Was it over when Michael Penix bombed the Oregon defense? At times last year the Webfoot defensive fraternity played like they deserved double secret probation, but in 2023 there's a new attitude: It's not over till we say it's over.
As a unit the Ducks had three problems: pressuring the quarterback, setting the edge and getting off the field on third down. For the season they finished 9th in the PAC-12 in sacks, a paltry 18 in 13 games. Extra-year senior Brandon Dorlus is the team's returning leader with 2.5. Jeffrey Bassa is second with two.
By contrast, it'll be a toga party in the backfield this fall. With a fresh contingent of athletic edge defenders, Jordan Burch, Matayo Uiagalelei, Teitum Tuioti, Johnny Bowens and Blake Purchase, the Ducks have the quickness to turn homecoming celebrations into mayhem and sneak off with the girl.
The 2023 squad might have 18 sacks by mid-October. Dorlus, 6-6, 290, led the Ducks last season with 9.5 tackles for loss, chosen by the PAC-12 coaches for the all-league second team. He's played in every one of Oregon's games over the last two seasons, starting all 13 in 2023. In the Holiday Bowl win over North Carolina the Fort Lauderdale, Florida native had five tackles and knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage.
An underrated three-star player coming out of Deerfield Beach High School in 2019, Brandon racked up 27 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a prep senior. In four seasons in Eugene he's flashed explosive power and lateral quickness, but he's still to emerge as a dominant every-down force. He's been durable, however, logging 665 snaps as a sophomore and 651 in his junior year.
Dorlus has stepped in to a leadership role on the defensive line over the last two years. The Ducks were blessed that he passed up the NFL draft last winter. Last August he told reporters, “Before coming to college I was a real low-key guy, chill guy, I don’t like to talk.”
Dorlus continued, “But I love the game of football. I love to see players get better. When guys are following me and seeing, trying to do the same thing I’m doing I see that I have a big impact on them. I don’t mind leading them and trying to call them after practice saying we need to get some extra work in. Being a vocal leader has been a big challenge for because I’m not a big talker but I love the challenge.”
With an infusion of talent along the front and his leadership and experience, 2023 should be something to shout about.
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