Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)

[duckpoint]

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[SuperDuck]

Great news!!!

[bellsduck]

Tommy Tofi has been mentioned as a top performer during each day of practice as well. Given our need for OL depth, that's exciting news.

[greenyellow]

Oregon Ducks in the game:
CB Davon Benjamin
OL Koloi Keli
WR Jalen Lott
OL Tommy Tofi
S Jett Washington

[StevensTechU]

In my dream world, one of Tofi or Iheanacho will be ready to play guard for the 2026 season. Are they better than Utu, Iuli and Rogers? Will their knowledge of the playbook be a problem? Can they handle the raw strength and veteran tactics by a 5th/6th year defensive tackle? No idea. But my dream is yes to all of those things.

Does anyone recall any instances of true freshmen starting at guard or center?

[bellsduck]

In my dream world, one of Tofi or Iheanacho will be ready to play guard for the 2026 season. Are they better than Utu, Iuli and Rogers? Will their knowledge of the playbook be a problem? Can they handle the raw strength and veteran tactics by a 5th/6th year defensive tackle? No idea. But my dream is yes to all of those things.

Does anyone recall any instances of true freshmen starting at guard or center?

Maybe Grasu?

[StevensTechU]

In my dream world, one of Tofi or Iheanacho will be ready to play guard for the 2026 season. Are they better than Utu, Iuli and Rogers? Will their knowledge of the playbook be a problem? Can they handle the raw strength and veteran tactics by a 5th/6th year defensive tackle? No idea. But my dream is yes to all of those things.

Does anyone recall any instances of true freshmen starting at guard or center?

Maybe Grasu?

Grasu redshirted. He was an athlete coming in but had to get bigger and stronger. The two names I thought of don't fit the description - Shane Lemieux redshirted, and Max Unger played out* at tackle.

[spacefrog13x]

Is Iheanacho at 6'7 too tall to play guard? Maybe not since Pregnon is 6'5 but I am genuinely curious if there is a general height maximum for the IOL.

[Duck07]

Does anyone recall any instances of true freshmen starting at guard or center?

You're going to kick yourself for this one: JPJ started 2 games at guard as a freshman against stanford and ucla.

[StevensTechU]

Does anyone recall any instances of true freshmen starting at guard or center?

You're going to kick yourself for this one: JPJ started 2 games at guard as a freshman against stanford and ucla.

Ahh. I even looked into Cam Hunt, but turns out he was a right tackle, not right guard like I thought.

"After the true freshman played a season-low two snaps at Washington, he proceeded to start the final seven games of the year ... Became the program’s first true freshman offensive lineman to move into the starting lineup in 16 years, setting the stage to potentially become entrenched as a starter for years to come."

[Duck07]

I tend to think that Tackle is easier to play early on since its less reliant on strength so I'm curious if Ihenacho could grab the RT spot unless he looks like Penei 2.0 against Matayo and Teitum.

[StevensTechU]

Correction - Hunt did play right guard. Apparently his first 2 starts in his true freshman season were at right tackle, but the next 5 were at right guard. So through at least the last 25 years or so, there hasn't been a true freshman to start inside for more than 5 games.