Season In Review: Defensive Line
01/09/18 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Henry Mondeaux was a "war daddy" and Jalen Jelks was a breakout star for a defensive line that, aided by two standout freshmen, made huge improvements in 2017.
Reviewing Oregon's 2017 season and looking ahead to spring drills
DEPTH CHART
DE: Henry Mondeaux, Sr.; Elijah George, Sr.; Drayton Carlberg, So.; Jordan Kurahara, Jr.
DT: Jordon Scott, Fr.; Scott Pagano, Gr.; Gary Baker, So.; Popo Aumavae, Fr.
DE: Jalen Jelks, Jr.; Austin Faoliu, Fr.; Malik Young, Sr.; Hunter Kampmoyer, RFr.
Starters: After two years of coaching and schematic changes, and a meeting room beset by injuries and other attrition, the UO defensive line mercifully enjoyed come continuity in 2017. Playing in new coordinator Jim Leavitt's scheme, under the tutelage of new position coach Joe Salave'a, the Oregon defensive front took major strides over the year before; the Ducks finished second in the Pac-12 in rushing yards allowed at 128.5 per game, cutting nearly in half the 2016 average of 246.5.
The front was anchored by senior Henry Mondeaux, a "war daddy" in the parlance of the UO staff, who finished his career by appearing in all 53 games over the last four years. He started all 13 games this past fall despite being limited in practice much of the season due to injuries, regularly sitting out contact periods in order to keep him as healthy as possible. The same could be said for breakout star Jalen Jelks, who finished third in the Pac-12 with 15 tackles for loss in 2017, and used his length to break up seven passes at the line, most among conference linemen. They were joined in the lineup most of the year by true freshman nose guard Jordon Scott, who made 34 tackles, outstanding production from a space-eating position.
Reserves: Injuries and shuffling of the depth chart had the line in flux until late in the year, when a dependable second unit emerged with converted offensive lineman Elijah George and true freshmen Austin Faoliu at the ends, and graduate transfer Scott Pagano at tackle. Faoliu began the year at the nose position and Pagano was an end, but they found homes after swapping roles at midseason.
Senior transfer Malik Young and sophomores Gary Baker and Drayton Carlberg also made the rotation here and there, but the Ducks relied heavily on Mondeaux and Jelks in particular, as the ends in the base 3-4 and also the two down linemen in the frequently used nickel package. 2016 scout-team player of the year Hunter Kampmoyer and walk-on Jordan Kurahara joined Carlberg, Young and Baker as regulars with the scout defense; Kampmoyer also played some offensive line and tight end for the scout offense when needed, proving himself as selfless a guy as there is on the roster.
Redshirts: The only down lineman held out as a redshirt wasn't healthy enough to play at all, freshman Popo Aumavae. He spent most of the season watching practice with his arm in a sling, before transitioning into strength and conditioning workouts late in the year. He's a big body with a solid base, looking the part of a guy who would be tough to move up front once he's cleared full-go.
SPRING PROJECTION
DE: Austin Faoliu, So.; Drayton Carlberg, Jr.
DT: Jordon Scott, So.; Gary Baker, Jr.; Popo Aumavae, RFr.
DE: Jalen Jelks, Sr.; Malik Young, Gr.; Hunter Kampmoyer, So.
What to watch: The Ducks return a very solid first group, given Jelks' decision to remain in school rather than enter the NFL draft pool. A pure pass-rusher two years ago, he's now an outstanding every down defensive lineman. The sophomores, Scott and Faoliu, proved themselves as reliable contributors as freshmen, and now look to take that all-important major step forward as sophomores. Carlberg and Baker provide some experience as backups, and Young would amplify that if his petition for another year of eligibility is successful. Kampmoyer is a grinder who will keep working toward earning game reps, and the wild card is Aumavae, once he's cleared. But like receiver and tight end, this is a group that could use some help from the 2018 recruiting class. In December the Ducks signed Faoliu's younger brother, Andrew, and JC transfer Siona Vea Kava, though neither was among the group that enrolled this week for the start of winter quarter.
