The Oregon Ducks are starting to reload on defense, and they’ve dipped into the Transfer Portal to do it. After seeing a wave of departures from their outside linebacker room, the Ducks landed their first portal addition on Sunday: former Oregon State linebacker Bleu Dantzler.
Dantzler, a 6-foot-2, 241-pound freshman, didn’t record any stats in his four appearances for the Beavers last season, preserving his redshirt year. But while his on-field impact was limited in Year 1, his potential is what caught Oregon’s attention. He brings four full years of eligibility with him to Eugene, and his recruitment moved fast - just four days after entering the portal, he made his decision.
Coming out of Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona, Dantzler was a three-star prospect in the 2025 class. He chose Oregon State over a solid list of offers that included SMU, Colorado State, San Diego State, Army, Navy, San Jose State, Utah State, and Wyoming. Now, he’s staying in the Pac-12 footprint - but flipping sides in the in-state rivalry.
His addition comes at a pivotal time. Oregon’s outside linebacker depth took a hit this offseason, with Blake Purchase, Ashton Porter, and Tobi Haastrup all hitting the portal. The Ducks also lost a handful of defensive linemen - Xadavien Sims, Tionne Gray, Terrance Green, and Jericho Johnson - as part of a broader shake-up in the defensive front.
But not all the news has been about departures. Oregon got a major boost earlier this month when all four starters from last year’s defensive front announced they’re returning.
That includes outside linebackers Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei, along with defensive tackles A’Maurie Washington and Bear Alexander. That’s a serious foundation to build on, and it sends a clear message: Oregon’s not looking to rebuild - they’re looking to reload.
And reload they have. In addition to Dantzler, the Ducks added a big body up front in Jerome Simmons, a defensive lineman from UL Monroe who originally committed to South Carolina as a four-star recruit. They also secured a preferred walk-on commitment from 2026 defensive lineman Tevita Paongo, continuing to build out the future of their front seven.
Looking at the 2026 high school class, Oregon’s defensive line haul is shaping up nicely. Five-star edge rusher Anthony Jones headlines the group, while three-star edge Dutch Horisk is also set to join the outside linebacker unit. On the interior, four-star linemen Tony Cumberland and Prince Tavizon bring both size and upside.
The Ducks weren’t done this weekend, either. They added Clemson transfer Markus Dixon - who’s expected to switch from outside linebacker to tight end - and landed a commitment from former Ohio State cornerback Aaron Scott. That makes four portal additions over the weekend alone, and 11 total this offseason.
The NCAA Transfer Portal officially closed on Friday, though schools still have a 48-hour window to finalize paperwork. While no new players can enter the portal until the next window, those already in it remain fair game for programs looking to bolster their rosters through the offseason.
For Oregon, the picture is becoming clear: they’ve locked in their core defensive starters, and now they’re stacking depth and building for the future. With Dantzler and others on board, the Ducks are putting together a front seven that’s not just about surviving the offseason - it’s about setting the tone for what’s next.