Oregon’s Secondary Faces Depth Test Ahead of Orange Bowl Clash with Texas Tech
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - As Oregon gears up for a high-stakes Orange Bowl showdown with No. 4 Texas Tech, the Ducks are staring down a significant challenge on the back end of their defense. With a string of in-season and postseason transfers thinning out the secondary, particularly at deep safety, Oregon enters Thursday’s game with just four scholarship safeties available - and a lot of pressure on each of them.
The most recent departure was Kingston Lopa, a 6-foot-5 safety whose size and physicality made him a unique asset in Oregon’s defensive scheme. His exit after the win over James Madison leaves a noticeable void, especially against a Texas Tech team that thrives on tight end and slot receiver production.
Lopa’s length and versatility were key in matchups like last year’s Big Ten Championship Game, where he was tasked with handling big-bodied targets like Penn State’s Tyler Warren. Now, Oregon will need to find new answers.
“Losing King was a big piece,” said nickelback Jadon Canady. “I think whoever fills his void is going to be ready to play and ready to go.”
Canady has been one of the quiet stars of this Oregon defense all season. With 33 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups, he’s been a consistent presence, especially in coverage against slot receivers. His ability to erase passing lanes has been a major part of Oregon’s success - even if it doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.
“I think he’s one of our most underrated players that we have,” said linebacker Bryce Boettcher. “He’s always on his job, locking dudes down.
When you lock dudes down and they aren’t open, you don’t get a lot of recognition because they aren’t getting the ball thrown to them, so your name is not called. That dude’s been nails for us all year.”
Inside the program, Canady’s reputation is built on more than just numbers. Coaches and teammates praise his competitiveness, discipline, and football IQ - all of which have allowed him to thrive at one of the toughest positions on the field. And now, with five defensive backs having transferred out, his versatility is more valuable than ever.
The Ducks had hoped to get a boost from freshman safety Trey McNutt, but he’s been sidelined all season with an injury. While technically eligible to play and still redshirt, doing so would put his medical hardship waiver at risk - not to mention the challenge of making a college debut against a top-five opponent on this kind of stage.
That leaves Oregon with a rotation led by veterans Dillon Thieneman and Aaron Flowers, with Canady and Peyton Woodyard expected to contribute at deep safety. Zach Grisham, a lesser-known name to fans, is also in the mix and could see time if the Ducks need to dig deeper into the bench.
“Jadon has worked there a lot this season,” said safeties coach Chris Hampton. “A lot of the three-high safety stuff we’ve done, he’s had to do it.
Zach’s another guy that I know a lot of people don’t know him, but he’s actually a really good player. He hasn’t got as many reps this year, but when he’s got in he’s played well.”
But there’s a domino effect to moving Canady around. If he shifts from nickel to safety, that opens up a spot at nickel - a critical position in Oregon’s scheme - which would likely be filled by Daylen Austin. And if the Ducks find themselves needing to play a lot of dime coverage to counter Texas Tech’s spread attack, that depth will be stretched even further.
It’s a tall task, no doubt. Texas Tech comes in at 12-1, boasting one of the nation’s most efficient offenses and a knack for exploiting mismatches in the middle of the field. Oregon, also 12-1, has the firepower to keep pace - but on the defensive side, it’s going to take a collective effort, some creative rotation, and a little bit of grit from a secondary that’s been forced to adapt on the fly.
The Ducks have handled adversity all season. Now, with a spot in the national semifinal on the line, their patchwork secondary will have to rise to the moment once again.