EUGENE -- The Oregon Ducks wouldn't have needed to utter a single word for Penei Sewell's preseason performances to resonate. That the freshman has lined up at left tackle with Oregon's first-team offense says enough.

Quarterback Justin Herbert's health is the single most important variable for UO's success in 2018. And the left tackle protects his blind side.

Sewell wasn't made available for interviews by the school. Not that it really mattered. If anything has become obvious this month around UO's Hatfield-Dowlin Complex, it is that nothing will keep the Ducks from gushing, unsolicited, over their 6-foot-6, 360-pounder from Utah.

"He's the most physical freshman I've ever seen in my life," teammate Shane Lemieux said. "I'm talking him up a lot. But it's pretty phenomenal. I've never seen anything like it. He's legit. He'll be -- I don't want to talk him up too much -- a (NFL) first-rounder, for sure."

By watching Sewell's high school highlights, his skill was no secret, assistant Alex Mirabal said. "But I'm shocked," he said, "when you get to see it in person."

Lemieux is entering his third season as a starting left guard and Mirabal coaches the offensive line. Probably just a couple of Ducks sticking up for one of their own in the trenches, right?

Not quite. Like Royce Freeman in 2014 and Justin Herbert in 2016, Sewell has become the latest Oregon Ducks freshman to create buzz only weeks into practice. And it's coming from all corners of the roster.

Herbert: "I've been really impressed."

Cornerback Thomas Graham Jr: "I love Penei. Way more advanced for his age than a lot of people are."

Outside linebacker La'Mar Winston Jr.: "Special. Like, one of a kind. One of those young, technically sound sound ... you don't really see dogs like that."

Sewell was Utah's top-rated recruit in the 2018 class and ranked 53rd in the country by 247Sports. As the last UO recruit to commit on signing day in February, his signing provided a four-star bookend to a class rocked by uncertainty throughout the transition from coach Willie Taggart to Mario Cristobal. He picked Oregon over USC, Alabama and Utah.

The timing was ideal. With all-conference left tackle Tyrell Crosby drafted in April by the Detroit Lions, a void opened on UO's line. Sewell didn't take part in spring practices, but it hasn't held him back.

Though they've practiced together for less than a month, Lemieux said he and Sewell can already communicate line calls to one another with as little as a look or hand motion. Lemieux has the same comfort with center Jake Hanson, but they've played next to each other for three years including their redshirt season.

"(Sewell) is picking that up," Lemieux said. "It's really wild."

At Oregon, it is uncommon for a freshman lineman to earn this level of trust this early. Tyler Johnstone was a freshman All-American in 2012, but that followed a redshirt season during which he added weight and strength while growing used to facing faster, more complex defenses. In 2013, Cameron Hunt became Oregon's first true freshman starter on the offensive line in 16 years. One year later, another came in Crosby, as the true freshman protected Marcus Mariota and played for a national championship. In 2016, freshmen including Lemieux and Hanson flooded the rotation, but they, too, had enjoyed a redshirt year before taking the field.

Cristobal, a former Miami offensive lineman who has coached the line throughout his career, calls left tackle "probably the hardest position to play in the country," one which UO had other, more veteran options to fill. UO has three returning starters in Lemieux at left guard, Hanson at center and the versatile Calvin Throckmorton wherever UO needs him. A group that includes tackles Sewell, Brady Aiello and George Moore, and guards Jacob Capra and Dallas Warmack are competing for the other spots. Cristobal has said he envisions playing a two-deep rotation liberally this season to utilize UO's depth.

If Sewell earns a starting job, no one will be surprised. Sewell is a "special talent," Cristobal said, and a "relentless competitor" -- perhaps the highest compliment in the coach's lexicon.

Veteran linemen agreed, struck by both Sewell's willingness to mash defenders on the field and listen to his fellow linemen's advice off it. That's not always the case with top recruits fighting for playing time.

"Seems like he's just an average guy," Lemieux said. "I've never seen someone so young who's so mature on the field, as well."

Winston has found that out the hard way.

After a breakout 2017 season, Winston is entering his junior year as a likely starter at outside linebacker and figured he could show Penei what two years of college experience looks like. During one drill this month, he rushed around Sewell's edge and, feeling he had a step on him, cut back inside to catch him going the wrong direction.

But when he juked, Sewell stayed put. He was waiting with his feet set, and oven-mitt hands extended.

"I was like, 'Wow, you're really good,'" Winston said. "Like, 'Geez, I thought I had you there.' ... I'm not an offensive tackle coach, but you know, going against him, he's great."

-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com

@andrewgreif