The Oregon Ducks had one of the most successful seasons in program history last year, going 13-1 with a Big Ten Championship win and a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Now, in 2025, they will look to reach the same heights once again, but this time around with almost an entirely new roster.
Since coming to Eugene, Dan Lanning has recruited at an elite level. In 2025, talent acquisition and development will be tested. Gone are the players from past regimes; in will be the blue-chip players whom Lanning and his staff have hand-picked.
On offense, players like Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, Jordan James, Terrance Ferguson, and Josh Conerly are leaving for the NFL. The defense sees the likes of Jeffrey Bassa, Jordan Burch, Derek Harmon, and Jabbar Muhammad move on as well.
So, who will step up and replace them? That’s the million dollar question in Eugene. We have our depth chart projections on offense and defense, but the next several weeks of practice will determine a lot for the Ducks. As we continue our preview of the spring season leading up to Oregon’s annual spring game, let’s take a deep dive, position by position.
We’ve tackled the offense, with previews on Oregon’s quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, and O-line situations. Now, let’s kick off the defensive previews.
Oregon’s D-line room is in an interesting spot heading into next season. It’s one of the position groups Dan Lanning has recruited most out of high school since coming to Oregon, and it looks like we’ll finally get a chance to see his recruits take center stage this season. There isn’t much starting experience in the room but no shortage of talent either.
Departing Players
Derrick Harmon
Oregon Career Stats: 14 games, 45 tackles, 11 TFLs, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Analysis: Oregon’s biggest loss on the D-line is Derrick Harmon, who will almost certainly be a first-round pick in April. Harmon played just one season with the Ducks, but he wasted no time making an impact, and he was a big factor in Oregon’s 2024 success.
Ja’Maree Caldwell
Oregon Career Stats: 14 games, 29 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 forced fumble
Analysis: Harmon is the biggest loss, but Caldwell is a very close second. He may not have the stats Harmon does, but Caldwell clogs up the middle from the nose tackle spot as well as anyone, helping make plays for the rest of the defense. Caldwell won’t go as high as the first round, but he could be an impactful player at the pro level.
Keyon-Ware Hudson
Oregon Career Stats: 60 games, 78 tackles, 11 TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
Analysis: The Ducks’ final graduation departure on the interior defensive line is Keyon-Ware Hudson, one of the last remaining recruits from the Mario Cristobal days. Hudson never was able to break into a starting role during his six-year Oregon career, but he made valuable impacts off of the bench.
My’Keil Gardner
Oregon Career Stats: 3 games, 1 tackle
Analysis: Last on the list is My’Keil Gardner, who announced his transfer to the Arizona State Sun Devils in January. Gardner played a bit in 2023 but was kept off the field for all of 2024 with an injury. Hopefully, he’ll be back to full health in 2025 and hit the ground running in Tempe.
Returning Players
A’Mauri Washington
Oregon Career Stats: 22 games, 12 tackles, 2 TFLs
Analysis: A’Mauri Washington is the returner Oregon Ducks fans should be most excited about on the D-line. A 4-star recruit two seasons ago, Washington hasn’t seen many in-game reps, but the small sample he’s earned has been exciting. I expect him to play a major role for Oregon’s defense this year and play it well.
Aydin Breland
Oregon Career Stats: N/A
Analysis: Even greener than Washington is Aydin Breland — the 5-star jewel of Oregon’s 2024 recruiting class. Breland played just 17 defensive snaps as a freshman, but in year two, it’s fair to assume that Breland will climb the ladder by a few rungs.
Tionne Gray
Oregon Career Stats: 4 games, 1 tackle
Analysis: Next up is Tionne Gray, another member of Oregon’s 2024 recruiting class. Gray wasn’t rated as highly in the recruiting process as Breland, but in four games this season he played a similar amount of snaps to Breland. Both will have big opportunities and chances to make major impacts in 2025.
Terrance Green
Oregon Career Stats: 10 games, 7 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack
Analysis: Terrance Green is another name that could rise up next fall. Entering his third season as a redshirt sophomore, Green has the necessary experience to play D-line, and this could be the season where he breaks out. This will be a competitive position, but no one’s role is guaranteed.
Jericho Johnson
Oregon Career Stats: N/A
Analysis: Next up is Jericho Johnson, a former 4-star recruit who was a freshman in 2024. Johnson played just two games and six snaps last fall, but that’s typical of a D-line freshman. With all the young talent in this room, it seems like at least one young D-lineman is primed for a breakout season in 2025. Maybe it will be Johnson.
Xadavien Sims
Oregon Career Stats: N/A
Analysis: Another 4-star tackle from the 2024 class, Xadavien Sims played just three snaps in as a freshman last fall. Sims is a bit undersized for his position, but he doesn’t lack the necessary strength to play D-line. Just like Johnson, Sims could be one of the players primed to breakout next fall, but it’s hard to say right now.
Incoming Players
Bear Alexander (Transfer)
Career Stats: (Georgia and USC): 28 games, 61 tackles, 10 TFLS, 3.5 sacks
Analysis: Oregon’s sole newcomer on the defensive line is Bear Alexander, a transfer from USC who Dan Lanning helped bring to Georgia out of high school when he was the Bulldogs defensive coordinator. Alexander has so much talent and potential, but he’s yet to put either to use in college football. A transfer to Oregon could be exactly what Alexander needed, and if he can realize his potential, he’ll be exactly what the Ducks needed.
Projected Starters
Predicted Starters
Defensive Tackle: A’Mauri Washington
Nose Tackle: Bear Alexander
I see the starters shaking out with Washington at DT and Alexander NT. Washington is the best D-lineman on the Oregon roster, and Alexander is the best overall athlete. The D-line is a position that requires a lot of substitutions, and I think Breland and Gray will be the first guys off the bench relieving this first unit.
Overall Position Outlook
Oregon’s D-line is in a strong but uncomfortable place. The D-line room is loaded with talent, but not one member has produced much at the college level. Alexander has the most experience but little to show for it. I think everything will pan out this season, and the D-line room will be a shining example of Oregon’s ability to develop homegrown talent.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks 2025 spring football defensive line preview
