Season In Review: LB

Reviewing Oregon's 2023 season and looking ahead to spring drills.

2023 ROSTER
ILB: Jeffrey Bassa, Jr.; Connor Soelle, Jr.; Devon Jackson, RFr.; Elijah Williams, RFr.; Will Straton, Fr.
ILB: Jamal Hill, Sr.; Jestin Jacobs, Jr.; Bryce Boettcher, Jr.; Jerry Mixon, Fr.; Chip Allers, Fr.
OLB: Mase Funa, Sr.; Emar'rion Winston, RFr.; Teitum Tuioti, Fr.; Blake Purchase, Fr.; Jaeden Moore, Fr.

Starters: In Spanish, "El Jefe" means "The Boss," and Jeffrey Bassa embodies his nickname with the Oregon defense. For the second year in a row, Bassa led all UO linebackers in tackles this past season, finishing with 71. He also had one of the signature plays of the season, his pick-six to help secure the Ducks' comeback win at Texas Tech. Bassa truly is the quarterback of the defense — mentally always one step ahead of the opposing offense, and vocal enough to communicate what he sees to the rest of his fellow defenders.

The other inside linebacker spot featured a rotation of starters, beginning with converted defensive back and two-sport contributor Bryce Boettcher. Well suited to defend power running teams, Boettcher shared the starting assignment over the first half of the year with Jamal Hill, another converted defensive back with strong coverage skills. At midseason, though, transfer Jestin Jacobs was cleared to return from injury, and he finished as Oregon's eighth-leading tackler on the year despite missing six games. On the outside, Mase Funa wrapped up his UO career with 20 tackles including 2.5 for loss, playing a spot that split time in various personnel groups with a nickel defensive back.

Reserves: Connor Soelle was a regular on special teams while also providing depth at inside linebacker, Devon Jackson stepped into a bigger role in the rotation inside and Jerry Mixon played in eight games as a true freshman. On the outside, the Ducks debuted a really encouraging group of freshmen that included Teitum Tuioti and Blake Purchase, along with redshirt Emar'rion Winston. Defensively the Ducks were much improved pressuring the quarterback in 2023, and the contributions of those freshmen were a major reason why.

Developmental squad: Yet another young pass rusher held it down on the "look" defense much of the year, Jaeden Moore. On the inside, Elijah Williams was back to set the tone with the scouts, and depth was provided by Will Straton and Chip Allers.

2024 SPRING PREVIEW
Veterans: Jeffrey Bassa, Sr.; Jestin Jacobs, Sr.; Bryce Boettcher, Sr.; Emar'rion Winston, So.; Teitum Tuioti, So.; Blake Purchase, So.; Connor Soelle, Sr.; Devon Jackson, So.; Jerry Mixon, So.; Jaeden Moore, RFr.; Chip Allers, RFr.; Will Straton, RFr.
Newcomers: Jaxson Jones, Fr.; Kamar Mothudi, Fr.; Brayden Platt, Fr.; Elijah Rushing, Fr.

What to Watch: With Bassa and Jacobs back in the fold for 2024, the Ducks should have one of the elite inside linebacker tandems in the country come fall. Boettcher, Soelle, Jackson and Mixon provide depth, and they were joined this month by incoming freshmen Kamar Mothudi and Brayden Platt. On the outside, it will be very interesting come spring to see how much young guys like Winston, Tuioti and Purchase can build on the experience they banked in 2023. They'll get some competition from newcomers Elijah Rushing and Jaxson Jones.