2024 Linebacker Outlook: Depth is not an issue, portal could help
The 2023 season is now behind us, and while there is still a bowl game to be played — The Fiesta Bowl vs. The Liberty Flames — Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks are working hard on the construction of their roster and hitting the transfer portal in attempts to formulate what this team will look like going into the 2024 season, the team’s first year in the Big Ten Conference. While they work on bringing new players in via the transfer portal, we want to look at the future breakdown of each position, detailing current players on the roster, incoming recruits, and potential targets on the market right now.
So far this offseason, we’ve broken down the future of the Quarterbacks, Running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, cornerbacks, and defensive linemen. Now let’s focus on the linebackers.
Oregon has no shortage of linebackers slated to be on the 2024 roster and as the Ducks enter the Big Ten Conference, the more run-stoppers they have, the better.
As of now, veterans such as Jeffrey Bassa, Jestin Jacobs, Connor Soelle and Bryce Boettcher are all set to make their mark on the Big Ten. Since he came from Iowa, Jacobs should be able to tell his fellow linebackers the ropes and what to expect from the conference.
Other than that core four, experience will be at a premium, which is why Duck fans should expect Dan Lanning to search the transfer portal to help out with that experience.
Oregon has many other players already on the roster as linebacker talent has been a priority since Lanning arrived. The Ducks should see the beginnings of that labor beginning next season. Those first two incredible recruiting classes should be ready to make an impact, especially at linebacker, in 2024.
2023 Offseason Departures
Jamal Hill
Oregon has only seen one departure so far from the linebacker position, but it’s a significant player. Jamal Hill has been Ducks since 2019 and will be missed.
Hill finishes his time in Eugene with 144 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks in 49 games.
Already Rostered: Jeffrey Bassa
Career Stats: 37 games | 741 snaps, 173 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 INT
Years of Eligibility: 1 year
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: High
Analysis
Jeffrey Bassa will be one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten (weird to say) for 2024. He was named to the Second-Team All-Pac-12 this season with his 63 tackles and one interception.
Already Rostered: Jestin Jacobs
Career Stats: 26 games | 294 snaps, 94 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT
Years of Eligibility: 1 year
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: High
Analysis
Oregon anxiously waited for Jacobs to get healthy and it was worth the wait. Once he got on the field, the former Iowa Hawkeye made an impact. Jacobs has 31 tackles and a sack in seven games. Assuming he stays healthy, Jacobs should be a starter in 2024.
Already Rostered: Bryce Boettcher
Career Stats: 25 games | 388 snaps, 38 tackles, 1 sack
Years of Eligibility: 2 years
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Medium
Analysis
Boettcher made great strides this season, beginning with the Spring Game after playing mostly on special teams last year. The two-sport performer (baseball) has 36 tackles this season, 2.5 for loss and a sack. In 2024, Boettcher could compete for a starting job.
Already Rostered: Connor Soelle
Career Stats: 36 games | 259 snaps, 72 tackles
Years of Eligibility: 1 year
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Medium
Analysis
Soelle played in all 13 games in a backup role where he had 19 tackles after transferring to Oregon from Arizona State. With a good off-season and spring, Soelle will compete for a starting role.
Already Rostered: Devon Jackson
Career Stats: 16 games | 210 snaps, 18 tackles, 1.5 for loss
Years of Eligibility: 3 years
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Medium
Analysis
2024 has a chance to be a breakout season for Jackson depending on who transfers in and out. He was a semifinalist for the high school Butkus Award, a consensus four-star recruit and a top-five player from Nebraska, so the raw talent is there. As a redshirt sophomore next season, Ducks fans might get to see the beginnings of the next great linebacker at Oregon.
Already Rostered: Chip Allers
Career Stats: No Stats
Years of Eligibility: 4 years
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Low
Analysis
Allers was a three-star recruit out of Bend, Ore. and Summit High School where he led the state with 15 sacks his senior year. He redshirted this year and would most likely be a special teams player for 2024.
