Jerry Mixon describes how relationship with Joe Mixon has fueled Oregon Ducks’ breakout
This story was updated to correct misspellings.
Coming into the 2025 college football season, nearly everyone knew the Oregon Ducks ' defensive stars Bryce Boettcher, Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei.
But it's likely no one had linebacker Jerry Mixon leading the team in interceptions through the first three games on their Duck bingo card. The junior came into the season with eight career tackles. He already has 10 this season, and with the way he's playing, many more are on the way.
"It's basically telling myself that I belong here," Mixon said. "When I first got here, not thinking I belong, but I'm gradually growing my confidence as I make plays on the field. That played a big part of my confidence."
Mixon's confidence has to be sky-high right now . He returned an interception for a touchdown in the 69-3 win over Oklahoma State, and he almost repeated the feat in the 34-14 win at Northwestern . He picked off a pass from Preston Stone and rambled 36 yards before Mixon was brought down. According to the Duck inside linebacker, his goal was to take it to the house every time he gets a chance.
"It's just going back to my high school days and playing running back," Mixon said. "I'm trying to make everybody miss and score every time I get the ball."
Scoring touchdowns runs in the Mixon family. Jerry's cousin Joe is a running back with the Houston Texans . But the older cousin has been injured, and that's allowed Joe and Jerry to watch film and see how the Oregon performer can do better.
“We talked to each other on Sunday, just going over our plays and stuff, critiquing my game and what I can do better, just keep attacking the ball," Jerry Mixon said. "He helps me a lot. I go to Houston and spend time with him, talk to him about stuff, and he shows me what the NFL is like, which gives me confidence that I can be there one day.”
There's a bigger reason for Mixon's success. According to Oregon coach Dan Lanning , it's all about preparation and working hard in practice to shine on Saturdays.
"When you have players who are coachable and want to get better and improve, that's a really good formula for success," Lanning said. "And Jerry's that since the minute he got on campus, he's been a guy that's really had high ball production and has really been attacking some of those other areas of his game to say, 'OK, this is what we need you to improve.' And he's done that. He's attacked it. He's worked really hard. He's not a guy that says a lot. He just lets his play kind of do the talking, and it's shown up for us in big ways this season so far."
Now the season brings the Ducks to the Civil War against Oregon State at Autzen Stadium. It's the kind of rivalry that makes even the quieter players speak their mind, and Mixon didn't mince words.
“It’s a big rivalry game,” he said. “Everybody pops out in Oregon. And just from being here, they’re our little bros, and we go out there and kick their ass.”
Those would be some big words coming from a third-string player. But Mixon isn't that player anymore. With his play through the first three games, which includes a Big Ten Player of the Week honor with his five tackles and that pick, Mixon can say whatever he wants.
His play on the field has more than dictated that.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Jerry Mixon's relationship with Joe Mixon fuels Oregon Ducks breakout
