Adrian Klemm's Replacement Will Have Big Shoes to Fill at Oregon

Dominant offensive line play has become the standard in Eugene.

Just when you thought Dan Lanning had his coaching staff in place for the 2023 college football season, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick snagged one of Oregon's top assistants by hiring Adrian Klemm.

Now the Ducks need to find a new offensive line coach and do so in short order with the start of spring football just over a month away.

Whoever gets the job will have some big shoes to fill and need to meet a certain criteria. 

READ MORE: Who could Dan Lanning pursue as his next offensive line coach?

Strong offensive line play at Oregon has been fairly constant, dating back to Steve Greatwood, one of the longest-tenured coaches in program history. The group only improved when Willie Taggart hired Alabama's Mario Cristobal, a former national Recruiter of the year who took the group to new heights.

When Cristobal was named head coach, he brought on Alex Mirabal, who continued to elevate the standard. The Ducks were consistently at or near the top of the Pac-12, trotting out one of the most skilled group of maulers every week.

They've sent linemen to the NFL on a consistent basis in recent years, highlighted by Tyrell Crosby, Penei Sewell, Jake Hanson, Calvin Throckmorton and Shane Lemieux. Now a talented bunch featuring Alex Forsyth, T.J. Bass, Malaesala Auamave-Laulu and Ryan Walk are ready to take the next step in their football journeys. 

Despite being in Eugene for just one season, Adrian Klemm continued that trend of excellence, perhaps even surpassing expectations in 2022, as the Ducks surrendered just five sacks all season. 

Even though he had a veteran group, he helped Kenny Dillingham and the rest of the staff implement a new offensive scheme that revamped Bo Nix's college career and continued the tradition of dominant rushing attacks (215.8 yards per game).

SIGNEE SPOTLIGHT: Oregon DL Johnny Bowens III

Klemm made sure his impact was felt off the field as well. After joining Lanning's coaching staff he helped the Ducks get 2022 four-star offensive lineman Dave Iuli back in the fold after Cristobal's departure and even signed Josh Conerly Jr., the nation's No. 1 offensive tackle, in a dramatic recruiting win over the USC Trojans.

Josh Conerly Jr. is the highest-rated offensive lineman to ever sign with the Ducks.  / Josh Conerly on Instagram (@joshuaconerlyjr)

He had a strong cycle in 2023, however he did miss out on some top targets in the trenches (Samson Okunlola, Miles McVay, Kadyn Proctor) with distance being a major hurdle. Klemm helped add promising pieces to Oregon's offensive line with some encouraging high school recruits, but what may be most impactful are the two transfers he brought in, Rhode Island's Ajani Cornelius and Texas' Junior Angilau, who both project to have major roles next season.

Junior Angilau addresses a need for starting experience on Oregon's offensive line / Junior Angilau and Texas Football on Instagram (@junior_angilau)

Ajani Cornelius was arguably the top offensive tackle prospect in the transfer portal / Ajani Cornelius on Twitter (@AJCornerlisu65)

Whoever Dan Lanning hires next doesn't need to be on Adrian Klemm's level, but there are a couple boxes that will likely need to be checked.

First and foremost is a connection to Lanning or another coach on the staff. Having that familiarity should help minimize momentum lost on the field from a strong 2022 campaign.

Another box will likely be recruiting ability. Lanning has shown that recruiting is a priority for his program and the Ducks can't afford to slow down on the trail after signing the top class in the Pac-12 once again. Oregon has become a destination for elite offensive line recruits like the aforementioned Sewell and Conerly Jr., and there's no reason that should stop now. 

Where the coach is connected will be another interesting detail to follow. Klemm had strong ties in Southern California and Florida--how will geography factor into Lanning's decision to help the Ducks acquire top talent from coast to coast?

And finally, development. In a similar vein to attracting difference makers, the Ducks have started to send offensive lineman to the NFL on a more regular basis. The next offensive line coach would ideally bring a strong track record of development at some level with him to Eugene, allowing the program to continue building off the momentum it already has.

Offensive line has been a strength, not a liability in Eugene, and Dan Lanning is tasked with finding someone who makes sure it stays that way for years to come.

READ MORE: The latest in QB Luke Moga's surging recruitment

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