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Since Dan Lanning took over as head coach, the Oregon Ducks have steadily moved closer to capturing the elusive national championship. In 2025, Oregon advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals, but once again saw its title pursuit end short of the ultimate goal.
Now, with a coaching staff that has been able to learn and grow, a veteran core returning, and one of the most talented rosters in the country, the Ducks enter 2026 with a legitimate opportunity to deliver the championship season their fans have been waiting for.
One of the biggest surprises last season was how well Oregon's cornerbacks played, despite lacking game experience. Ify Obidegwu and Brandon Finney Jr. both commanded starting roles on the perimeter and locked down opposing offenses for much of the season. The Ducks had even more help in the nickel, with veteran Jadon Canady locking down the slot. Now, Canady is off to the NFL, but the Ducks have plenty of talent and more experience in the room to improve upon an already impressive season.
Let's dive into the cornerback room in Eugene and see what's new and what to expect as the Ducks gear up for the 2026 season.
The Ducks allowed 158.1 passing yards per game during the regular season in 2025, which was second-best amongst teams in the College Football Playoff field. For the most part, Oregon held offenses in check and didn't allow many big plays, thanks to some tight man coverage from Finney and Obidegwu. There were times the inexperienced duo could get caught in between on match coverages, which was exposed in both games against Indiana.
Coming into the 2026 season, Oregon returns plenty of talent and finds themselves in a much better situation. Finney and Obidegwu are established on the perimeter, and there are several players in the rotation capable of contributing. Na'eem Offord and Dorian Brew both appeared to take a step forward in the spring, and the Ducks also brought in a pair of transfers with experience and a talented freshman capable of winning a job out of camp.
Finney had highs throughout last season, but he did stumble in coverage at times, particularly against Indiana and USC. There is plenty of confidence that he can establish himself as one of the best corners in the country this season, but the tests against premier wideouts like Jeremiah Smith will go a long way to show his development during the offseason.
Oregon did have some significant departures from the room in the offseason. Theran Johnson and Canady both graduated and moved on, while several depth pieces in the room moved on. Sione Laulea, Jahlil Florence and Dakoda Fields all left the program early through the transfer portal. Daylen Austin was somewhat of a surprise entrant into the portal, winding up at Arizona. He was thought to be a contender to replace Canady in the nickel role in 2026.
The Ducks will have plenty of consistency at corner this year. Finney and Obidegwu have continued to progress in Chris Hampton's defense, as well as Offord and Brew. The latter two saw playing time sparingly last season, but both should be in line for a more involved role this season. Offord could be a factor along the boundary or in the slot, thanks to his speed, and Brew had some impressive plays during spring camp that turned some heads.
Baylor transfer Carl Williams IV and Ohio State transfer Aaron Scott Jr. are the big additions that provide some valuable veteran leadership and experience in big games to the room. Scott had an up-and-down showing in the spring game, but Williams looks to be an early favorite to win the nickel position in camp. He has battled injuries the past two seasons and is essentially resetting his career in Eugene. He brings some size and decent ball skills, and he is a willing tackler. Davon Benjamin is the standout freshman entering the mix who could snatch the nickel job in camp or during the season. Despite being a bit smaller than Williams, he has tremendous speed and coverage instincts, and he played in the nickel plenty in high school. Freshman Azel Banag and JUCO transfer Tre Watson could also fight for snaps.
The depth chart is fairly set, outside of the nickel position, which is one of the biggest battles in fall camp to watch. In terms of field and boundary corners, Finney and Obidegwu played both last season. The Ducks didn't have them follow receivers very much, but I expect Finney to play the boundary a bit more this season. Offord is a good enough athlete to fill in on the perimeter or in the slot, making him a candidate to improve his snap count this season. Brew, Watson and Banag are guys that could contend for more snaps during fall camp.
It's arguably the biggest question of fall camp. Canady filled the role so well last season and saved the Ducks in several moments, so who could take his spot? As of now, I would lean toward Williams taking the first snaps against Boise State, simply because of his size and experience, despite missing time in recent years. Benjamin and Offord are the biggest competitors for the job, and I figure both will rotate in plenty during the non-conference schedule.
Once Big Ten play begins against USC, there needs to be a clear answer. That's why it's so important to figure this out during camp and find a balance for the three. Benjamin might be a future star at the position, and Finney's success as a freshman might give him the green light to play more often.
