With spring practice over, The Oregonian/OregonLive is reviewing Oregon’s depth chart position by position. We continue the 25-part series by looking at the centers.
EUGENE — From the moment he announced he’d be returning for his senior season, Alex Forsyth has been Oregon’s starting center.
A back injury knocked him out for five games last season, but Forsyth is a sure-fire starter. He’s the leader of the group on and off the field and one of the longest tenured players in the program.
Ryan Walk has been the No. 2 center in all practicality for the past two years, but should he remain a starting guard then Jackson Powers-Johnson could be the backup on paper.
Post-spring depth chart
Alex Forsyth: 6-foot-3, 303 pounds, sixth-year redshirt-senior
Ryan Walk: 6-foot-3, 293 pounds, sixth-year redshirt-senior OR
Jackson Powers-Johnson: 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, sophomore
Oregon’s Alex Forsyth warms up as the No. 10 Ducks get set for the Pac-12 football championship game against the No. 17 Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Photo by Serena Morones for The Oregonian/OregonLiveSerena Morones for The Oregonian/OregonLive
Starter
Forsyth set the tone for Oregon’s offensive line when he announced he’d be back in 2022 all the way back at Pac-12 Media Day.
“I always thought I was coming back,” he said. “So I didn’t think it was a question.”
With Forsyth and Walk the first to decide, then Steven Jones, the momentum built to get T.J. Bass on board and for Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu to reverse his decision to remain in the NFL Draft and come back as well.
That illustrates the influence Forsyth has on the group and that there are finite other places or circumstances where he could play. He’s been at center since 2020 and there’s only extreme contingencies that could alter that.
Offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson runs off the field following a touchdown as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks face the Arizona Wildcats in a college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Co-backup
Powers-Johnson is likely the backup on paper. He had a very good freshman season and has the size and strength to be an every down starter on either side of the ball.
How much he plays this fall will go a long way to providing answer for what the starting group will look like in 2023.
Oregon offensive lineman Ryan Walk (53) against Iowa State during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)AP
Co-backup
Walk was the true backup center last season and could remain in that capacity in practice. He’s still at right guard and could possibly move to the left side. Regardless, he’s on the interior.
Next wave
When Forsyth was limited at the start of spring Faaope Laloulu took reps at center.
Summer arrivals
Dave Iuli is the most likely of the three incoming offensive linemen to be on the interior, though he’s almost certainly bound for a guard spot.
Quotable
“Not a lot of big people do pilates but I’m blazing a new trail there. I’ve been doing a lot of stretching, a lot of stuff since the season ended I can get the strength back. A lot of different core stuff.” – Alex Forysth