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Oregon Football: Top 3 position battles to watch in spring 2021

By Connor Muldowney

Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) warms up for the Pac12 game against Stanford University on Nov. 7, 2020, in Eugene, Oregon. (Pool photo by Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard)Eug Oregon Vs Stanford Football 004
Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) warms up for the Pac12 game against Stanford University on Nov. 7, 2020, in Eugene, Oregon. (Pool photo by Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard)Eug Oregon Vs Stanford Football 004 /
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BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 05: Makai Polk #17 of the California Golden Bears is tackled by Mykael Wright #2 and Jamal Hill #19 of the Oregon Ducks at California Memorial Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 05: Makai Polk #17 of the California Golden Bears is tackled by Mykael Wright #2 and Jamal Hill #19 of the Oregon Ducks at California Memorial Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

2. Defensive backfield

It was tough to pinpoint one position in the defensive backfield that will be the subject of an intense battle because, well, the Ducks are experiencing plenty of attrition at cornerback and safety.

Gone are Deommodore Lenoir and Thomas Graham Jr. at cornerback and Nick Pickett and Brady Breeze at safety. Also gone is star nickelback Jevon Holland who is one of the top defensive pro prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft class. That’s five key players gone as the defensive backfield will be forced to reload — hopefully not rebuild — ahead of the 2021 season.

At cornerback, DJ James, Mykael Wright, Bryan Addison and Dontae Manning all return as top options to start and they’ll be forced to battle it out with a four-star early enrollee in Jaylin Davies and Trikweze Davis.

At safety, it’s going to be a combination of Jordan Happle, Verone McKinley III, Steve Stephens IV, Bennett Williams and Daymon David.

Replacing Holland may be the toughest job here for Tim DeRuyter with Jamal Hill, Williams and JJ Greenfield. There’s going to be a heck of a lot of competition at every defensive back position and who wouldn’t want to see who rises to the top?

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