Speaking of Finney, you couldn't have asked for much more from him as a true freshman. He racked up 44 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass breakups en route to a Freshman All-American selection and an All-Big Ten second-team nomination. For as excellent as he was, he had some lapses in coverage, which is fair for a freshman to have. Against USC and Indiana, offenses had success against him on vertical shots downfield and physical jump balls. In the matchup against USC, facing Makai Lemon, Ja'Kobi Lane and Tanook Hines, he allowed 95 yards and had three penalties.
The competition won't get any easier this season, with USC and Ohio State on the schedule. Both programs have enough talent to test Finney in solo coverage again, meaning he will have to be more physical at the catch point. I expect Finney to shine again this season and rise as one of the nation's top lockdown corners, but the big tests this season will be under the spotlight. In fall camp, he will have plenty of battles against Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart, and others to prepare. How he fares in those matchups could be an early indicator of what to expect.
As previously mentioned, Offord is in a unique spot as a potential contributor in multiple areas this season. As a freshman, he had some missed tackles and blown coverages that led to big plays, but Hampton has been impressed this spring by his progression within the defensive system. Offord is one of the best athletes in the room, and if he can be more physical at the line, the Ducks might not be able to keep him off the field. This is a big year for one of Oregon's biggest flip recruiting wins under Dan Lanning.
The strength of the room is in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Whether playing man or match coverage, the Ducks have some great athleticism and even better instincts in the room. It's hard to see Finney and Obidegwu surrendering many big plays this season, and the speed from all contenders in the slot paired with the talented safeties behind them could make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
There is some concern that superior talent out wide could pick the room apart, because it is still a relatively young group with a high ceiling for the future. Outside of the nickel position, there aren't many questions that can be answered until the group straps it up and hits the field on Saturdays. For now, there is plenty of reason to be excited about the corners the program has been developing, and a year of experience against elite offenses under their belt can only help.
Overall Oregon Ducks Cornerbacks Grade: A-
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks CB preview: Young secondary looks to take the next step
Continue reading...
Now, with a coaching staff that has been able to learn and grow, a veteran core returning, and one of the most talented rosters in the country, the Ducks enter 2026 with a legitimate opportunity to deliver the championship season their fans have been waiting for.
One of the biggest surprises last season was how well Oregon's cornerbacks played, despite lacking game experience. Ify Obidegwu and Brandon Finney Jr. both commanded starting roles on the perimeter and locked down opposing offenses for much of the season. The Ducks had even more help in the nickel, with veteran Jadon Canady locking down the slot. Now, Canady is off to the NFL, but the Ducks have plenty of talent and more experience in the room to improve upon an already impressive season.
Let's dive into the cornerback room in Eugene and see what's new and what to expect as the Ducks gear up for the 2026 season.
State of the Oregon Ducks Cornerbacks
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The Ducks allowed 158.1 passing yards per game during the regular season in 2025, which was second-best amongst teams in the College Football Playoff field. For the most part, Oregon held offenses in check and didn't allow many big plays, thanks to some tight man coverage from Finney and Obidegwu. There were times the inexperienced duo could get caught in between on match coverages, which was exposed in both games against Indiana.
Coming into the 2026 season, Oregon returns plenty of talent and finds themselves in a much better situation. Finney and Obidegwu are established on the perimeter, and there are several players in the rotation capable of contributing. Na'eem Offord and Dorian Brew both appeared to take a step forward in the spring, and the Ducks also brought in a pair of transfers with experience and a talented freshman capable of winning a job out of camp.
Finney had highs throughout last season, but he did stumble in coverage at times, particularly against Indiana and USC. There is plenty of confidence that he can establish himself as one of the best corners in the country this season, but the tests against premier wideouts like Jeremiah Smith will go a long way to show his development during the offseason.
Who’s Gone, Who’s Back, and Who’s New?
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Departures
Oregon did have some significant departures from the room in the offseason. Theran Johnson and Canady both graduated and moved on, while several depth pieces in the room moved on. Sione Laulea, Jahlil Florence and Dakoda Fields all left the program early through the transfer portal. Daylen Austin was somewhat of a surprise entrant into the portal, winding up at Arizona. He was thought to be a contender to replace Canady in the nickel role in 2026.
Returners
The Ducks will have plenty of consistency at corner this year. Finney and Obidegwu have continued to progress in Chris Hampton's defense, as well as Offord and Brew. The latter two saw playing time sparingly last season, but both should be in line for a more involved role this season. Offord could be a factor along the boundary or in the slot, thanks to his speed, and Brew had some impressive plays during spring camp that turned some heads.
