What's new with the Oregon Ducks' LBs ahead of 2026 spring season?

Coming off of yet another elite season, the  Oregon Ducks  now go into a new 2026 campaign with higher expectations than they've had in quite some time. There's a belief that it is  "championship or bust"  in Eugene, thanks to the return of guys like Dante Moore , Evan Stewart , Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, and Teitum Tuioti. Oregon's roster is among the best and most experienced in the nation, and there's a feeling that the '26 season could be special.

While it may be a stretch to say that anything short of a championship will be considered a failure, there are reasons for the Ducks ' fanbase to hold such high hopes. Oregon has been building to the 2026 season for a couple of years now, and with the combination of elite young talent like Jordon Davison, Dakorien Moore, and Brandon Finney, among others, along with the aforementioned veterans, it comes as no surprise that the Ducks are considered among the championship favorites going into spring ball.

When you look at the high expectations for Oregon stemming from returners on the defensive line and the offense, one of the bigger questions rests at the linebacker spot. With Bryce Boettcher heading to the NFL, there are some big shoes to fill at the position. Fortunately, the Ducks have no shortage of options to step up into the big role.

Jerry Mixon returns after a breakout year, and there are expectations for him to be a massive part of this defense once again. As for who steps up alongside him, there are guys like Devon Jackson, Brayden Platt, Dylan Williams, and Gavin Nix, all of whom are very capable. Let's take a look at the position as a whole.

Returning Players

Jerry Mixon

Talk about coming out of nowhere, Mixon turned himself from being a depth chart filler to one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten. He had three tackles in 2024 as a sophomore. In 2025, he managed 65 tackles, five for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions, including a Pick-6 against Oklahoma State. Mixon should receive plenty of preseason honors as the 2026 season approaches.

Devon Jackson

Replacing Boettcher won't be easy, but Jackson definitely is Oregon's best bet to do just that in 2026. The soon-to-be fifth-year senior managed 41 tackles, 15 solo, 26 assisted in 2025. It will be imperative for Jackson to basically double his numbers next season to help with the loss of the team captain.

Gavin Nix

Nix was one of the top players in the state of Florida in the Class of 2025 as he was a four-star recruit out of Bradenton. He was ranked as the No. 7 linebacker nationally when he committed to Oregon and was able to see action in three games this past season. At 6-foot and 230 pounds, he's a name to watch in 2026.

Dylan Williams

Williams saw action in seven games in 2025 as a redshirt freshman, and the former four-star recruit has a good chance to see a lot more action in 2026. He was the No. 56-rated overall recruit in 2024 and the No. 6 recruit out of California. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Williams in a starting spot next season.

Brayden Platt

Platt was one of the top recruits to come out of Washington in 2024, and he saw action in two games this past season as a redshirt freshman. He was rated as the No. 4 linebacker nationally, and at 6-2 and 235 pounds, it'll be fun to see how quickly Platt moves up the depth chart.

Departing Players

Bryce Boettcher

It's going to be near impossible to replace Boettcher, but the Ducks will have to find a way. He's been the heart and soul of this defense for a couple of seasons now, and being a local kid from South Eugene High didn't hurt either. Boettcher finished the season with 136 tackles, 5.5 for loss, one sack, and an interception. For his career, Boettcher wound up with 269 tackles, 16 for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.

He's projected to be drafted in the middle to late rounds of the NFL. If, for some reason, pro football doesn't work out for Boettcher, he is in the Houston Astros organization for baseball if he wants to go that route. It's always nice to have options, and the Eugene native has plenty.

Kamar Mothudi

It was inevitable that when defensive coordinator Josh Lupoi took the California job, he would take a few players off of Oregon's roster, and Mothudi was one of them. Cal's gain is definitely the Ducks' loss as Mothudi had a good chance of having a nice career in Eugene. The redshirt freshman was ranked as the No. 3 inside linebacker nationally in the Class of 2023. He played in six games in 2025 for the Ducks, where he had four tackles.

Incoming Players

Braylon Hodge

At 6-3 and 245 pounds, Hodge could easily see some playing time right away in 2026 as a true freshman. He was the No. 1 prospect coming out of Colorado and the No. 8 linebacker nationally. Hodge was recruited by nearly every West Coast school and Big Ten team before finally signing with the Ducks.

Tristan Phillips

Phillips is ranked as the No. 15 linebacker and the No. 24 player coming out of Ventura, Calif. At 6-3 and 215 pounds, the four-star recruit might need some seasoning before seeing action on the field. He could see some time on the special teams, however.

Most Intriguing Storyline to Watch This Spring

Who Steps Up as the No. 2 Alongside Jerry Mixon?

I wrote about it earlier, but one of the most interesting things to see when it comes to the linebackers in the spring is simply who is going to establish himself as one of "the guys." There is a belief that, after what we saw last year, Jerry Mixon will once again be among the top players on the defense, and potentially one of the better linebackers that we've seen in recent Oregon memory. But who steps up alongside him?

For years now, Devon Jackson has been working his way up the depth chart into a more prominent role. Is this finally the season that he has his true breakout? There is also a trio of young players like Brayden Platt, Dylan Williams, and Gavin Nix, all of whom have some really high upside, but need the opportunity to shine. Will any of them be able to take over and produce, much like Mixon did last year? Going through spring practices, one of the most enticing things to watch is going to be at the LB spot, where we simply look to see who is on the field alongside Mixon the most.

Biggest Question Facing the Position in 2026

Can the LB Position Turn Into a Strength for The Ducks?

The Oregon Ducks have had good linebackers in the past, but it's not unfair to say that the position as a whole is rarely considered the strength of the defense. The Ducks typically are led by a very strong defensive line or a secondary that can shut opposing offenses down. But a truly dominant and overpowering linebacker corps has been few and far between in Eugene. However, with Mixon expected to take a step forward and a handful of very talented young players potentially taking a step forward, could this be a year when the LB spot becomes a real strength for Oregon, rather than one of the weaker yet serviceable units on defense?

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Previewing Oregon Ducks' LB room ahead of 2026 spring football season