Dan Lanning didn’t need a full month of camp to notice what Koi Perich brings to Oregon.
After the Ducks’ second scrimmage of fall camp, Lanning singled out the Minnesota transfer safety for the way he showed up on the field - not just with his play, but with his voice.
“Really heard his voice out there today. He’s been physical since the day he got here.
There’s some things that he’s attacked and improved, but today is one of those days that I definitely felt his presence out there in the field, whether that be as a communicator or the way that he finished plays. And again, I'm still going to watch the film.
I’m sure there’s some things for him to clean up, but he’s been a really pleasant surprise for us,” Lanning said.
That kind of early impression matters for an Oregon team trying to sort out its leaders in a fifth season under Lanning. Perich is already being talked about as one of the players who could help set the tone on defense, and he arrives in Eugene as what the Ducks believe could be their biggest transfer portal pickup of the offseason.
Oregon is also hoping Perich can give them the kind of impact they got from Dillon Thienman last season, when the safety went on to become a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears at No. 25 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Perich’s resume in two seasons at Minnesota explains the excitement. He piled up 128 total tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack with the Golden Gophers, becoming the kind of defensive presence that can change games with a hit, a read or a takeaway.
That’s exactly what Oregon needs as it keeps building toward its season opener against Boise State at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 5.
The Ducks have been close before, but their recent College Football Playoff losses have left them chasing the final step. In their last two CFP defeats, Oregon gave up 40-plus points to Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana in 2025, with both of those teams eventually winning the whole thing.
Perich is in Eugene to help change that script.
He isn’t the only defensive back expected to carry a major load. Sophomore cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. is also in position to be a leader for the Ducks, and he’s already flashed star power.
Finney broke out in Oregon’s 23-0 CFP quarterfinal shutout of Texas Tech at the Orange Bowl last season, finishing with six total tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He closed his freshman year with 42 total tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack.
Together, Finney and Perich give Oregon a secondary with real upside in the first season under new defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, who steps into Tosh Lupoi’s role with plenty on his plate.
The Ducks’ offense, with quarterback Dante Moore and a deep group of wide receivers and running backs, looks loaded. But the path to a championship often comes down to what happens on the other side of the ball.
If Oregon is going to win its first national title in program history, the defense may be the unit that gets it there. The Ducks are aiming for that trophy at Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 25, 2027.
In Other News...
Dillon Thienemans NFL Learning Curve Suddenly Matters A Lot
Dillon Thienemans first NFL camp has become one of the more important development stories for Chicago, and not just because he entered as a rookie learning a new defensive language on the fly. The former Oregon safety has spent training camp getting up to speed with the Bears system and the faster processing demands that come with it, while also handling the usual growing pains that come with adjusting from college football to the pro game.
The timing has made the learning curve matter even more. With injuries thinning the secondary, Chicago needs Thieneman to keep trending in the right direction, and his progress has been noticeable in practice and preseason action, including an interception against the Bengals. The Bears are counting on him not just as depth, but as someone who can step into a larger role and help stabilize a safety group that has already been tested. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon's Backfield Future Just Got More Intriguing With This RB Commit
CaDarius McMiller keeps giving Oregon reasons to be excited about what comes next. The Ducks running back commit showed off his speed and athleticism during a preseason scrimmage at Tyler High School in Texas, and his track background only adds to the appeal. A 100-meter time of 10.59 seconds hints at the kind of burst that can change a backfield, especially for a program that keeps looking to reload with dynamic pieces.
For Oregon, the interesting part is not just the talent, but the timing. McMiller is expected to help shape the Ducks future in the backfield, and there is already some intrigue around whether he could enroll early and get a head start in spring practice. If that happens, it would give Oregon an even longer look at a runner who brings real speed to the table and seems built to fit the programs style. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Suddenly Have A Wild Roster Decision To Make
A Louisiana judges temporary injunction has cracked open a strange new lane in college football, allowing 30 former college athletes, including 16 football players now on NFL rosters, to return for one more season. For programs across the sport, the ruling has created an immediate gray area: do coaches treat it as a one-off legal wrinkle, or as a recruiting opportunity that could reshape a roster almost overnight?
Dan Lanning has already made clear where he stands, criticizing the decision as unfair to players who have earned their spots the hard way. But while Oregon is taking a principled line, other coaches such as North Carolinas Bill Belichick are weighing how to use the ruling, and some schools have already reached out to NFL players about the possibility of coming back. For the Ducks, it is another reminder that the transfer and eligibility landscape can change fast, even for teams trying to build stability from one season to the next. [Read more 🡒]