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Oregon Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

By Zach Bigalke

TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Arrion Springs #1 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates the game winning interception during the third overtime against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on October 29, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. Ducks won 61-55. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Arrion Springs #1 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates the game winning interception during the third overtime against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on October 29, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. Ducks won 61-55. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – SEPTEMBER 27: Head coach Jim Leavitt of the South Florida Bulls paces along the sidelines in the fourth quarter of the college football game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on September 27, 2008 in Raleigh, North Carolina. South Florida won the game 41-10. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – SEPTEMBER 27: Head coach Jim Leavitt of the South Florida Bulls paces along the sidelines in the fourth quarter of the college football game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on September 27, 2008 in Raleigh, North Carolina. South Florida won the game 41-10. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

Starting tackle: Scott Pagano
Backups: Jordon Scott

The defensive tackle spot both improved and regressed this season. The unit is shifting back from a 4-3 to a 3-4 or even a 3-3-5 defense as the base defense under Jim Leavitt. That means players will have to adjust back from what they’ve learned under Brady Hoke. But Leavitt and Willie Taggart pulled off a coup when they landed Clemson transfer Scott Pagano to step in for their critical first season of the transition.

Pagano, though, lost a pair of key backups behind him. First, incoming freshman Rutger Reitmaier decided to leave the program in mid-June after suiting up in Ducks gear for the first time in spring practices. Rex Manu then announced a day later he would not play in 2017 due to medical issues. That leaves Jordon Scott, another freshman, as Pagano’s presumptive backup at tackle.

Starting ends: Henry Mondeaux, Jalen Jelks
Backups: Drayton Carlberg, Elijah George

Henry Mondeaux has been a fixture on the Ducks defensive line since appearing in all 15 games as a freshman during the run to the College Football Playoff championship game against Ohio State in 2014. He has played in every game since, experiencing the transition from the 3-4 to the 4-3 and back again. Jalen Jelks will likely take the opposite side of the defensive line from Mondeaux, having slowly developed over the past two years.

Redshirt freshman Elijah George has overcome injuries to push Jelks, though he will likely be a backup on the depth chart. Drayton Carlberg should also see an increased role after winning the 2015 Scout Player of the Year award with the Ducks during his redshirt year. Last year he started against Nebraska and played in five contests.

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