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Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 7:49 am
by duckpoint
Re: Polynesian Bowl
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 10:04 am
by duckpoint
Re: Polynesian Bowl
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 10:30 am
by SuperDuck
Great news!!!
Re: Polynesian Bowl
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 12:11 pm
by 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.
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 1:38 pm
by greenyellow
Oregon Ducks in the game:
CB Davon Benjamin
OL Koloi Keli
WR Jalen Lott
OL Tommy Tofi
S Jett Washington
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 1:49 pm
by 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?
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:17 pm
by bellsduck
StevensTechU wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 1:49 pm
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?
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:47 pm
by StevensTechU
bellsduck wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:17 pm
StevensTechU wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 1:49 pm
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.
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:00 pm
by 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.
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:30 pm
by Duck07
StevensTechU wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 1:49 pm
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.
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:42 pm
by StevensTechU
Duck07 wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:30 pm
StevensTechU wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 1:49 pm
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."
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:57 pm
by 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.
Re: Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, Fri 6 PM NFL Network)
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 7:25 pm
by 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.