Bevy of Oregon defenders, special teamers honored with All-Big Ten
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During the 2025 regular season, the Oregon Ducks‘ defense ranked eighth in scoring defense, third in pass defense and 20th in rush defense. For those reasons alone, it should be no surprise that a bevy of Ducks were present on the All-Big Ten teams and honorable mentions list.
The voting results were released on Wednesday, with safety Dillon Thieneman the lone Oregon standout on the first-team all-conference team.
Transferring from Purdue, Thieneman immediately established himself as a leader in the secondary. Not only has he picked off two passes and registered four passes defensed, proving to be rangy as a deep safety, but he’s also excelled near the line of scrimmage. In all, Thieneman is second on the team with 64 total tackles and has emerged as one of the most reliable second-level run-stoppers on the roster.
Four Ducks were on the second team: linebacker Bryce Boettcher, cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., defensive tackle Bear Alexander and long snapper Luke Basso.
Boettcher has been the leader of the entire defensive unit, finishing with 100 total tackles and playing his best football when the lights have been the brightest. Alexander is much the same, as he always seemed to show up in the biggest moments in his first season as a Duck after transferring to Oregon from USC. A true freshman, Finney defied all expectations and made one of the plays of the year for the Ducks, intercepting Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza and returning it for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Basso earns the second-team honor because we haven’t heard his name called all season — a good thing, considering hearing his name more than likely means he missed a snap.
Three more Ducks were present on the third team, with edge rusher Teitum Tuioti and defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington among them.
Finney, named to the second-team according to the coaches, was a third-team selection by the media. Considering the coaches are involved with the team’s that he’s facing each week, Finney’s second-team coaches selection is highly honorable.
While Tuioti had a big role in 2024, he took another step forward this season, arguably becoming the team’s best edge rusher. Washington has blossomed as well, progressing into an every down contributor alongside Alexander on the interior of the defensive line.
The accolades didn’t stop there, as cornerback Jadon Canady, edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, safety Aaron Flowers, returner Gary Bryant Jr. and kicker Atticus Sappington were named to the honorable mentions list.
Sappington and Canady, in particular, have come into their own down the stretch of the season. They each made critical plays in the Ducks’ 26-14 season-finale victory over Washington: Canady with an end zone interception and Sappington with four made field goals and a career-high 51-yarder.
The individual honors are a direct reflection of the defensive and special teams units as a whole, which have been some of the best in the country in 2025.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Bevy of Oregon Ducks defenders present on 2025 All-Big Ten teams
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