8 major takeaways from Oregon Ducks 2024 spring game

April 27, 2024 6:52 pm PT

Fans had a chance to sit inside Autzen Stadium once again on Saturday afternoon as overcast skies hung above them, but the thrill of watching a new Oregon Ducks team took center stage.

Oregon's annual spring game kicked off early in the afternoon, giving everyone a chance to see new faces such as Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore and Jabbar Muhammad while returning stars like Tez Johnson, Jordan Burch and Terrance Ferguson rolled into a new year.

The green team won, as much as the score matters, 28-17. More importantly, we saw many great performances from both young players and established veterans. Ultimately, it led me to these eight major takeaways.

The defensive line was dominant

Oregon Green Team defensive end Jordan Burch brings down White Team running back Jordan James during the Oregon Ducks' Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

One of my biggest question marks going into this game was the defensive line, and how it could rebuild after losing Brandon Dorlus, Casey Rogers, Popo Auamavae and Taki Taimani to the NFL. The edge rushers were of no concern: Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti and Blake Purchase returned. But the interior needed to show something.

Consider my questions answered.

The Ducks' defensive line was fantastic on Saturday, for both the green and white teams, dominating the offensive front and getting to the quarterback repeatedly. There were five sacks from both squads combined, and several more that could have been counted had it been a non-contact day for the QBs.

 "If you want to win football games, you got to win it in the front, you know, both sides of the ball," Lanning said after the game. "So excited about those guys that we have on that group. There's some young guys that I expect to step up and have bigger roles than they did last year but also a group on both sides that we can continue to develop."

Ben Roberts had a big impact in particular, credited with two tackles and one sack, but in general, the defensive front for both teams looked like a major strong point for the Ducks.

Injuries were noteworthy

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning takes notes during the Oregon Ducks' Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

You never want to leave a spring game talking about injuries. Unfortunately, that's the case for Dan Lanning. On the bright side, it doesn't sound like any serious injuries were suffered on Saturday, but a number of players left the field at some point because they were dinged up. Most of them did not return.

Safety Kobe Savage left the game in the first half after suffering a brutal helmet hit from Jordan James, and cornerback Dontae Manning walked to the locker room in the second half with an apparent arm injury. Wide receiver Traeshon Holden pulled up lame on a jet sweep, clutching his hamstring, but stayed on the sideline the rest of the day and told me in the fourth quarter that he was fine. Linebacker Jerry Mixon left the game with an apparent shoulder injury, but he returned. Wide receiver Jurrion Dickey left the game in the second half with a leg injury. I later saw Dickey leave the facility in a walking boot.

Lanning said after the game that none of the injuries sustained were expected to be serious.

"Football is football," Lanning said. "I mean, is it frustrating for the player? You know, they get banged up, but football is football. The only way to get better is by playing football. You only get a limited amount of time that you can actually go out there and play. We've got time to get healthy."

The Ducks have several months ahead of them to get healthy before the season, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Jay Harris breaks out

Photo Courtesy of Jay Harris

I said going into the weekend that if I could hand-pick who I wanted to be the MVP of the game, it would be Jay Harris. That just seemed like the most entertaining outcome.

Well, consider me entertained. Harris was named the Ducks Wire Player of the Game, racking up 52 yards on 11 carries plus 34 yards and a touchdown on 3 catches. All of the running backs for Oregon played really well. Jordan James had 124 total yards, Jaydin Limar had 50 total yards and Brison Cobbins stole the show with a 60-yard TD run. However, Harris impressed the most, using his size and speed to power through the defense at times.

It's a stacked RB room in Eugene, but I think Harris can carve out a role in 2024.

Austin Novosad shows growth

Oregon Green Team running back Jayden Limar, takes the ball from quarterback Austin Novosad during the Oregn Spring game at Autzen Stadium Saturday, April 27, 2024.

All eyes were on Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore on Saturday, as fans hoped to see glimmers of greatness in both QBs' debuts inside Autzen Stadium.

It was Austin Novosad who I left the most impressed with, though, as the redshirt freshman showed poise in the pocket and improved arm strength while leading the offense. Though his first drive of the day ended in an interception deep down the field after throwing into double coverage, I was impressed with the accuracy and arm strength Novosad displayed throughout. He finished completing 12-of-22 passes for 177 yards, which was the most yardage for any QB on the roster.

While I wouldn't predict Novosad is going to challenge Gabriel or Moore for a starting spot in 2024, I was glad to see the improvement that coaches have been talking about all spring.

Young defensive backs find roles

Oregon defensive back Aaron Flowers goes up for a pass during warmups ahead of the Oregon Ducks' Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

Dan Lanning talked a lot this offseason about the level of talent he felt the team was able to get in the secondary through the 2024 recruiting class, and it showed up on Saturday. Both true freshman safety Aaron Flowers and true freshman cornerback Dakoda Fields really put together nice games, each coming up with big plays throughout the day.

Fields had one interception on the day that he returned for 54 yards, while Flowers was a huge piece of the white team's defense, totaling four tackles and one PBU. I think that Flowers ultimately has a better chance to crack the rotation on Oregon's defense because of the depth of the safety position, but there's a good chance we see both of these freshmen once fall rolls around.

Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore Look Solid

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws during warmups ahead of the Oregon Ducks' Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

So far I've talked a lot about players other than Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore, a pair of guys who obviously drew the most eyeballs on Saturday. To be honest, it's because neither did much to overly impress me in the spring game. While that doesn't mean that they played poorly by any means — Gabriel completed 66% of his passes for 163 yards and 2 TDs, while Moore was 11-for-16 with 87 yards and a 60-plus-yard TD run that was wiped off the board — but we expected that type of play from both guys.

The Ducks are in about as good of a position as any team in the country when it comes to the QB position, and we saw that on Saturday.

Special teams hope

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

When Dan Lanning sent the field goal unit into the game for a 49-yard attempt in the first half of the game, you can bet that Oregon fans keyed into the action. After the recent up-and-down history of the Ducks' field goal unit, there is some anxiety when it comes to the future of the kicking position.

Grant Meadors nailed it, with plenty of room to spare.

While Meadors is in a competition with Oregon State transfer Atticus Sappington for the starting spot, it's safe to say that a collective sigh of relief was felt inside Autzen Stadium as that ball sailed through the uprights.

Justius Lowe Does it Again

Oregon Green Team wide receiver Justius Lowe celebrates a touchdown during the Oregon Ducks' Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

Sometimes injuries can make you forget about a player. Wide receiver Justius Lowe is a great example of that. After impressing in last year's spring game, Lowe spent most of the 2023 season injured and unable to play. Healthy once again, he showed out in Saturday's scrimmage with 3 catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.

"Justius is sneaky," receiver Tez Johnson said. "He's so good, and nobody knows or gives him his credit. Everybody in that receiver room would tell you that Justius is one of the top three receivers we've got in that room, along with Kyler."

The WR room is so incredibly deep in Eugene that it's hard to project how big of a role Lowe can have in 2024, but he certainly showed something on Saturday.