high school and are expected to step in immediately to provide much needed depth at one of the most critical positions in all of football. Yet, for Oregon true freshmen Verone McKinley and Kahlef Hailassie, that’s precisely the situation they find themselves in as they navigate their first year on campus for a team with aspirations and the legitimate wherewithal to contend for a Pac-12 North Division title.

Fortunately for both McKinley and Hailassie, they have two, slightly more experienced counterparts at corner who have walked a mile in their shoes in Thomas Graham and Deommodore Lenoir.

Though the Ducks were markedly more experienced at cornerback in 2017 with seniors Arrion Springs and Ty Griffin on the roster, Oregon had no choice but to thrust Graham and Lenoir into the spotlight, both due to their precociousness and the unavoidable need at the position. Graham, in particular, responded well to the pressure of holding down a starting job opposite Springs, finishing the year tied for the team lead in interceptions (3) and third in total tackles (62). Though Lenoir didn’t have the statistical impact of Graham in his debut season, he certainly had moments where he flashed the ability that made him a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school. Along with Graham, he enters the season entrenched as a starter at corner.

The challenge now is for McKinley and Hailassie to come as close as possible to replicating the performances of Graham and Lenoir from a year ago.

After arriving on campus this past spring, McKinley received a head start in adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game. And though he reportedly endured his fair share of struggles early on, he finished the spring on a high note, which has only carried over into the start of fall camp. Known primarily for his terrific cover skills, McKinley is no slouch when it comes to playing a physical brand of football, as evidenced by the hit he put on a fellow cornerback Dexter Myers in a drill earlier this week.

.@vmckinley3 getting after it on Monday’s practice. pic.twitter.com/Zxvl1fypKC

— Erik Skopil (@Erik_Skopil) August 6, 2018

As an under-recruited three-star cornerback hailing from Sacramento area, Kahlef Hailassie was all set to sign a letter of intent with Washington State before a phone call from Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal on the eve of the February signing period altered the course of his college destination. And so far, the Ducks are happy Hailassie had a change of heart, as the 6-foot-2, 188-pound athlete has reportedly been one of the more unsung surprises of any of the newcomers through the early going of fall camp. Length and versatility are two obvious attributes Hailassie possesses, but it’s his fearless, physical style of play which belies his slight frame that particularly raises eyebrows.

Together, the two players offer a tantalizing glimpse at what could be if they continue maturing along their present pace. And for Oregon, the progress of both players couldn’t come at a more crucial time. Aside from the aforementioned Graham and Lenoir, junior college transfer Haki Woods is the only other scholarship player at corner alongside McKinley and Hailassie, meaning the Ducks’ razor-thin depth at the position is an Achilles’ heel that begs testing in the eyes of opponents.

While it may not be easy being green, all signs indicate that Oregon’s two true freshmen are handling their highly pressurized new roles with aplomb. However, with their toughest tests still to come, the question remains as to whether McKinley and Hailassie can help support a unit that, in order to achieve success, will require them to overcome their youth.