It's been apparent that the Oregon Ducks have been active in the transfer portal, especially when it comes to their secondary. Oregon's not done yet. The Ducks have landed former Ole Miss defensive back Jadon Canady, giving them a piece with position flexibility. It was the third defensive back that the Ducks have brought in via the transfer portal this winter, so why have the Ducks been so heavily targeting the secondary?
Analysis: Ducks sharpen secondary with addition of veteran #OleMiss DB Jadon Canady.
— Max Torres (@mtorressports) February 11, 2025
The Ducks are up to 10 transfer portal commitments: 3 of which are DBs.
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The connection to Jadon Canady is a strong one for the Oregon coaching staff. Co-defensive coordinator Chris Hampton was with Tulane working with the defensive backs for six seasons, and Canady spent time under his coaching at Tulane prior to his time at Ole Miss. Familiarity can be a huge help when bringing players into a program. His experience and ability to line up all over the secondary makes him a valuable piece of the puzzle.
Oregon's secondary will definitely look quite a bit different in 2025. Jabbar Muhammad, Dontae Manning, Brandon Johnson, Nikko Reed, and Tysheem Johnson are all chasing their NFL dreams, meaning all five positions will have new faces next season.
Theran Johnson and Dillon Thieneman, two of the top defensive backs available in the transfer portal, have already been inked to fill two of those positions. Candy will have a chance to earn a starting spot as well. Add in the fact that Oregon has three highly-coveted incoming freshmen in the secondary in Na'eem Offord, Trey McNutt, and Dorian Brew, and suddenly there's a good mix of experience and young talent for the Oregon coaching staff to work with in assembling what they believe will be the roster that gives them the best chance of winning.
Oregon has had a lot of success in recent years with bringing in veteran defensive backs in the transfer portal. Last year alone, Brandon Johnson and Jabbar Muhammad became crucial members of the secondary in their one year in Oregon. This new batch of transfers will look to do the same.
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