It's impossible to propose an Oregon Mount Rushmore on the defensive line without Nick Reed. The numbers demand it, and his service to the country make it impossible to ignore him.
His dad was a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy. Nick Reed piled up the all-time Oregon career record in sacks with 29.5, made All-American in 2008, spent four years in the NFL, then entered the Air Force.
When the Ducks won the Rose Bowl in 2019, Reed did the flyover in a B-2 bomber.
Reed was an effort guy. He made Captain in the Air Force in five years, and on the field for the Ducks he was every-down relentless despite not being exceptionally physically gifted at 6-1, 248.
He flew C-21 missions in Europe. He told the UO alumni magazine, βOne that I found especially rewarding was aeromedical evacs, basically an ambulance for American service members in Western Europe."
βWe had 10 urgent patients that we brought from different corners of Europe back to the central medical hub in Ramstein. While being exciting, it was also very rewarding.β
No all-time list would be complete without him, as a player, a student and a citizen.
Haloti Ngata
Ngata made the College Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2025, the eighth Duck ever inducted. A Consensus All-American in 2005 and a first-round draft pick for the Ravens, he absolutely wrecked opposing offenses with a frightening sideline-to-sideline quickness.
Ngata was a destroyer, prodigiously strong and quick, a national champion as a high school rugby player who could dunk a basketball at 6-4, 331.
Todays #ThrowbackThursday we bring to you former #Ducks DT Haloti Ngata - @Haloti_Ngata92 is in his 13th year in the NFL and forever an Oregon Duck! #SuperBowlChamp #5TimeProBowl #CaliFLOCK π¦π₯π¦π₯ pic.twitter.com/Wywqgaj6kA
β OregonGridiron (@OregonGridiron) June 14, 2018
For his warrior intensity and dominant physical presence, Ngata stands as one of the greatest Oregon defensive players of all-time. It would have been fun to line him up at fullback, just to see what happened.
Haloti Ngata, former Super Bowl champion & 2x first team all pro, was a junior rugby player. Quite easy to imagine he could have had strong career as a dynamic tighthead.
β Tier 2 Rugby (@T2Rugby) September 4, 2024
USA rugby problem always going to be football sucks up their biggest star potential.pic.twitter.com/jdQCoHulVI
Kayvon Thibodeaux
A 5-star recruit and a Unanimous All-American in 2021, the New York Giants drafted 5th overall in the first round in 2022. His best season came as a freshman in the Rose Bowl year of 2019, nine sacks, 35 tackles, 3 passes defended, one forced fumble.
Thibodeaux was supremely talented. Though injuries dampened his effectiveness, the physical gifts place him on the mythical Rushmore.
#Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux gave us all a reminder last night why he is in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in April.
β Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 16, 2021
He had 11 pressures in the 2nd half! Pure dominance. pic.twitter.com/Rm6VlfVE68
DeForest Buckner
From Punahou High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, Buckner led the Oregon defense to the national championship game in the 2014 season, named a First Team All-American in 2015 and PAC-12 Defensive Player of the year.
As a junior Buckner racked up 81 tackles and four sacks. He came back for his senior year and put up 83 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, phenomenal production for the 6-7, 295 defensive tackle.
Today's #ThrowbackThursday is DeForest Buckner. @DeForestBuckner is a former First Round draft pick. DeForest was also a First Team All-American and All-Pac member. DeForest is everything you want in a player. #BeastMode RealDeal44 #TrueDuck #CantBlockHim π¦π₯π¦π₯ pic.twitter.com/yxsg8kYYYs
β OregonGridiron (@OregonGridiron) June 28, 2018
While there's only room for four on the Rushmore, Derrick Harmon's phenomenal performance last season has to be mentioned. With his mother critically ill Harmon recorded 55 quarterback pressures, 45 tackles, five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss while tying up blocks inside and wrecking opposing offenses.
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Harmon in the first round, 21st.
Steelers first rounder Derrick Harmon says heβs not overwhelmed by the amount of info being thrown at him during rookie minicamp.
β Amanda Godsey (@AmandaFGodsey) May 9, 2025
βIβm coming from Oregon, they throw everything at us. I was in the NFL at Oregon. I feel like Iβm right here. They prepare us at Oregon very well.β pic.twitter.com/e1XbrPyw68
Brandon Bair, Kenny Rowe, Arik Armstead and Vince Goldsmith all deserve acknowledgement. Goldsmith had 87 tackles as a sophomore 1978 and 281 for his career. Bair was another of the relentless motor types inside, 16 tackles for loss in 2010.
NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2024, the 49ers drafted Armstead 17th overall in the first round in 2015.
Defensive end and pro linebacker Dave Wilcox is one of seven Oregon players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.