Grading UO football's offseason so far. A look at the Ducks' roster

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The NFL draft decision deadline has come and gone for Oregon football, and the Ducks are still hard at work pulling last-second commitments from transfer portal entrants after the transfer period closed Jan. 16.

Following another loss in the College Football Playoffs, this time to Indiana at the Peach Bowl in the semifinals, UO is retooling its roster ahead of the 2026 season and should once again be a top 10-ranked team come the preseason.

Here are two Oregon position groups that got better thanks to its offseason haul, and two with something to prove before the Ducks take on Boise State in their 2026 season opener in September.

Two Oregon football position groups that got better

Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola have Ducks set for QB present and future

Any time you return a quarterback with a first-round NFL draft grade, there’s reason to celebrate. Starter Dante Moore announced his return to the Ducks on ESPN Jan. 14, which gives Oregon some continuity at the position, as well as an experienced signal-caller to guide what should be another explosive Duck offense.

And just like Moore’s transfer to Oregon, to sit and wait a year behind the more experienced Dillon Gabriel in 2024, the Ducks have found their QB in waiting in Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola.

The former five-star prospect and two-year starter for the Cornhuskers is reportedly willing to wait his turn while recovering from a broken fibula he suffered during the 2025 season.

For at least the next two seasons, Oregon’s quarterback room is completely set.

Koi Perich, Aaron Scott Jr. gives experienced DB room much-needed versatility

After breaking in a completely new defensive backfield in 2025, the Ducks will not have to replace as many key cogs in 2026. Breakout star Brandon Finney Jr. will be making his return at outside corner after a strong freshman campaign while corner Ify Obidegwu will likely start on the opposite boundary.

Dillon Thieneman is gone, as well as starting nickel Jadon Canady and key reserve Daylen Austin. But otherwise, the Ducks were mostly in the portal to fill depth and get better, rather than fill crucial roles.

Koi Perich, an all-conference safety at Minnesota last season, provides much-needed experience in the back end, along with Baylor transfer Carl Williams IV. The Ducks also added former five-star recruit Aaron Scott Jr. from Ohio State and return touted freshmen from last season like Trey McNutt and Na’eem Offord.

Not to mention another top-5 recruiting class that features blue-chip prospects Jett Washington and Devin Jackson.

Two Oregon football position groups that have something to prove

Ducks’ DL hit hard by portal entrants

With former Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi off to take the head job of California, and every 2025 starter announcing his return in 2026, the Ducks understandably lost quite a bit of depth along the defensive line.

Most probably didn’t envision the Ducks losing a combined seven defensive linemen and edge rushers to the transfer portal, leaving a huge void to back up starters Bear Alexander, A’Mauri Washington, Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti.

The edge rusher group should be all right, even with the loss to key reserve Blake Purchase. Five-star freshman Anthony “Tank” Jones will likely get a good share of reps along with Elijah Rushing. But along the defensive line, the Ducks had to go out and add Jerome Simmons (Louisiana-Monroe) and D’Antre Robinson (North Carolina) to fill massive gaps in their depth.

The starting unit looks to be one of the best in college football, but Oregon’s depth will once again have to prove itself in 2026.

Who steps up for Oregon football at linebacker?

The Ducks’ coaching staff doubled down on its young linebackers in 2025, opting to not go to the portal to fill out depth with a young group of reserves in Brayden Platt and Dylan Williams. With the graduation of leading tackler Bryce Boettcher, someone will have to step up and fill the void left by one of the most prolific tacklers in recent Oregon memory.

Oregon once again did not chase an experienced inside linebacker in the portal and will likely preach a belief in its young and unproven, but talented, core.

Jerry Mixon and Devon Jackson are far and away the most experienced ‘backers on Oregon’s roster, but Platt and Williams have been waiting in the wings for two seasons now. Throw in Gavin Nix, a top prospect who redshirted in 2025, and 2026 signees Braylon Hodge and Tristan Phillips are intriguing incoming freshmen to watch.

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: How Oregon football has retooled its roster after transfer period

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