Updated list of linebackers for Oregon to consider in the transfer portal
Even before linebacker Keith Brown announced over the weekend that he would be entering the transfer portal and leaving the Oregon Ducks, linebacker was a position of relative need for Dan Lanning’s defense.
While you have a lot of talented players, there isn’t an exorbitant amount of depth. With guys like Jeffrey Bassa, Jestin Jacobs, and now — without Brown — Jamal Hill leading the way, and unproven players like Devon Jackson, Harrison Taggart, and Elijah Williams behind them, it’s easy to see that the Ducks could stand to add a player or two to the LB room.
That was the case before Brown entered the portal, and it’s been turned into a more dire need since the roster move.
Fortunately for Oregon, there are a number of really solid options available in the transfer portal. While more players will continue to enter the portal and eventually come off of the board, the Ducks will likely reach out to a handful of guys who they think can improve their roster instantly.
Here are some players that I think the Ducks might try and target.
Rian Davis
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Former School: Georgia Bulldogs
Career Stats: 16 Games | 17 tackles, 0.5 TFL
247Sports Rating: 4-star (0.9590)
*Note: Played under Dan Lanning with the Georgia Bulldogs, and was offered by the Oregon Ducks back during his recruitment in 2018. You have to feel pretty confident that Lanning has already reached out.
Jaheim Thomas
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Former School: Cincinnati Bearcats
Career Stats: 23 Games | 95 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 2.5 satcks
247Sports Rating: 4-star (0.8940)
Shammond Cooper
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Former School: Illinois Fighting Illini
Career Stats: 10 Games | 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL
247Sports Rating: 4-star (0.9028)
Itayvion Brown
Former School: Michigan State Spartans
Career Stats: 8 Games | 5 tackles
247Sports Rating: 4-star (0.8976)
Sav'ell Smalls
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Former School: Washington Huskies
Career Stats: 22 Games | 32 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Fumble Recovery
247Sports Rating: 5-star (0.9843)
*Note: Smalls is technically an outside linebacker or an edge rusher, so while he doesn’t exactly fit in as a Ketih Brown replacement at inside linebacker, we wanted to include him on this list of potential transfer prospects for Oregon, because I wouldn’t be shocked if Dan Lanning reached out. Smalls took multiple visits to Eugene before committing to Washington and was recruited strongly by Tosh Lupoi when it was at Alabama.
Desmond Tisdol
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Former School: Auburn Tigers
Career Stats: 15 Games | 17 tackles
247Sports Rating: 4-star (0.9140)
Derrick Brown
Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Former School: Texas Longhorns
Career Stats: No Stats (Class of 2022)
247Sports Rating: 4-star (0.8986)
Kaden Ludwick
Former School: Colorado Buffaloes
Career Stats: No Stats (Class of 2022)
247Sports Rating: 3-star (0.8556)
*Note: Kaden Ludwick is from Clackamas, and was rated as the No. 7 player in the state of Oregon during the 2022 class.
Trevell Johnson
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Former School: Texas Longhorns
Career Stats: No Stats (Class of 2022)
247Sports Rating: 3-star (0.8826)
Devin Hightower
Former School: Cincinnati Bearcats
Career Stats: 2 Games | 5 tackles
247Sports Rating: 3-star (0.8680)
Josiah Robinson
David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
Former School: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Career Stats: 13 Games | 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL
247Sports Rating: 3-star (0.8263)
