'Bryce Boettcher 2.0;' Chris Hampton's comparison for new Oregon LB

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Bryce Boettcher was everything that the Oregon Ducks could’ve wanted out of a linebacker. Not only was he a heat-seeking missile towards the football, totaling 136 tackles in 2025, but Boettcher was the leader of the defense during his two seasons as a starter.

As a three-star dual-threat quarterback, Boettcher walked-on to the football team as part of the 2020 recruiting class. During his four seasons that he saw the field with the program, the Eugene native endeared himself to Duck fans, earning the nickname “Mr. Eugene.”

While that moniker will only be spoken about Boettcher, every other trait that the Ducks standout linebacker embodies appears in class of 2026 linebacker Tristan Phillips, according to Oregon defensive coordinator Chris Hampton.

“This guy here,” Hampton said while making a radio show appearance, referring to Phillips’ highlights playing on-screen. “Tristan Phillips, this guy’s Bryce Boettcher 2.0. He will tattoo you.”

But Hampton wasn’t done, as Phillips repeatedly tracked down ball-carriers and forced them to the ground while he was talking.

Hampton drew from another one of Boettcher’s characteristics that was seen on the field, but also off of it: leadership.

“He was the leader of our class, I would say, recruited a bunch of guys, helped get guys in the boat,” Hampton continued about Phillips. “He’s been a Duck through and through from Ventura, California. He’s a great kid, he’s about 220 pounds right now and he’s gonna be a 230, 235-pound linebacker that will knock you backwards.”

Oregon brought in the No. 2 2026 recruiting class, complete with four five-stars and 14 four-stars. Phillips was among the latter group, yet was ranked as the No. 34 linebacker in the class and No. 436 player overall, per 247 Sports Composite — both numbers that could light a fire under a player much like Boettcher, who played with a chip on his shoulder throughout his entire Ducks career.

Hampton’s high praise of Phillips before he even steps on the field for Oregon places heavy expectations on the true freshman, but there’s no better former Duck to be compared to at the linebacker position in recent memory than Boettcher.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks DC Chris Hampton offers high praise for Tristan Phillips

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