What's new with the Oregon Ducks' CBs ahead of 2026 spring season?
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Coming off of yet another elite season, the Oregon Ducks now go into a new 2026 campaign with higher expectations than they’ve had in quite some time. There’s a belief that it is “championship or bust” in Eugene, thanks to the return of guys like Dante Moore, Evan Stewart, Matayo Uiagalelei, A’Mauri Washington, and Teitum Tuioti. Oregon’s roster is among the best and most experienced in the nation, and there’s a feeling that the ’26 season could be special.
While it may be a stretch to say that anything short of a championship will be considered a failure, there are reasons for the Ducks‘ fanbase to hold such high hopes. Oregon has been building to the 2026 season for a couple of years now, and with the combination of elite young talent like Jordon Davison, Dakorien Moore, and Brandon Finney, among others, along with the aforementioned veterans, it comes as no surprise that the Ducks are considered among the championship favorites going into spring ball.
There are many reasons for fans to be excited about the future in Eugene, but one of the biggest is the youth and strength of the cornerback position. In 2025, the Ducks seemingly stumbled upon what appears to be one of the best pass-defenders in recent Oregon history with true freshman Brandon Finney Jr. The 4-star prospect came in and earned a starting spot from Day 1, and he took over as the CB1, and one of the best cornerbacks in the Big Ten, from his very first game.
The excitement isn’t just limited to Finney, though. Oregon also has young stars like Ify Obidegwu, Na’eem Offord, and Dorian Brew on the roster from last year, expected to step into bigger roles. They also bring in some enticing new players, like Ohio State transfer Aaron Scott and 4-star CB Davon Benjamin, both of whom could see serious roles as well.
All in all, there is a hope and a belief that the Ducks could have one of, if not the best, secondary in the nation next season. Let’s take a deeper look.
Returning Players
CB Brandon Finney Jr.
Finney Jr. had no chance to go to the draft, so it was a no-brainer to return to the school where he is blossoming. He was named to the Second-Team All-Big Ten in addition to being named an FWAA Freshman All-American, and it’s safe to assume that he’ll continue to rack up the accolades barring any injury. There are also some other potential stars in the Oregon secondary, which only strengthens an elite cornerback. What a luxury it is for the Ducks to have someone as promising as Finney Jr. to mentor the rest of the corners on the roster.
CB Ify Obidegwu
Patience gets rewarded often in Eugene, and that’s exactly what could happen for Obidegwu. He came to the Ducks as a promising four-star recruit, but his chances to play came few and far between during his first two seasons. He will remain with the team for 2026, and with the mass migration of cornerbacks, he could very well play a large role. It’s time for him to show why he was so highly touted coming out of high school.
Na’eem Offord
As if Ducks fans weren’t spoiled enough already with Finney Jr., they are on the cusp of another shutdown corner joining the fold. Offord played sparingly in his first season with the team, but he will have every chance to absorb the available playing time in the secondary with all of the departures. He was one of the top-rated recruits coming out of high school, so if everything goes according to plan, then opposing quarterbacks are going to have their hands full with one of the best cornerback tandems in the nation.
Similar to Obidegwu, Brew is hoping that his patience will pay off this coming season after not recording a single stat last year. Another four-star prospect out of high school, Brew adds to Oregon’s secondary loaded with talent. Time will tell if he can earn his way into the mix of cornerbacks this season.
Departing Players
Jadon Canady
Canady, trying to take the next step and get to the NFL, is going to be a massive loss for Oregon to try and recover from. He played five years in college and brought a ton of experience to a roster that had very little. Luckily, he got to spend an entire season nurturing and mentoring the next generation of Ducks defensive backs. Whether Canady gets drafted or not, he has a high likelihood of being on a roster to start training camp, so hopefully the returning cornerbacks were able to absorb some of his knowledge.
Theran Johnson
Johnson is going to join Canady as a draft selection, and both are projected to be selected in the later rounds. The transfer cornerback didn’t have quite the season that he would have hoped for in Eugene after a breakout 2024 campaign with the Northwestern Wildcats. His numbers decreased across the board, but that could have been attributed to the tremendous depth in Oregon’s secondary. Clearly, NFL teams still have their eyes on him, and he should have a bright future ahead of him.
