Some of the best Ducks to suit up since 2022 have been transfer players. Most notably, it began with Christian Gonzalez and Bo Nix, and continued with the likes of Traeshon Holden, Tez Johnson, Ajani Cornelius, Derrick Harmon, and Dillon Gabriel.
Dan Lanning and his staff's ability to acquire, develop, and improve the team and the individual through the portal is arguably better than any other program in the nation. Oregon has followed the correct model thus far, in retaining their great players leaving their junior or redshirt sophomore seasons, and filling holes through the portal.
This year's portal cycle is the best to date for the Ducks, and filled every needed hole in a near-perfect way. Leaving 2024, the major question marks for the Ducks were the lack of experience in the secondary, the lack of experience on the interior defensive line, and a couple big holes left on the offensive line. Also, the safety position has been extremely underwhelming in the Lanning era. They needed a talented tight end to comfortably be in 12 or 13 personnel.
They filled all of those needs in a big, big way. Oregon also returns many notable draft eligbile players, including wide receiver Evan Stewart and linebacker Bryce Boettcher. The outlook of the roster has many anticipating another great year, in competition for the ultimate goal.
In the secondary, Oregon lost its top six, or seven of their top eight (to split hairs) defensive backs. Jabbar Muhammad, Nikko Reed, Dontae Manning, Kobe Savage, Tysheem Johnson, Brandon Johnson, and Kam Alexander are all off to the NFL. The only defensive backs we saw get any reps of note who are still on the team are corner Sione Laulea, and safeties Kingston Lopa and Peyton Woodyard.
Dan Lanning, Chris Hampton, Rashad Wadood, and Tosh Lupoi have attacked defensive back on the recruiting trail in a big way, and many of those younger players will make an impact on the team, but all of them may not see the field right away, due to their lack of "Oregon experience" as many coaches have put it. If those guys aren't ready, Oregon did a great job making up for that lack of experience.
All Big-ten corner Theran Johnson (Northwestern), and former Ole Miss starter Jadon Canady join the Ducks, and not only bring in experience playing significant college snaps, but relevant college experience.
Johnson, who played at Northwestern, has familiarity with the Big Ten, playing against the best in the conference, but on a significantly worse defense. Canady, though trasnferred from Ole Miss, was formerly at Tulane, and stood out as a true freshman for the Green Wave.
His defensive coordinator at Tulane? Oregon co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Chris Hampton. The importance of being familiar with a position coach and system, and the value that can bring to younger players cannot go understated.
The biggest splash for the Ducks at the position was Purdue safety, Dillon Thieneman. The junior was an all-American, all-Big Ten, and the Big Ten's freshman of the year in 2023. The safety position has been extremely underwhelming in Lanning and Lupoi's tenure. It has been nearly a half-decade since Verone McKinley roamed the back-end of Oregon's defense, the last time that Oregon had an all-American caliber safety.
Thieneman is arguably the second best safety in the nation, and comfortably one of the five best at his position. He is the ultimate difference maker for the Ducks, and fills a massive gap in Oregon's defense.
On the offensive line, the Ducks lost multiple key contributors from 2024. Josh Conerly was the first round selection of the Washington Commanders, Ajani Cornelius was drafted to the Cowboys on day three, and others, like guard Marcus Harper graduated. Dan Lanning and offensive line coach A'lique Terry "dunked on" the rest of the nation in terms of offensive line recruiting in the portal.
USC transfer Emmanuel Pregnon made the right decision for his development, and came to Eugene. Pregnon is 6 feet 5 inches, 320 pounds, experienced, and an easy plug and play for the Ducks. Isaiah World, a left tackle, comes to Oregon via Nevada, and will be the plug and play at left tackle, in place of Josh Conerly.
Isaiah World is considered to be one of the best, if not the best player who entered the transfer portal following the 2024 season, ranked 15th by Rivals, and number two by 247Sports, receiving the rare five-star ranking as a transfer, who was not a five-star high school prospect. World is also projected as one of the top selections in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Ducks also added Alex Harkey, a tackle from Texas State. Some have suggested that Harkey could have some offensive line versatility, and could play inside if needed. Unlike the other two offensive linemen, Harkey is not a guaranteed starter. Gernorris Wilson has received some well deserved buzz through the off-season. Wilson was a highly ranked tackle in the class of 2023, and could very well serve as the starting right tackle for the Ducks this season.
Though we saw plenty of great football from A'mauri Washington in 2024, the Ducks had two very big and talented gaps to fill (literally and figuratively) on the interior of the defensive line, as Jamaree Caldwell and Derrick Harmon went to the NFL. Washington will almost certainly fill one of those, but USC transfer Bear Alexander is a near shoe-in to fill the other spot.
Alexander was a top ten player nationally coming out of high school, and committed to Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs. He has had a rocky college career to this point, rarely seeing the field as a Bulldog, and ending his season very short at USC in 2024, in order to retain eligibility. If there is any place Alexander will be able to improve as a player, and correct the perception of his work ethic, it is Oregon. He will be a key piece of the defensive line rotation, and make a big impact for the Ducks.
Lastly, Oregon had a big need at tight end. Yes, the Ducks have arguably the best tight end in the nation, in Kenyon Sadiq. However, they lost one of the nation's best in Terrance Ferguson, and a very solid option in Patrick Herbert. With a season ending injury to Roger Saleapaga, and inexperience with other options, the Ducks were left to look to the portal.
Jamari Johnson joined the Ducks from Louisville, he was a four-star prospect out of high school, and a high three-star in the portal. Johnson is also inexperienced, but has been hindered by injury through his two years of college. Those two years of experience are equal to, or more than other Oregon tight ends, and fills a big need, especially considering the amount of 12 and 13 personnel Will Stein has utilized.
Oregon valued quality over quantity in the 2025 transfer portal, and added some much needed experience at some spots. Though it may not be as high in quantity or as flashy as teams like LSU or Texas Tech have, it correctly filled all the needs that Oregon had, and will lead to another successful season for Lanning's Ducks.
Though it may not be the highest rated class that Lanning has had, the efficiency of the class, in the sense of just filling needs, and also doing so with the highest of quality talent makes it Oregon's best portal class ever.