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Though it graduated three key contributors from its secondary a season ago, the Oregon football team got deeper in its third season under head coach Dan Lanning, bringing in four defensive backs with just one year of eligibility remaining.
The goal for that group and the entire secondary looking to take another step forward in 2024?
“Maximize that little amount of time,” UTSA transfer cornerback Kam Alexander said. “It’s all it is.”
Washington transfer corner Jabbar Muhammad, Kansas State transfer safety Kobe Savage, Duke transfer corner Brandon Johnson and Alexander all came to Oregon for their last year of eligibility, with most coming in with multiple seasons of starting experience at a high level.
Muhammad, Savage and Johnson all figure to start right away, while Alexander competes with Oregon returning starter Jahlil Florence for time at outside corner. Returner Tysheem Johnson likely has secured a starting spot at safety.
Johnson, who transferred to Oregon last season from Ole Miss, has taken on more of a leadership role in the defensive backfield as one of the few holdovers from a season ago. Johnson went through the exact same process as all the other new transfers this season.
“They been leaning on me heavily,” he said. “I’ve been more of a communicator and speaking up more. It helps us keep a leadership role in the back end. It helps us coach up the young guys. … We’ve got experience and we’ve been through it. We know what it looks like.”
Oregon Ducks defensive back Tysheem Johnson (0) reacts after making an interception against the Utah Utes during the first half at Rice-Eccles Stadium in October 2023 in Salt Lake City.
Among the losses for the Ducks in their defensive backfield last year were NFL Draft picks Evan Williams and Khyree Jackson and starting safety Steve Stephens IV. Those…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/oregon-football-position-breakdown-where-110307591.html
Author : The Register-Guard
Publish date : 2024-08-05 11:03:07
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