With the 2025 college football season fast approaching, PFF released its list of the top 10 defenses in college football. The Oregon Ducks landed at No. 7 on the list, right behind the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and ahead of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Oregon is among three Big Ten teams on the list, with the Penn State Nittany Lions holding the No. 4 spot and the Buckeyes at No. 8.
The high ranking comes despite four Duck defenders being selected in the 2025 NFL Draft — defensive tackles Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell, defensive end Jordan Burch and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa.
While the departures via the NFL draft hurt, Oregon has plenty of talent on all three levels of the defense in 2025.
On the defensive line, the hulking Matayo Uiagalelei is back after leading the team in both sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (12.5). The 6’5″, 270-pounder was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and will be aided by USC Trojans transfer defensive tackle Bear Alexander who is projected to have a big role with the Ducks. Both Aydin Breland and A’mauri Washington are prime breakout candidates along the defensive line.
The linebacking core will be led by returner Bryce Boettcher, who led the team with 94 total tackles a season ago and added two sacks and a forced fumble. Rising junior Devon Jackson will play alongside him after a promising sophomore campaign in which he registered 47 total tackles.
The secondary was helped greatly by the transfer portal addition of former Purdue Boilermakers safety Dillon Thieneman, who is a dynamic presence on the back end. Jahlil Florence and transfer Theran Johnson (Northwestern) are expected to handle the cornerback duties.
With dynamic players on all three levels, the Ducks have the potential to field the best defensive unit in college football. If that proves true, they would deem PFF’s list wrong…
Source link : https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2025/07/20/oregon-ducks-football-top-10-defenses-college-football/85290569007/
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Publish date : 2025-07-20 12:02:00
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