The Oregon Ducks ' 2026 transfer portal additions were hailed for being shrewd, as the roster was already incredibly talented but needed some gaps filled because of both NFL departures and their own select portal entrants.
Transfer Koi Perich commanded much of the attention at the safety position, and for good reason. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher was a freshman All-American in 2024 and amassed 128 tackles and six interceptions in two seasons, plus countless highlight reels thanks to his dynamic play-making abilities at safety and as both a punt and kick returner.
But Perich wasn't the only safety that Oregon added this offseason who may play a vital role in 2026.
Carl Williams IV also joins the Ducks after spending the first three seasons of his career with the Baylor Bears , where he totaled 57 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception. The former three-star recruit was beginning to ascend into one of the better safeties in the Big 12 before a meniscus injury ended his 2024 campaign after eight games and limited him to just one game in 2025.
The fanfare wasn't necessarily felt when Williams' commitment to Oregon was announced via the portal, unlike Perich. But that doesn't seem to bother Williams, who feels right at home with the culture that the Ducks have cultivated.
"Walking into that room, I feel like the standard was made, as in like this is a hardworking school," Williams said at Oregon's media day. "Like all the glitz and glamor and stuff like that, we really put in hard work. Blue-collar people, we like to say, but that's kind of the vibe that I got coming in here. As in, be ready to put your hard hat on and work, and that's something that I appreciated."
Getting to work is exactly what the former Bear did during spring practices and will have to continue doing throughout fall camp in order to earn play time, as the Ducks are loaded at the safety position. But then again, competing isn't an issue for Williams, who came to Eugene with that sentiment at the top of his mind when deciding where to land in the portal.
"It went pretty fast, to be honest," he said. "Like, kind of just everything fell into place. Got the call about Oregon and knew the situation that I was coming into to compete, and that's just something I wanted to do. So that's why I chose Oregon."
At Baylor, Williams was used in the "STAR" position, a combination of deep safety and strong safety responsibilities that featured him defending deep passes while also lining up near the line of scrimmage in run support. Versatility is key in manning that spot, something that will be vital for Williams as he battles roughly a half-dozen of former blue-chip recruits in the Oregon safety room.
He isn't phased, though. Williams is confident that if he reaches his full potential, favorable results will come.
"I feel like my best is enough to compete at this level, so I knew that I could come here and make an impact if I proved myself, and that's what I'm doing."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon DB Carl Williams IV embracing 'blue-collar' mentality
