The Oregon Ducks proved last year that they can play with any team in the country. Many thought Oregon wouldn’t be able to handle the physicality of the Big Ten, but the Ducks showed out. Entering the 2025 season, UO is tasked with replacing many key pieces, most notably Dillon Gabriel. Dante Moore is expected to be his replacement at quarterback, and he’ll be joined by four new offensive linemen as well. The boys from Eugene will always be one of the more complete teams in the country, but they also face uncertainties on defense. They lost all four starters from their 2024 secondary and will be tested early in the Penn State game. There should be a lot of good this year, and it’s too early to know for sure, but this article will be a light spring preview of Oregon football in 2025.
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Moore is not Gabriel. Moore has proven nothing at this level yet, and had a pretty subpar year in his one year as a starter.
In his freshman season with UCLA, he threw for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also ran for a loss of 84 yards.
In comparison, Gabriel entered Eugene having already thrown for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns.
Moore is a talented player, but the expectations placed on him may be too high, particularly coming off an undefeated regular season and conference championship.
But Oregon has more talent than UCLA.
And obviously, the Ducks don’t accept bums; he threw for 9,880 yards and 135 touchdowns during his high school career.
Dan Lanning has been pleased with Moore’s intelligence. Lanning said the following in an April interview, “I’ve been really pleased with his intelligence to get us checked into a positive play.” He also added, “Dante has all the ability in the world, has the arm talent.”
Moore might have struggled in L.A., but Jayden Daniels wasn’t on that level before he transferred to LSU; hopefully, Dante’s next.
The Rest of the Bunch
UO also lost some players on the rest of their offense, most notably their offensive line.
The Ducks will need to find a way to replace four starters, with the biggest being Josh Conerly Jr.
A new guy expected to fulfill a leadership role is Isaiah World. World is a transfer from Nevada and is expected to be an NFL prospect. He should be the starting left tackle. Another newcomer is Alex Harkey. Harkey is a transfer from Texas State and is expected to start somewhere on the right side.
As long as the line is decent, Oregon should have no problem replacing Jordan James with Makhi Hughes. Hughes is a beast and should prove to be another productive running back, per usual.
He rushed for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns with Tulane last season.
Another question for UO is who will replace Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden’s productivity at wide receiver.
Evan Stewart is the obvious answer, but many insiders believe freshman Dakorien Moore is a prodigy. Ducks writer Matt Prehm had sparkling words about Moore on “Bud Elliott’s Cover 3 Summer School” series. Prehm stated he has a “Marcus Mariota type vibe” while comparing him to other Oregon elites.
Even if Moore takes a while to develop, Stewart proved a solid third option last year, finishing with 48 catches, 618 yards, and five touchdowns.
Other notable receivers to watch are Jeremiah McClellan and Justius Lowe.
The Defense
The Ducks’ defense was solid last season, ranking 16th in the nation in points allowed per game. However, they lost many players on the defensive line and in the secondary.
The defensive line lost three starters to the NFL, which might prove hard to replace.
Oregon is hoping that A’Mauri Washington can fill the void left by first-round NFL Draft pick Derrick Harmon. Washington is another big interior lineman with the potential to play in the pros. He’s been a reserve the last couple of years.
UO could also feature a pair of dominant edge rushers in Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti.
At linebacker, the Ducks return one of the best backers in the nation in Bryce Boettcher. Boettcher, who the Houston Astros selected in the MLB Draft, decided to stay because he loves Eugene.
He stated in an interview with On3 that “I love my Ducks. I love my hometown, and if I had another year of eligibility and didn’t use it, I feel like I’d regret it down the road.”
He’ll be hoping Devon Jackson can make a few plays at linebacker as well.
Rounding out the defense is UO’s biggest unknown this year, its secondary. Oregon lost all four of its 2024 starters, which means there’s an opportunity.
The most notable name in this group is Dillon Thieneman. Thieneman is a transfer safety from Purdue who led the Big Ten in tackling last season.
Another returner is Jahlil Florence, who started nine games at cornerback for the Ducks in 2023.
If Oregon fans have learned anything under Dan Lanning, it’s that this program doesn’t rebuild—it reloads. Yes, there are questions heading into 2025: a new quarterback, a retooled offensive line, and a secondary full of fresh faces. But the talent is undeniable, and the culture is built for competition. The Ducks won’t sneak up on anyone this year—but if things click early, especially with a statement win at Penn State, Oregon could once again find itself right in the thick of the national conversation.
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