Here’s who is in the room, ordered from most likely to least likely to play.
Anyone below Thieneman on this depth chart could emerge as the second starter at safety, and nobody should really be surprised. Also, there could very well be more rotation at safety in 2025, compared to what we have seen the last two seasons.
Dillon Thieneman - Junior
Career stats (2 Seasons): 210 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 Sack, 6 INT, 9 PBU, 2 FF
Thieneman was underrated and very under-recruited coming out of high school, ranked as just a three-star prospect, the 85th ranked safety according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
An Indiana native, he committed to in-state Purdue, and quickly became not just a starter, but one of the best safeties in the nation. As a true freshman, he had over 100 tackles, along with six interceptions.
Following his true sophomore season, he entered the portal, ranked as the best transferring safety, and among the best overall in the nation.
Just ten days into the portal he took his talents to Oregon, and could easily be the best player on the defense, fixing a position widely considered to be the weak link of the team in 2024.
Coaches and teammates have been singing the praises of Thieneman throughout spring media availability, edge rusher Teitum Tuioti said “you don’t see him do too many things wrong.”
Safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Chris Hampton told Matt Prehm of 247Sports Duck Territory “when you watch the film you see a guy… that is really productive… what you didn’t know is the person. Once you get to know him, the person is much better than the player."
"His work ethic is like none other, anyone I've ever coached. The guy is relentless in pursuit for greatness."
---Oregon co-DC Chris Hampton on Thieneman
Thieneman is the most talented safety the Ducks have had since Jevon Holland and Verone McKinley were roaming the back end of the defense, and has already emerged as one of the leaders of the unit.
Peyton Woodyard - Sophomore
The only one of three freshman Oregon safeties in 2024 to not utilize a redshirt, Woodyard has serious upside. Technically, he was an Alabama transfer following Nick Saban’s retirement, but he never played a snap for the Tide, transferring just after spring practice.
Woodyard appeared in all of Oregon’s games in 2024, notching nine total tackles, never truly seeing meaningful defensive snaps. He was a former four-star recruit in high school, and was teammates with Oregon star edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei at St. John Bosco in Bellflower, California.
Woodyard’s size is ideal for safety, standing at 6 feet 2 inches, and is a very physical player, at least based on his high school film.
Nick Saban rarely missed on recruits, and Woodyard did enroll at Alabama. Tosh Lupoi and Chris Hampton could have a special player on their hands.
Kingston Lopa - Redshirt Freshman
Lopa appeared in six games for the Ducks in 2024, two of which were in the postseason, meaning he preserved a redshirt. His most significant snaps were in a surprising moment.
His first significant, meaningful snaps came in the Big Ten championship game against Penn State, thrust into action to try to slow down the Nittany Lions’ freak of nature tight end Tyler Warren.
A big spot for a true freshman, he handled his limited duties well, despite a pass interference penalty.
If Oregon fans are looking for height in the DB room as a whole, Lopa has it, and then some. Listed at 6 feet 5 inches, he almost feels oversized for the safety position.
Greg Biggins of 247Sports even projected him to become an outside linebacker, with potential to be an edge rusher down the line.
The latter seems a bit far-fetched, but it is more than plausible to think Lopa could step into a specified role against large receivers or tight ends, as we saw a glimpse of in the conference championship game.
Aaron Flowers - Redshirt Freshman
Flowers was a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, ranked as one of the top players in the state of Texas. His presence on the field was limited as a freshman, appearing in just two games: vs Washington and at the Rose Bowl vs Ohio State.
The Forney, Texas native is smaller than Thieneman, Woodyard, and Lopa, but projects to be a quicker, faster safety than his teammates, and according to Gabe Brooks of 247Sports, has potential to play nickel or corner.
His twitchy speed and impressive wingspan could make him a versatile piece in the defense.
Aaron Flowers impressed in his debut spring game in 2024, and could make another strong impression in this year's edition, April 26 at Autzen Stadium.
Trey McNutt - True Freshman
Bout that time…@oregonfootball #ScoDucks pic.twitter.com/YmcyVgVImL
— Trey McNutt (@trey_mcnutt) April 5, 2025
McNutt was a consensus top five safety in the class of 2024, his highest ranking being the number one safety in the nation (Rivals).
The safety hails from Cleveland, Ohio, and was a massive recruiting get for the Ducks, beating out Big Ten foe Ohio State, especially considering McNutt’s Father was a national champion on the Buckeyes.
His recruiting rank indicates he has the highest upside of any of the young Oregon safeties, but his lack of experience overall, and “Oregon experience” tell us he may not see meaningful snaps right away.
McNutt is the highest ranked safety to ever sign with the Ducks, and will be a part of a very, very special secondary class, alongside the 3 corners who signed: five-star Na’eem Offord, high four-star Brandon Finney, and high four-star Dorian Brew. That class helped Chris Hampton win the 247Sports recruiter of the year award.
Stay tuned to Autzen Zoo for more updates on the young, but talented safety spot, and see all of them in action on April 26 in Oregon’s spring game at Autzen Stadium, or on the Big Ten Network.