Defensive line coach Joe Salave'a, left, high-fives defensive lineman Sua'ava Poti (94) as the Oregon Ducks hold their 2021 Spring Game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene in May.

EUGENE — With changes coming at both interior defensive tackle spots, two inexperienced players have made the most of the first two practices.

Third-year freshman Sua’ava Poti and second-year freshman Jayson Jones, neither of whom saw game action in 2020, have each stood out during the first two helmets-only practices of fall camp.

“I can say (Friday) Sua’ava had a great day,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said. “Not a good day, a great day. Got himself to 293 pounds. Always a lot of pride in the way he’s worked and he looks strong, he looked explosive, he was finishing drills, he was encouraging others. That popped. Jayson and Kristian (Williams) are two guys that are young guys with a lot of potential.”

If the weight Cristobal referenced is current, Poti is up 14 pounds from his listed weight entering last season. It’s also much more in line with what’s needed for a nose tackle playing as either a 0 technique over the center or 2 or 2i technique over a guard or into the A gap.

“He’s done a nice job of transforming his body, getting a little thicker, still is really explosive player,” defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. “The last couple of days in pass rush (Poti) has really shown up.”

A former 4-star recruit, Jones was listed at 310 pounds last fall. He worked with the third group of defensive tackles during the spring and is vying with Poti for the No. 2 spot behind starter Popo Aumavae.

“Jayson at the end of spring started to come on,” DeRuyter said. “He’s got a big body and he’s the guy that we want to hopefully continue his (maturation) and be able to take some reps off Popo.”