Preseason Camp Preview: DB

SECONDARY

Who's back: Oregon's secondary played at an elite level in 2023 despite having to replace multiple starters from a strong 2022 group, and in 2024 the Ducks on the back end of the defense will be looking to do the same. The UO secondary has to replace three starters from last season, and will look to do so through a combination of additions through the portal and development by returners, with the door open for impact from some high-level freshmen. Among the returners will be safety Tysheem Johnson, the top returning tackler on the back end with 70 a year ago, and cornerback Jahlil Florence, who started nine games before being injured late last season.

Among the other returning corners, Dontae Manning and Nikko Reed combined for 13 pass breakups in 2023. The group also includes a couple of the most physically intriguing players in the secondary — Rodrick Pleasant, arguably the fastest player in all of college football, and Khamari Terrell, a converted safety who brings elite length to the corner position. Xavier Barksdale provides a veteran presence for the "look" team.

Florence_Utah

On the back end, Solomon Davis will look to build on a breakout Spring Game performance in which he had a game-high-tying seven tackles. Daylen Austin will be with the team as camp opens, UO coach Dan Lanning confirmed last week, while an off-field incident is resolved. Tyler Turner will look to build on a redshirt season last fall, Zach Grisham will continue to set the tone as an effort guy in practices and when he earns opportunities come game day, and Dane Sipos is a mainstay on the "look" unit.

Who's new: The secondary got an infusion of veteran talent in the spring, upon the arrival of cornerbacks Jabbar Muhammad and Kam Alexander, and safety Kobe Savage. Muhammad is nothing less than one of the elite players at his position in the country, Alexander is coming off an all-conference season and Savage was on the watch list a year ago for the Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in the country. They were joined this summer by another veteran via the portal, nickel Brandon Johnson, a two-time honorable mention all-conference player with 26 career starts under his belt.

Jabbar Muhammad Practice

Three other transfers, corner Sione Laulea and safeties Peyton Woodyard and Cruz Rushing, also will be looking to make their mark once camp begins. Along with Davis, true freshmen Dakoda Fields and Aaron Flowers also made their mark in the spring game — Fields with a long interception return, and Flowers with four tackles as well as a near interception. Fellow freshman Kingston Lopa also was on hand for the spring, and another of their classmates, corner Ify Obidegwu, is with the Ducks now as well.

What to watch: That's a whole lot of options for the rotation, so an obvious storyline as camp opens will be how all that talent is arrayed throughout the secondary. Florence, Savage and Austin all are coming off injuries suffered at various points over the past year, so all eyes on day one of camp will be turning to them to check on their status. Brandon Johnson will make his first appearance in an Oregon practice uniform when camp opens, so that will garner attention as well on opening day. From that point on, the coaching staff no doubt will move guys around, cross-training them at different positions and building chemistry among various groupings so the Ducks can mix-and-match as necessary throughout the course of the season. It's a recurring theme for Oregon across the defense — there are some important departed players to replace, but a bunch of really talented potential replacements to sort through including via the portal, and therefore much reason for optimism that the unit can continue producing at a high level.