Greg McElroy defends his ranking of Oregon on Top-10 offensive lines list

Oregon lost several pieces from last year’s offensive line that only got better as the season went on. However, with their additions to it in the NCAA Transfer Portal, Greg McElroy expects the Ducks to again have one of the better lines in the country again this fall.

McElroy began with Oregon at No. 10 with his Top 10 offensive lines earlier this offseason on ‘Always College Football’. That’s with the trio of transfers, who were all in the Top 75 overall per On3’s 2025 Top Transfer Portal Players and among the very best at their position, either at tackle or on the interior, slotting right in next to who did return up in Eugene.

“I understand that there’s a lot to replace there. I understand what they had last year. I also know that Oregon probably does as good a job as any identifying traits in the portal and being able to go after and kind of get whoever they want,” McElroy said. “I think they got arguably the best tackle prospect in the portal in Isaiah World, who’s going to start at left tackle for them. I think you can make the case that the addition from Texas State at right tackle in Alex Harkey, is going to be a great addition as well. Emmanuel Pregnon, I think, had some good moments at ‘SC. You also have a couple guys back that have played at a ridiculously high level in their center and then their right guard spot. So, Oregon is a team that, right now, I’m willing to roll the dice on because of the upside of some of the new additions.

“I think they’re going to be great. I love their offensive system and how they kind of build it around the offensive line and use that offensive line’s talent and athleticism out in space as well.”

Cole Cubelic, his guest on this episode of his show, agreed with McElroy when he evaluated how Oregon develops and uses its offensive line. That also included some high praise from him to World, who blew him away when he got to see him as a top tackle prospect around all of college football.

“Also, track record. We talked about it with some other groups. You’ve had the mentality, the behavior, the demeanor for a while now and, when history continues to repeat itself, it’s okay to give them a little bit of a flyer. My main concern here would have been the two tackles that are going to be gone – who I will say, on the left side, may be a little more inconsistent at times than the right side. But, still, you got good play the majority of the time,” Cubelic said. “This is not an overly difficult task either, as an offensive lineman. You’re going up against elite edge guys and they’re asking you to take pass sets and be in one-on-ones 23, 35 times a game. There’s a lot inside of this offense that can protect the offensive line at times and then they like to kind of lean on you a little bit later. So, you have your anchor back in (Iapani) Laloulu at center. I think that’s a great starting point.

“I did not expect to see, from Isaiah World, what I got when I went to watch him – the ability to change direction, the lateral movement at his size which is monstrous? I was shocked and I will be surprised if he’s not First or Second Team All-Big Ten as far as one of the tackles on that list because he has every bit of God-given ability to be able to do it. And, he has those snaps, he has put those snaps in the bank so he understands what it’s all going to be about.

“You interject Isaiah World, who, I’m just going to say it, Greg, I think could actually end up being an upgrade when it’s all said and done. I’m that high on his ability and he plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played. A lot of times, these high-level, high-talent guys, we’re a little bit worried about how they play the game. They want to look cool and they don’t want to finish blocks. You’re not going to get that with this young man. He’s going to give you every bit of the demeanor that you’re asking for.”

This will need to be a key area for the Ducks with all else having changed around them on the offense. That means they, specifically those portal pieces, will need to gel early if they want to justify this ranking as well as in the Top 10 of the sport on the line.