As we wrap up our coverage of the 2022 Oregon Ducks football season, it’s time to start looking forward and imagining what the future could bring. The outlook for the Ducks is definitely bright, and a lot of premier talent is returning to Eugene for the 2023 season, headlined by quarterback Bo Nix.
While a couple of notable players are coming back for one more year, there are a lot of guys who are either declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft or out of remaining eligibility, forced to end their collegiate careers.
There are several players that have NFL draft decisions to make as either underclassmen or who still have a year of college eligibility left.
Players that are expected to go in the first couple of rounds of the 2023 NFL draft are more than likely gone, but there are others that are mid-to-late round projections that have to take a hard look in the mirror and decide what they want to do about their future.
In order to keep everything straight and easy to follow along with, we’ve created an NFL Draft tracker for Oregon players who are considering heading to the next level, or who have already made a decision. The deadline for players to declare for the draft is January 16, so expect a lot of news to come out over the next week or so.
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 years played + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Brandon Dorlus is arguably the most anticipated NFL announcement left for the Ducks. Dorlus played in Oregon’s bowl game, but still could declare for the draft. At this point, it feels like it could go either way.
Status
Undecided
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
Two years remaining (3 years played + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Sewell announced in December that he would be declaring for NFL Draft, ending his Oregon career after three brilliant seasons with the Ducks. He projects to be an early Day 2 pick at the next level.
Status
Declared for 2023 NFL Draft
(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Eligibility
Two years remaining (3 years played + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Christian Gonzalez was the first Duck to announce that he was declaring for the NFL Draft after the season, which makes sense considering his projections as a first-rounder in 2023.
Status
Declared for 2023 NFL Draft
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 seasons played + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Jordan Riley would be a huge addition to the Oregon defensive line if he were to announce his return in 2023. So far, we haven’t heard anything from the Nebraska transfer.
Status
Undecided
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
Two years remaining (7 seasons played + 2 injury years)
If you want to try and understand how McCormick still has eligibility remaining, read this story from The Oregonian’s James Crepea.
Where Things Stand
McCormick will be coming back for yet another season with the Ducks, which could finally be his last. After a long career that has bee fraught with injuries, it will be weird at this point when McCormick is no longer on the team.
Status
Returning for 2023 season in Eugene.
Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass past Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 seasons played + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Bo Nix initially planned to only be a Duck for one season in 2022, making the jump to the NFL afterward. However, a late knee injury derailed that, and Nix chose to come back for the 2023 season, where he projects to be an early favorite to win the Heisman trophy.
Status
Returning for 2023 season in Eugene.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Eligibility
0 years remaining (4 years played + 1 redshirt + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Forsyth’s career with the Ducks has come to an end, as the senior has run out of eligibility. He will likely find a home in the NFL draft and be playing on Sundays in the future.
Status
Out of Eligibility
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
0 years remaining (4 years played + 1 redshirt + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
DJ Johnson quickly declared after the end of the regular season that he would be entering the NFL draft, and he opted out of Oregon’s bowl game against North Carolina.
Status
Out of Eligibility
(AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Eligibility
0 years remaining (4 years played + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Big Sala is another player who is out of eligibility but should be expecting to hear his name called at some point during the 2023 NFL Draft, whether that be in the middle or later rounds.
Status
Out of Eligibility
(AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Eligibility
0 years remaining (4 years played + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
As with both Forsyth and Aumavae-Laulu, Bass is one of the starters on Oregon’s offensive line who will be forced to move on and end his career, which was impressive enough to land him in a lot of NFL Draft conversations.
Status
Out of Eligibility
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
0 years remaining (4 years played + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Bennett Williams will be hoping to play at the next level after wrapping up his collegiate eligibility with a final season in Eugene. After spending his first two years at Indiana and San Mateo, Williams found a home with the Ducks and was beloved by fans.
Status
Out of Eligibility
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Eligibility
0 years remaining (4 years played + redshirt + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Ryan Walk will be moving on after spending the last six years with the Ducks. The former walk-on from Sheldon High School redshirted back in 2017, but was an impactful player in the years since then.
Status
Out of Eligibility
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 seasons + COVID year + injury waiver)
Where Things Stand
Popo announced that he would be returning for his final year of eligibility with the Ducks, providing a huge piece to Oregon’s defensive line.
Status
Returning to Eugene for 2023 season.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
0 years remaining (4 seasons + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Chase Cota came to Eugene for his final year of eligibility and was able to have an impact on the field, acting as one of Oregon’s leading receivers throughout the year.
Status
Out of Eligibility
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 seasons + redshirt + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
It’s unclear whether or not Case Rogers will return for the 2023 season, but his best friend on the team, Bo Nix, is coming back, so it might help make his decision to stay in Eugene a bit easier.
Status
Undecided
(Photo by Zachary Neel | USA TODAY)
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 seasons played + redshirt + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Steven Jones was forced to sit out for most of the 2022 season with an injury, but he announced before the Ducks’ bowl game that he would be returning for 2023, which is a huge bonus for the Ducks after so many starters are leaving with no more eligibility remaining.
Status
Returning to Eugene for 2023 season.
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 seasons + redshirt + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
After transferring to Oregon for the 2022 season, it’s unclear whether or not Taimani will stick around for his final year of eligibility with the Ducks.
Status
Undecided
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 seasons + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
It seems more likely than not that Camden Lewis returns for his final year of eligibility with the Ducks, as he had a stellar year in 2022.
Status
Undecided
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
2 years remaining (3 seasons + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
Jamal Hill is one of the more important players in Oregon’s secondary, and it’s expected that he will likely return for at least one more year with the Ducks.
Status
Undecided
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility
One year remaining (4 seasons + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
After an outstanding Holiday Bowl performance where he was named the Defensive MVP, Funa announced that he would be returning for his final year of eligibility with the Ducks.
Status
Returning to Eugene for 2023 season.
Eligibility
One year remaining (3 seasons + Redshirt + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
It’s unclear whether or not Addison will return for another season in Eugene, but his NFL Draft prospects are currently low enough to warrant another season before trying to turn pro.
Status
Undecided
(AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Eligibility
One year remaining (3 seasons + redshirt + COVID year)
Where Things Stand
It’s unclear whether or not Stephens will return for another season in Eugene, but his NFL Draft prospects are currently low enough to warrant another season before trying to turn pro.
Status
Undecided
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