EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon’s secondary is packed so full of talent this fall that even sorting out the rotation is turning into its own challenge.
Defensive coordinator Chris Hampton said Tuesday the Ducks will start building their two-deep for Boise State on Friday, and he made it clear those conversations won’t come easy.
"I think the challenging part for us is finding roles for everybody, and that's what we're trying to do," he explained.
That problem starts with how much better Oregon has recruited defensive backs under Dan Lanning. Since Lanning arrived in 2022, eight of the program’s 10 highest-rated DB commitments have come in his tenure. That group includes three of Oregon’s six highest-rated corners and three of its four highest-rated safeties, all of whom are on this year’s roster.
The result is a back end that looks deeper than ever. Oregon may return both starting cornerbacks, but Brandon Finney and Ify Obidegwu have spent camp being pushed hard by Na'eem Offord, Aaron Scott Jr., Dorian Brew and Tre Watson.
Hampton said nobody should expect any of those players to handle the load alone.
"I think we've got great depth there, and there will probably be a lot of different people rolling in at that position," he explained. "Na'eem Offord has had an unbelievable camp.
I'm really proud of him. He's playing his best football right now.
Dorian Brew, Aaron Scott - we've got quality depth. Tre Watson is a guy who was a junior college kid who signed with us, and he's had a lot of good flashes this fall."
Offord, in particular, appears to be making a real push for a starting job, though Hampton’s comments suggest the Ducks are more likely to lean on a wide rotation than settle on a fixed pair and leave it there.
Brew and safety Trey McNutt are also drawing praise after missing their freshmen seasons because of injuries. Hampton said both second-year players have been easy to overlook but have made major strides.
"Tremendously improved. I think they'll both helping us out," Hampton said.
"Just watching practice today, Dorian Brew had a great day out there on the field... I think Trey McNutt is continuing to improve and doing a great job for us.
I think they both can have roles for us this season."
The same kind of committee approach could show up at nickel, where the STAR snaps seem headed mostly to Baylor transfer Carl Williams IV, freshman Davon Benjamin and fifth-year player Zach Grisham, a former walk-on.
"I think there will be multiple guys doing it. I really do," Hampton said.
"Carl has done a great job. Davon has done a great job.
Zach Grisham has done a great job. There will be some guys who do it this season.
It'll be interesting to see who goes out there and plays the Star position for us."
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What stands out is how much the new complex is designed to reflect Oregon itself, from the curved wooden "O" roof built with locally sourced timber to the athlete-focused amenities inside. For Lanning, the construction site is part of the message: the Ducks are still being built, piece by piece, and the work is meant to match the ambition. [Read more 🡒]