Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List always has a way of turning a few offseason workout numbers into a bigger conversation, and Oregon linebacker Devon Jackson just forced his way into that spotlight.
Feldman’s 2026 list, released Monday by The Athletic, ranked Jackson 11th among 101 players mentioned. The reason was simple: speed. Feldman called Jackson the fastest linebacker in college football, pointing to the track background that made him such a notable athlete coming out of high school and adding that Jackson hit 24 MPH on the GPS tracker this offseason, the fastest number The Athletic has heard about.
A freaky number like that does not land in a vacuum, either. Oregon is staring at a significant opening after Bryce Boettcher’s departure, and Jackson is one of the players expected to help fill it. He played plenty last season, but the Ducks are counting on him to take another step if the defense is going to match the kind of ceiling people are projecting for it.
Jackson’s production last year gave a glimpse of what he can do. He finished with 41 tackles, down from 47 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2024.
If his role grows the way Oregon expects, the tackle total should follow. But the bigger ask is clear: when he’s sent on blitzes, he has to finish plays, and in coverage that burst has to show up the same way it does in a straight line.
That matters because the rest of the defense looks loaded. Oregon’s defensive line has depth, and the secondary could be one of the nation’s best with Brandon Finney Jr and Koi Perich leading the way.
On paper, linebacker is the part that looks least proven. Still, with Jackson’s upside and Dan Lanning’s background, there’s a real chance that group settles in and becomes a strength in 2026.
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Oregon Fall Camp Battles Could Shape A Championship Level Offense
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Oregon Has A Running Back Pushing For A Bigger Role This Fall
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