Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator ecstatic about the competition his young players are bringing to the cornerback room
The Ducks lost all of their starting corners from the 2024 season and will now be tasked with replacing the unit with young but talented players.
The Oregon Ducks were one of the best teams in the country last season, but they face a massive challenge entering the 2025 season as they must replace 18 starters from last year’s 13-1 team. While head coach Dan Lanning and his staff have done a marvelous job attacking the high school recruiting trail and the transfer portal, there are still plenty of question marks with this roster as we head into week two of fall camp.
Perhaps no position group is as much of a question as the Ducks’ corner room, which lost every starter from the 2024 team. Luckily for the Ducks, the corner room is loaded with young, albeit inexperienced talent.
Co-defensive coordinator Chris Hampton was asked about his young corner room Monday after practice and gave his thoughts. “Great. We had an outstanding competition, young guys and old guys. There is no depth chart. The competition has been great,” Hampton said.
Northwestern transfer Theran Johnson will likely secure one of the open outside corner spots as he continues to impress through five fall camp practices. Johnson is a long and athletic corner who excels in man coverage–something the Ducks like to do a lot of in Lanning’s scheme. The redshirt senior is the most experienced player in the cornerback room and will be counted on as a leader in the 2025 season.
Redshirt junior Jahlil Florrence and redshirt Freshman Ify Obidegwu are the two favorites to start opposite Johnson. Florence started nine games for the Ducks in 2023 opposite the late Khyree Jackson and was excellent on the field. Unfortunately, Florence missed all of the 2024 season dealing with an injury, but he is back healthy and ready to return to his 2023 level.
Obidegwu was one of the prized recruits in Oregon’s 2024 recruiting class and has the chance to be a future star. He has outstanding athleticism and offers rare ball skills for the corner position. He is coming off a stellar spring and is already impressing his defensive coordinator early in fall camp.
When asked about his ascending corner, Hampton said, “He’s having a great camp. It’s only five practices in, but I expect big things from him this season.”
Competition brings out the best in football players, and it’s clear that the Ducks’ corner room is having one heck of a competition. With a nice mix of youth and raw talent, expect whoever starts at corner for the Ducks to get the job done.
