Oregon Ducks offensive lineman listed as way-too-early 2024 All-American candidate

The Oregon Ducks are set to announce their presence in their first year as members of the Big Ten Conference, and one Duck is receiving some early hype as an All-American candidate on Pro Football Focus. That Duck is starting right tackle Ajani Cornelius, and the praise is absolutely warranted.

It's been a winding road for Cornelius. The White Plains, NY native didn't have a single offer out of high school from a Power 5 school, and ended up enrolling with the Rhode Island Rams. Now, he's an anchor on the offensive line for one of the top programs in the country.

Ajani Cornelius made the switch from FCS to a Power 5 school look effortless

Cornelius was a two-year starter at Rhode Island before being named first-team All Coastal Athletic Association in 2022, after which he hit the transfer portal. A young man with zero stars on his recruiting profile and zero offers just two years prior was suddenly coveted by some of the top schools in the country. With Nebraska, Ohio State, and Tennessee all in the mix, Cornelius chose Oregon.

In his first year with the Ducks, he started every game at right tackle, allowing a pressure rate on only 2.1% of his pass-blocking snaps – 11 total pressures on 512 pass blocking reps, and zero sacks. That's good for the lowest rate of any returning Power 5 offensive tackle.

He's strong in the run game and the pass game, and secured his spot as an anchor on the offensive line.

Cornelius looks to continue his growth heading into the Big Ten

If Oregon is going to walk into the Big Ten conference and be competitive, Cornelius and the offensive line are going to have to be a big part of it. In their new conference, Oregon will see increased pressure from teams with ferocious pass rush, like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.

Cornelius has the traits and the size to be a dominant offensive lineman, and his track record of success while not allowing a sack in 2023 is a great indicator that he is capable of anchoring this unit on the field this year, and bodes well for potentially being a high draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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