Ducks In Line for a Playoff Boost as Another Key Player Signals Return

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dale Bliss | Last updated Nov 27, 2024 3:46 PM ET

Oregon cornerback Jahlil Florence, a top cover guy who's been missing from the lineup since a knee injury against Washington last year, hinted at a return in a social media post yesterday afternoon.

On X, Florence, a 6-1, 190 four-star defensive back from Lincoln High School in San Diego, posted a picture of himself leaping in the air and celebrating after a first-half interception against the Dawgs, but the hint was an icon of two cartoon alarm clocks in the upper left-hand corner, no caption.

The implication was that the junior pass breakup artist is nearly ready to take the field. Florence started 9 games for the Ducks last year and finished with 27 tackles, an interception and a sack, a physical corner with a tackling grade of 76 from PFF.

His potential return is huge for the Ducks in that if he is full-go for the Big Ten Championship, he gives the secondary an additional proven cover guy matching up with Ohio State's deep lineup of receivers. The Buckeyes boast Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka in their starting trio along with Brandon Inniss and Gee Scott, a group that's combined for over 2300 yards and 25 touchdowns this year, with Smith and Egbuka leading the way with 9 TD catches each.

Florence's return gives the Ducks a better chance of getting everyone covered. He's also a physical tackler who has the ability to come up in run support and make a tackle in space against Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.

If the doctors say he's ready to go along with Jordan Burch, Tez Johnson and Matthew Harper II, Oregon could be the most physically complete team entering the playoff, a timetable that defies the poor injury luck of their last championship run in 2014. That year they faced the Buckeyes without Devon Allen, Darren Carrington or Pharoah Brown.