Oregon’s defense is heading into fall camp with the kind of profile that turns heads before a season even starts: a consensus top-five unit, most of its core back, and just enough open competition to keep things interesting.
Dan Lanning’s group is working through its second week of camp with the season opener against Boise State at Autzen Stadium looming, and the Ducks’ defensive picture is already taking shape. The big pieces are in place, but there are still battles to sort out and new names trying to force their way into the mix.
Up front, Oregon made one of its biggest priorities clear by bringing back Bear Alexander, Matayo Uiagalelei and A’Mauri Washington. That trio could have easily been spending August in NFL preseason camps, and instead they return after combining for 117 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups and three fumbles.
The challenge now falls to first-year defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, who has to build behind them after the Ducks lost front-line depth to the transfer portal. Tionne Gray, Jericho Johnson, Xadavien Sims and Terrance Green are gone, which leaves the backup picture less settled than the starting one.
Oregon has added help in the form of North Carolina transfer D’Antre Robinson and Louisiana-Monroe transfer Jerome Simmons, and both are getting pushed by younger players in camp. Aydin Breland, Matthew Johnson and Elijah Rushing are all in the conversation as the Ducks try to sort out who can give the front a real boost.
There’s also Teitum Tuioti, who looms as a problem for opposing offenses and sits among a group of edge rushers expected to create plenty of headaches throughout the Big Ten this season. Tietum Tuioti is also the heartbeat of a linebacking corps that is still finding its depth as camp rolls on.
At JACK linebacker, he put together 68 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks for Oregon in 2025, and he’s on the Lombardi Award watchlist with Uiagalelei and Washington. The watchlist recognizes the nation’s top linemen and linebackers, and Tuioti’s presence gives this defense a tone-setter in the middle of the field.
Jerry Mixon is next in line for a larger role after posting 57 tackles, two interceptions and a pick-six touchdown in 2025. With Bryce Boettcher now with the Indianapolis Colts, Mixon’s leadership matters more than ever.
Devon Jackson may only have three career starts, but the senior MONEY linebacker has already piled up 106 tackles in his Oregon career, and the staff is high on his speed. Behind him, depth is still being built. Gavin Nix brings playoff-level experience and explosiveness, Dylan Williams is pushing for snaps, and Brayden Platt will miss time after an injury suffered in spring camp.
The secondary might be the most loaded part of the defense. Brandon Finney Jr. is back after a freshman season that made him one of the Big Ten’s most dominant corners. He finished with 42 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass breakups, and allowed a conference-best 40 percent reception rate.
That puts him in the same conversation as Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore and Alabama’s Dijon Lee among the nation’s top corners.
Oregon plans to pair Finney Jr. with redshirt sophomore Ify Obidegwu, who had 24 tackles, six pass breakups and an interception across 12 starts. Ohio State transfer Aaron Scott Jr. is pushing for work and could also factor at nickel, while Dorian Brew and Na’eem Offord are both getting valuable reps.
At safety, the Ducks added a major piece in Koi Perich, the top-ranked portal safety in the country. The Minnesota transfer led the Big Ten with six interceptions as a freshman and followed that with 82 of his career 128 tackles in 2025.
Aaron Flowers will line up alongside Perich after a freshman season that produced 70 tackles, an interception and two forced fumbles. But the name drawing the most attention is Trey McNutt, who is back after recovering from the broken leg that wiped out his entire 2025 season. The former five-star is already pushing Perich and Flowers, while Peyton Woodyard and Carl Williams IV provide depth, with Williams also likely to see snaps at nickel.
In Other News...
Oregon Finally Rewards A Local Star Who Kept Grinding
During fall camp, Dan Lanning made sure a longtime grinder got a moment worth remembering when Oregon awarded scholarships to walk-ons Zach Grisham and a teammate. For Grisham, a former high school state champion who came to Eugene as a walk-on after first preparing for junior college, the news marked another step in a journey built on persistence, special teams work and defensive depth snaps.
Grisham has carved out a role in 12 games this season, and his path has been a familiar one for a roster that values effort as much as talent. He is expected to finish his college eligibility this year, which gives the scholarship move a little extra meaning for a player who kept earning trust the hard way and finally got rewarded for it. [Read more 🡒]
Malique Ewins Oregon Path Suddenly Hinges On A New Eligibility Fight
Malique Ewins Oregon path has been thrown into the same kind of legal limbo that has started to shadow a growing number of college athletes. A federal judge had initially opened the door for players who began their college careers in 2022-23 to compete in a fifth season, and for a brief stretch that seemed to clear the way for Ewin to be part of Oregon basketballs plans. For a program trying to piece together its roster, the timing of any eligibility ruling matters almost as much as the ruling itself.
Now the picture has shifted again after the Tenth Circuit Court granted the NCAAs request for a stay, stripping away that federal protection while the case moves through appeal. Some athletes are still protected by temporary restraining orders in state court cases, but the broader legal fight remains unsettled, and Ewin is among the players whose status can change with the next filing or hearing. For Oregon, it is another reminder that roster building this time of year can be shaped as much by courtrooms as by practice gyms. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Got A Big Recruiting Chance With Elite DB Trending Its Way
Oregon is already laying the groundwork for its 2028 recruiting class, and there is at least some early momentum to point to even before the first commitment lands. The Ducks have not added anyone yet, but the combination of their on-field performance and the anticipation around the upcoming season has helped keep them in the mix with several top prospects, including a few names coming out of Mission Viejo.
One of the most important is defensive back Jordan Hicks, a highly ranked 2028 recruit who has Oregon among his final eight schools. Hicks has also indicated the Ducks are sitting in an early lead in his recruitment, which gives Dan Lannings staff a real opening as the process develops. Oregon is also staying involved with other Mission Viejo targets, including quarterback Josiah Boyd, as the Ducks look to turn early interest into real class-building traction. [Read more 🡒]