Already Rostered: Elijah Williams
Career Stats: No Stats
Years of Eligibility: 3 years
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Low
Analysis
The three-year letter winner at Saint Ignatius earned honorable mention All-Chicago Catholic League recognition as a senior were he made 53 tackles with 12 TFL and five sacks in his final season. He redshirted in 2022 and didn’t play in 2023. If he remains with the Ducks, Williams would most likely see the field on special teams.
Already Rostered: Jerry Mixon
Career Stats: 7 games | 65 snaps, 5 tackles, 1 for loss
Years of Eligibility: 3 years
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Low
Analysis
Mixon was a consensus three-star recruit and the No. 3 inside linebacker out of California in the Class of 2023. He managed to get his feet wet this season in garbage time, but played well when given the opportunity. Expect Mixon to be a significant special teams player in 2024 and then break out in 2025.
Incoming Recruit: Brayden Platt
247 Sports Recruiting Rating: 4-Star (No. 51 overall, No. 4 LB)
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Low
Analysis
Platt is the No. 1 player in Washington and turned down Oklahoma and UCLA to come to Oregon. He may see the field as a true freshman, either on special teams and/or in garbage time. At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, once he gets into Oregon’s strength and conditioning program, Platt will probably gain 10-15 pounds and be more of an impact in 2025 as a sophomore.
Incoming Recruit: Kamar Mothudi
247 Sports Recruiting Rating: 4-Star (No. 197 overall, No. 18 LB)
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Low
Analysis
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Mothudi would be best served to get a year in the strength and conditioning program to gain some muscle weight. Expect him to redshirt in 2024, learn the system and play in 2025.
Incoming Recruit: Dylan Williams
247 Sports Recruiting Rating: 4-Star (No. 290 overall, No. 25 LB)
2024 Major Impact Likelihood: Low
Analysis
Williams is listed at 6-foot-2.5 and just 210 pounds. He would have to do some extensive work to gain some weight. It’s a very real possibility Williams changes position to either safety or if he can catch, he has a great frame to be a receiver.
Transfer Target: Xavian Sorey, Georgia
Career Stats: 27 games | 214 snaps, 24 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 INT
Years of Eligibility: 3 years
2024 Potential Impact: Medium
Analysis
Any recent Georgia defender entering the transfer portal has to at least take a look at Dan Lanning in Eugene, one would assume. Sorey came Georgia as a composite five-star prospect by 247Sports and ranked as the No. 1 outside linebacker prospect, No. 6 prospect in Florida, and No. 20 prospect nationally. For some reason, it just never worked out for him in Athens and perhaps Lanning and Tosh Lupoi would know how to best utilize Sorey.
Transfer Target: Reid Carrico, Ohio State
Career Stats: 16 games | 79 snaps, 5 tackles
Years of Eligibility: 2 years
2024 Potential Impact: Low-Medium
Analysis
According to some sites, when Ohio State signed Carrico, he was rated as the No. 5 linebacker in the nation. Still, for whatever reason, Carrico hasn’t been able to see the field consistently.
Transfer Target: Marvin Ham, Colorado
Career Stats: 32 games | 420 snaps, 65 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 sack
Years of Eligibility: 1 year
2024 Potential Impact: Medium
Analysis
Ham had his best season this best year as a junior with 36 tackles and 1.5 for loss. While he probably wouldn’t start, Ham would most definitely be in rotation for the Ducks. In the game at Autzen Stadium in 2023, Ham was credited with five tackles.
2024 Linebacker Confidence Level
2024 Linebacker Confidence Level: High
Even if they don’t shore up the position through the portal and they do lose Hill, the linebacker spot will be a strength of the defense in 2024. Jacobs and Bassa are two of the top players at the position and with the Ducks going to the Big Ten next season, having linebacker depth and talent will be very important and Oregon will have both.