Sione Laulea
The most significant transfer in the secondary could very well be Laulea. We didn’t get to see him on the field much across his two years in Eugene, but his measurables are any defensive coach’s dream. He stands at six-foot-four, 200 pounds, which is an exceptional size for a cornerback, and could have played a bigger role in a much lighter secondary than last season. He could turn out to be a steal for Missouri.
Dakoda Fields
Fields didn’t take many snaps last season, so he has decided to take his talent elsewhere. Being another massive cornerback, it’s no wonder the Ducks have been prioritizing size in the secondary with all of the big bodies they’ve lost. Fields has dealt with some personal setbacks over the last few years, so hopefully he can get back on track with the Oklahoma Sooners.
CB Daylen Austin
Austin appeared in a good portion of games for the Ducks over the last two seasons, but his snap counts weren’t very high. His limited playing time led him to enter the portal, where he signed with the Arizona Wildcats last week. This wasn’t a situation where Austin wasn’t good enough to play; there were just too many more capable defenders ahead of him on the depth chart. His decision to leave stings, but it allows Oregon to reshape the position after a number of other transfers.
CB Jahlil Florence
This loss is bittersweet, as Florence appeared to have a bright future after an impactful freshman season in 2023. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury shortly after and never returned to that form or built on the success he found. Now, he will join the Missouri Tigers and try to rewrite the story of his career, which he will have all the opportunity to do with multiple years of eligibility remaining. Hopefully, a change of scenery and scheme can rejuvenate him and get him back on track.
Incoming Players
Aaron Scott Jr.
Although nearly half of Oregon’s total transfers out have been from the secondary, they have done excellent work replacing them with high-potential prospects. Scott Jr. is yet another four-star recruit who is looking to reignite the hype they generated as a high schooler. The talent is there for the junior; he was just buried in a deep Ohio State secondary. The Ducks had that type of depth before the transfer portal opened, and even if Scott Jr. never hits his ceiling here, he can fill that void of being a rotational cornerback.
Trevon Watson
Perhaps the most interesting player of this entire position group, Watson will join the Ducks next season after taking an unusual path to division one football. The promising cornerback will head to Eugene by way of junior college, where he played for the College of San Mateo. Lanning and crew must have seen something interesting on his tape that caught their eye, so don’t be surprised if he plays a role in the defensive back rotation.
Azel Banag
Banag is one of the lowest-rated prospects that Oregon has brought in, but don’t let the preliminary evaluation fool you. He has solid size for the cornerback position, standing at six-foot, 170-pounds, and has the athletic versatility to match. He was a multi-sport star in high school, playing soccer along with football, which should have a tremendous impact on critical secondary traits like footwork and balance. Banag may only be a three-star recruit, but he just might end up being a diamond in the rough.
Davon Benjamin
Benjamin could turn out to be a home-run acquisition for the Ducks. The four-star recruit has incredible speed, as evidenced by his 10.92-second 100-meter dash time as a freshman in high school. He also split time between safety and cornerback, something that scouts project him to do in college as well. It seems like Lanning is putting a heavy emphasis on having adaptability and elite athletes in the secondary.
Most Intriguing Storyline to Watch This Spring
Will Ify Obidegwu Be Pushed Hard For CB2 Role?
For the most part, it was Brandon Finney and Ify Obidegwu who acted as the starting cornerbacks for the Ducks in 2025. However, we saw Theran Johnson start a few games and split reps with Obidegwu often throughout the year. While it feels as if Finney’s spot is locked down, I don’t have the same level of confidence that Obidegwu is the for sure starter at CB2 next year. Guys like Na’eem Offord, Aaron Scott Jr., or Dorian Brew could certainly push him for it.
Will they? We may get a good look at this spring. While we won’t see any starting lineups, it will be fascinating to see how some of these guys show out in the spring game.
Biggest Question Facing the Position in 2026
Just How Good Can Brandon Finney and the CB Room Be?
Brandon Finney established himself as arguably the best true freshman cornerback in the nation last year. Can that elevate to becoming the best outright cornerback in the nation this season? That’s the goal for the true sophomore, and while it’s a high bar to set, it feels possible. Outside of just Finney, it’s also fair to believe that the Ducks might really have the best defensive secondary in the nation, assuming that players like Obidegwu, Scott, Offord, and Brew live up to the blue-chip status that they came to Oregon with.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Previewing Oregon Ducks’ CB room ahead of 2026 spring football season
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