Newcomers
Baylor transfer Carl Williams IV and Ohio State transfer Aaron Scott Jr. are the big additions that provide some valuable veteran leadership and experience in big games to the room. Scott had an up-and-down showing in the spring game, but Williams looks to be an early favorite to win the nickel position in camp. He has battled injuries the past two seasons and is essentially resetting his career in Eugene. He brings some size and decent ball skills, and he is a willing tackler. Davon Benjamin is the standout freshman entering the mix who could snatch the nickel job in camp or during the season. Despite being a bit smaller than Williams, he has tremendous speed and coverage instincts, and he played in the nickel plenty in high school. Freshman Azel Banag and JUCO transfer Tre Watson could also fight for snaps.
Projected Depth Chart
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- Starters: Brandon Finney Jr., Ify Obidegwu
- Backup: Na'eem Offord, Aaron Scott Jr.
- Nickel: Carl Williams IV
- Backup: Davon Benjamin, Na'eem Offord
- Other Names to Know: Dorian Brew, Azel Banag, Tre Watson
The depth chart is fairly set, outside of the nickel position, which is one of the biggest battles in fall camp to watch. In terms of field and boundary corners, Finney and Obidegwu played both last season. The Ducks didn't have them follow receivers very much, but I expect Finney to play the boundary a bit more this season. Offord is a good enough athlete to fill in on the perimeter or in the slot, making him a candidate to improve his snap count this season. Brew, Watson and Banag are guys that could contend for more snaps during fall camp.
Biggest Questions Entering Fall Camp
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How will the nickel position rotate during the season?
It's arguably the biggest question of fall camp. Canady filled the role so well last season and saved the Ducks in several moments, so who could take his spot? As of now, I would lean toward Williams taking the first snaps against Boise State, simply because of his size and experience, despite missing time in recent years. Benjamin and Offord are the biggest competitors for the job, and I figure both will rotate in plenty during the non-conference schedule.
Once Big Ten play begins against USC, there needs to be a clear answer. That's why it's so important to figure this out during camp and find a balance for the three. Benjamin might be a future star at the position, and Finney's success as a freshman might give him the green light to play more often.
Can Brandon Finney win against premier competition?
Speaking of Finney, you couldn't have asked for much more from him as a true freshman. He racked up 44 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass breakups en route to a Freshman All-American selection and an All-Big Ten second-team nomination. For as excellent as he was, he had some lapses in coverage, which is fair for a freshman to have. Against USC and Indiana, offenses had success against him on vertical shots downfield and physical jump balls. In the matchup against USC, facing Makai Lemon, Ja'Kobi Lane and Tanook Hines, he allowed 95 yards and had three penalties.
The competition won't get any easier this season, with USC and Ohio State on the schedule. Both programs have enough talent to test Finney in solo coverage again, meaning he will have to be more physical at the catch point. I expect Finney to shine again this season and rise as one of the nation's top lockdown corners, but the big tests this season will be under the spotlight. In fall camp, he will have plenty of battles against Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart, and others to prepare. How he fares in those matchups could be an early indicator of what to expect.
Player to Watch
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Na'eem Offord
As previously mentioned, Offord is in a unique spot as a potential contributor in multiple areas this season. As a freshman, he had some missed tackles and blown coverages that led to big plays, but Hampton has been impressed this spring by his progression within the defensive system. Offord is one of the best athletes in the room, and if he can be more physical at the line, the Ducks might not be able to keep him off the field. This is a big year for one of Oregon's biggest flip recruiting wins under Dan Lanning.
Final Outlook and Position Grade
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The strength of the room is in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Whether playing man or match coverage, the Ducks have some great athleticism and even better instincts in the room. It's hard to see Finney and Obidegwu surrendering many big plays this season, and the speed from all contenders in the slot paired with the talented safeties behind them could make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
There is some concern that superior talent out wide could pick the room apart, because it is still a relatively young group with a high ceiling for the future. Outside of the nickel position, there aren't many questions that can be answered until the group straps it up and hits the field on Saturdays. For now, there is plenty of reason to be excited about the corners the program has been developing, and a year of experience against elite offenses under their belt can only help.
Overall Oregon Ducks Cornerbacks Grade: A-
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks CB preview: Young secondary looks to take the next step
Continue reading...
