Preseason Camp Preview: Linebacker

Assessing where things stand for the Oregon football team entering the start of preseason camp Aug. 3.

LINEBACKERS

Who's back: Oregon's defense took major strides in 2017, and that was despite having to patch together the linebacking unit over the course of the season. The Ducks rotated through four different starters at one inside linebacker spot, and utilized three different schematic groupings to get the best four guys on the field based on the offensive personnel. This fall the defense is poised to take another leap forward, in part because no longer will the linebackers be patchwork.

Troy Dye is one of the best in the country inside, a preseason all-American who with another outstanding year figures to generate NFL draft buzz as a junior. But the Ducks are more than just Dye – college football analyst Phil Steele rates this the No. 14 linebacking unit in the country owing as well to the returning outside tandem of Justin Hollins and La'Mar Winston Jr. Last season, the bookend to Hollins was a revolving door depending on the opponent, but Winston emerged as a reliable base defender at midseason and will look to continue that progress as a junior.

There's also a ton of veteran depth, including Kaulana Apelu inside and Bryson Young outside, along with Keith Simms, who came off a redshirt year to dominate spring practice playing both inside and outside. The Ducks also return Sampson Niu, who missed spring drills while rehabbing an injury suffered in the Las Vegas Bowl, after showing good instincts and a warrior spirit once he shed his redshirt at midseason.

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Who's new: Along with Simms, redshirt freshman Isaac Slade-Matautia enjoyed a breakout spring as well. Though giving up some size, Slade-Matautia has demonstrated a nose for the ball since arriving in Eugene, and he was a consistent playmaker in the spring. "He's only a redshirt freshman, but he's so instinctive," UO co-defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt raved to The Athletic this offseason. "If he stays healthy and does all that he's supposed to do, he's gonna be one of the best in the Pac-12."

Spring also featured the UO debut of transfer D.J. Johnson, who played both outside linebacker and defensive end. He'll sit out this season as a redshirt. True freshmen Adrian Jackson and MJ Cunningham enrolled over the summer, and figure to have a good shot at early playing time. And the Ducks addressed a significant lack of depth by adding several walk-ons, including JC transfer Matt Christman plus freshmen Chris Beedles, Anthony Booker, Avery Burt, Nate Heaukulani, Isaiah Pitre and Nick Wiebe.

ROB'S TAKE

Projected depth chart
OLB: Justin Hollins, Sr.; Bryson Young, Jr.; Matt Christman, Jr.; Anthony Booker, Fr.; D.J. Johnson, So.
ILB: Troy Dye, Jr.; Sampson Niu, So.; Adrian Jackson, Fr.; Nate Heaukulani, Fr.
ILB: Isaac Slade-Matautia, RFr.; Kaulana Apelu, Sr.; MJ Cunningham, Fr.; Nick Wiebe, Fr.
OLB: La'Mar Winston Jr., Jr.; Keith Simms, RSo.; Chris Beedles, Fr.; Avery Burt, Fr.; Isaiah Pitre, Fr.

What to watch: Dye, Hollins and Winston seem like sure bets to start the opener, but the identity of the other inside linebacker figures to become known over the course of August. Apelu has the experience, but has struggled to stay healthy in his career when playing every down; Niu flashed late last season but missed the spring; Slade-Matautia had a monster spring but lacks any game experience; and Simms is coming off an injury, and could be more valuable on the edge. And what about a freshman like Jackson? He showed up to Eugene in excellent shape; might he or Cunningham crack the rotation as a freshman? If nothing else, they have the body types to be valuable on special teams right away. And not to be overlooked is the value of the new non-scholarship guys. The Ducks used a very stream-lined roster in 2017, which sometimes put a huge strain on the scout team; the improved depth should make that a more effective unit day in and day out in practice.

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