With Dillon Thieneman going to the NFL draft, Oregon went into the portal and got a great replacement in Koi Perich, from Minnesota. Perich is a rangy safety who will excel in coverage, leading the secondary much like Thienemen did last year. Behind him, I once again expect guys like Peyton Woodyard and Trey McNutt to step up
The 2026 Oregon Ducks defensive backfield is anchored by standout sophomore cornerback Brandon Finney Jr who established himself as a premier Big Ten defender in 2025. Alongside him, sophomore Ify Obidegwu and key additions like cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. who lead a young, talented, and deep unit that replaced multiple 2025 starters. Let’s take a look at the 2026 Defensive back roster and depth chart.
2026 Defensive Back Roster & Depth Chart
The unit is currently in a transition phase, integrating high-profile transfers and elite true freshmen to replace several departed veterans like Theran Johnson, Jadon Canady, and Jabbar Muhammad. Let’s look at Cornerback:
| Brandon Finney Jr. (So.) is looking like a projected starter with key backups and rotation Na’eem Offord (So.), and Dorian Brew (R-Fr.) |
Also at Corner:
| Ify Obidegwu (R-So.) starting the other side with projected backups and rotation Aaron Scott Jr. (So. – Transfer), and Aaron Flowers (So.) |
Safety
| Koi Perich (So. – Transfer) as starter with projected starting slot backups and Rotation guys Davon Benjamin (Fr.), Xavier Lherisse (Fr.) Trey McNutt (Fr.), Peyton Woodyard (So.) |
Nickel
| Nickel (Star) | Carl Williams IV (Sr. – Transfer) start | Davon Benjamin (Fr.), Solomon Davis (So.) backup |
Key Players to Watch
- Brandon Finney Jr. : After leading the Big Ten in fewest yards allowed per coverage snap (0.20) as a true freshman, he enters 2026 as a legitimate candidate for the nation’s best cornerback.
- Elite Freshmen: The 2026 recruiting class added five-star talent, including safety
- Jett Washington and cornerback
- Davon Benjamin , both of whom are expected to compete for immediate rotational roles.
Coaching Staff
- Defensive Coordinator/DBs: Chris Hampton was promoted to defensive coordinator following Tosh Lupoi’s departure to Cal. He remains the primary architect of the secondary and is ranked as one of the top recruiters in college football.
- Cornerbacks Coach: Rashad Wadood continues to lead the cornerbacks specifically, focusing on the development of the team’s young blue-chip talent.
These are preliminary and mostly hypothetical starting profiles as Spring ball has yet to ramp up but based mostly on needs. Once talent and Coaching come together, we’ve seen many changes happen to the Ducks line-up.
Coming up next in my 2026 Series on individual group rooms…we’ll stay on Defense next and visit the Linebackers so until then…GO DUCKS!!!
