Oregon football: Linebacker Jeffrey Bassa named to 2024 Nagurski Trophy Watch List
By Ethan Lee
The Oregon Ducks football team is continuing to get plenty of attention heading into the 2024 college football season. And there’s a good reason for that. The Ducks have a lot of talent all over the field. And that includes standout inside linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, who was recently named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
That shouldn’t shock anyone who has kept up with Bassa’s career. He’s been exceptional for the Ducks and his potential to be one of the nation’s top defensive players certainly exists as the Oregon football team gears up for the 2024 season.
Bassa was dominant throughout the 2023 season. As a junior, Bassa started all 14 games for the Ducks and emerged as a key leader for Dan Lanning’s defense. Last season, Bassa was named a second team All-Pac-12 player by coaches and the Associated Press.
During the 2023 season, Bassa thrived, recording an impressive 72 total tackles, 42 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a pick six.
Oregon football: Jeffrey Bassa earns spot on 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
Right alongside Bassa’s growth and improvement, the Oregon Ducks also improved on defense as a whole and his play is a key reason for that. Oregon had the No. 9 scoring defense in the country, the No. 11 rushing defense, and the No. 22 total defense last season.
If the Ducks can once again field that sort of defense (and the offense continues to thrive), then we’re likely to see this Oregon football team compete for a national championship. Because that’s going to be a hard group to beat.
As the Oregon Ducks get set for the 2024 season (and their first year in their new conference), Bassa’s leadership and presence will be very, very important. Oregon will continue to need his playmaking ability to help seal up the middle of the defense as they try to find success in the Big Ten as they did in the Pac-12.