Washington, Finney named top 10 defenders in the nation in 2026

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The Oregon Ducks defense was filled with blue-chippers at every position in 2025, ranking high in a number of statistics nationally during the regular season. As the season progressed, a handful of individuals were recognized for their successes and became known on a national level.

But two stick out from the rest: defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington and cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., both of whom ranked within the top 10 of defensive players entering this fall. Washington came in first at No. 4, being ranked behind Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons, and South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart.

Coming off a season in which he totaled 33 tackles, 15 pressures, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and eight pass break ups, Washington made himself into a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in his first year as a starter — if he’d declared. He opted to return to Eugene for one more season, and will be apart of a dominant front four for the Ducks.

“Coach Dan Lanning has praised Washington as an extremely explosive and powerful player, one who had to work on his competitive stamina,” ESPN’s Eli Lederman and Max Olsen wrote. “He made good gains last year, staying on the field for 50-plus snaps against five ranked opponents. Personnel staffers surveyed by ESPN were higher on Washington and Bear Alexander, the former USC and Georgia transfer who put together his best season in 2025, than pass rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti. But with all four returning, Oregon’s veteran D-line will be a force this fall.”

Finney was four spots lower, coming in at No. 8.

A four-star recruit in the 2025 class, Finney wasn’t expected to command a starting role. But that’s exactly what he did, racking up 42 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack. The Maryland native made some of the biggest plays of the season, including a fourth-quarter pick-six against the Indiana Hoosiers in Week 7. In the Orange Bowl against Texas Tech, he picked off two passes and forced a fumble, coming home with the game’s Defensive MVP award.

“The 6-foot-2, 203-pound cover man didn’t allow a catch in eight of his 15 starts and surrendered just 12 catches on 37 targets last season,” Lederman and Olsen wrote. “According to ESPN Research, Finney finished with the second-best contested target rate (73%) in FBS last season. Dan Lanning and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi trusted him enough to let him play 111 snaps in press coverage, fifth most in the Big Ten.”

That trust will certainly continue in 2026 with Finney having proven to be a dominant defender worthy of ranking in the top 10 in college football.

Oregon edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei and safety Koi Perich received votes for to be ranked within the top 10, but just missed the cut.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Washington, Finney named top 10 defenders in the nation in 2026

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