Projecting Oregon's Defensive Two-Deep Ahead of Spring Practice

Oregon's defense will be put to the test in the Big Ten but the Ducks have the personnel to continue their progression.

Oregon spring football practice is just a few days away and today I'm taking my best guess at the two-deep for Tosh Lupoi's defense.

I projected the two-deep for the offense yesterday, and Oregon's defense could be even better in 2024 thanks to a slew of returning starters and some talented additions from the transfer portal.

Defensive End

Darby Winter/Ducks Digest

Projected starter: Jordan Burch 

Projected backup: Teitum Tuioti, Emar'rion Winston 

Names to know: Ashton Porter, Johnny Bowens

Analysis: Burch's decision to return probably makes him the most talented player on this side of the ball for Oregon in 2024. Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi have clearly been able to tap into an element of his game that wasn't popping quite as much when he was at South Carolina.

Tuioti is one of three true freshman that hit early and that will prove to be a huge plus for the Ducks. Winston looked solid in the snaps he saw last year and is a name people aren't talking about enough. He's a younger one at that, as this will only be his third year in Eugene.

Defensive Tackle

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Projected starter: Jamaree Caldwell

Projected backup: Keyon Ware-Hudson, My'Keil Gardner 

Names to know: Johnny Bowens, Xadavien Sims, Jericho Johnson

Analysis: Caldwell comes over from Houston and is the most experienced player for Tony Tuioti along the interior. He should be a good replacement for Brandon Dorlus and Casey Rogers. 

The depth behind him is a bit more of a question mark aside from Ware-Hudson, but there's some highly-regarded talent that was coveted coming out of high school. Sims feels like a sleeper pick for me here because he's got a ton of power and athleticism, but will need to be coached up before he's ready to contribute.

Nose Tackle

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Projected starter: Ben Roberts

Projected backup: A'Mauri Washington, My'Keil Gardner

Names to know: Aydin Breland, Terrance Green

Analysis: Roberts is a name that's been generating some buzz that seems ready to take over a bigger role along the interior of the defensive line. He's got big shoes to fill with the departures of Popo Aumavae and Taki Taimani but I trust Tony Tuioti to have him ready. Behind him are a pair of four-star recruits from the 2023 class that soaked up a lot of knowledge from last year's veterans.

EDGE

Darby Winter/Ducks Digest

Projected starter: Matayo Uiagalelei 

Projected backup: Blake Purchase, Emar'rion Winston, Elijah Rushing

Names to know: Jaeden Moore, Jaxson Jones

Analysis: Uiagalelei made a significant impact as a true freshman and was part of the reason Oregon was able to get after the quarterback much more consistently. Look for him to take his game to its next level in 2024 and be joined by another young guy in Purchase. We'll just have to see how the rest of the rotation shakes out and how games dictate how much we'll see Rushing in year one. But if last year told us anything it's that Lupoi and Lanning like to keep their pass rushers fresh.

Linebacker

Darby Winter/Ducks Digest

Projected starter: Jestin Jacobs 

Projected backup: Devon Jackson

Names to know: Connor Soelle, Brayden Platt

Analysis: It feels like we only got a sneak peak of what Jestin Jacobs was capable of in an Oregon offense. When he returned to health for the back half of the season he proved he can be a difference maker. Behind him the speedy Devon Jackson looks like he's coming along very well. Where an experienced Soelle falls in the pecking order will be interesting to see, as he had perhaps a smaller role than some expected in 2023.

Linebacker

Darby Winter/Ducks Digest

Projected starter: Jeffrey Bassa 

Projected backup: Jerry Mixon

Names to know: Dylan Williams, Kamar Mothudi

Analysis: Bassa was the heart and soul of Oregon's defense in 2023 and he's more or less the prototype for your ideal linebacker in this system. He moves incredibly well and continues to get more comfortable with each season he plays. A young but very athletic Jerry Mixon will be fun to watch in his second season and the competition among the young linebackers to see who can breakthrough also brings some promise.

Cornerback

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Projected starter: Jabbar Muhammad

Projected backup: Jahlil Florence, Nikko Reed

Names to know: Daylen Austin, Dakoda Fields

Analysis: If you watched Washington last year, it wasn't hard to tell that Muhammad was a special talent. He could well be the best corner on Oregon's roster now and there's no way he doesn't start. I also expect we'll see plenty of Jahlil Florence as well, but the order behind him seems a bit murky with so many players in the room.

Cornerback

Kam Alexander/Oregon Athletics

Projected starter: Kameryn Alexander 

Projected backup: Dontae Manning, Rodrick Pleasant

Names to know: Sione Laulea III, Daylen Austin, Ify Obidegwu

Analysis: Alexander comes over from UTSA and brings blazing speed to Chris Hampton's secondary. Maybe you could insert Florence here instead of Alexander, but either way this shakes out I figure we'll be seeing plenty of both of them.

Manning has a wealth of experience but not a ton of production during his career. Laulea may end up in the rotation sooner rather than later and could push Pleasant for some snaps as one of the top junior college prospects from the past cycle. Obidegwu shouldn't be overlooked either after he played some of the best high school talent in the country and more than held his own at the Under Armour All-American Bowl.

Safety

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Projected starter: Kobe Savage

Projected backup: Khmari Terrell, Aaron Flowers

Names to know: Tyler Turner, Kodi DeCambra

Analysis: Savage was one of the better defensive backs in all of the Big-12 last year and he'll fill a big need for the Ducks after losing Evan Williams, Steve Stephens IV and Bryan Addison. 

Call it a hunch but I have a bit more optimism for Flowers, the youngest of the bunch, compared to who the Ducks have returning. Either way the players returning haven't been around long so the youth makes this group more of a question mark.

Safety

Darby Winter/Ducks Digest

Projected starter: Tysheem Johnson 

Projected backup: Brandon Johnson, Khamari Terrell, Tyler Turner

Names to know: Collin Gill, Kodi DeCambra

Analysis: Tysheem Johnson comes back for one more year after an up-and-down season in 2023. His two-interception game against Utah was a big positive but he was spotty in coverage for much of the year.

Depending on how he develops I could see the staff mixing in Brandon Johnson a bit more as well as some of the young players on the roster in blowouts.

Nickel

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Projected starter: Brandon Johnson

Projected backup: Nikko Reed

Names to know: Kodi DeCambra, Kingston Lopa

Analysis: Johnson comes over from Duke as a defensive back that plays with a ton of fire. His ability to cover is going to be a valuable addition as it's an area Oregon's safeties struggle in last year. Reed seems like the most logical option behind him but after that it's a lot of unproven youth.

Oregon held its Pro Day on Tuesday and spring practice is set to officially begin on Thursday.

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