Five Oregon defensive breakout candidates for 2022

Oregon will head into 2022 minus its two most impactful defensive players from last season — Kayvon Thibodeaux and Verone McKinley III.

Both are headed for the NFL Draft, and Dan Lanning will have a massive job on his hands trying to replace the pair of 2021 All-Americans. And yet, it doesn’t take much imagining to think the Ducks’ defense can take a major step forward anyway.

With some elite talent in the front-seven and a promising young group in the secondary, there were be plenty of opportunities for players who have flown under the radar to carve out marquee roles.

Here are five Oregon defensive players who could be set for breakout seasons in 2022. On Thursday, ScoopDuck also released a list of offensive breakout candidates.

Jeffrey Bassa

Technically, 2021 was already a breakout year of sorts for Jeffrey Bassa.

The former 4-star signee wasn’t necessarily expected to secure playing time as a true freshman, but after Oregon’s early-season injury crisis, Bassa converted from safety to inside linebacker and was a revelation for the Ducks.

He finished the year with 48 total tackles and a sack and was one of the Ducks’ most dynamic defensive playmakers toward the end of the season.

Bassa has proven he can be a difference-maker at the Pac-12 level. Now, whether he sticks at linebacker or shifts back to safety, 2022 could be the year he becomes a full-fledged star.

Trikweze Bridges

Oregon is going to need its young group of cornerbacks to grow up quickly.

Mykael Wright and DJ James are both gone, which means the Ducks are in search of two new starting corners. It’s fair to assume that incoming transfer Christian Gonzalez is going to lock down one of those spots.

Most likely, the other spot will come down to a position battle between Trikweze Bridges and Dontae Manning. Avante Dickerson, Jaylin Davies, and Darren Barkins could absolutely be in the mix as well, but Bridges (282) and Manning (258) both played significant snaps for Oregon last season.

Ideally, one of the two would establish themselves as the clear-cut starter. My bet would be Bridges, a uniquely talented player who seems as though he could be poised for a really big season in 2022.

Bradyn Swinson

There is no easy way to go about replacing Thibodeaux.

But the loss of the two-time All-American hurts Oregon a little less when they have a talent like Bradyn Swinson waiting in the wings.

Swinson flashed moments of brilliance last fall as a redshirt freshman. But he was also hindered by a torn meniscus, which he suffered during his breakout performance in Week 2 at Ohio State. He wasn’t quite as dynamic after returning four weeks later, but it’s still clear that he has a very promising future for the Ducks.

Swinson figures to be Oregon’s most productive edge-rusher next season. With Brandon Dorlus, Popo Aumavae, and Noah Sewell all demanding attention from opposing defenses, Swinson should get plenty of one-on-ones and reap the benefits.

Daymon David

It’s difficult to tell at this point where Daymon David will fit into the puzzle that is Oregon’s secondary.

But with McKinley III and Jordan Happle both gone, David is going to play plenty. An ultra-talented prospect who was On3’s No. 9 overall safety in the class of 2021, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see David make a huge leap now that he has a college season under his belt.

At this point, safety appears to be the weak link of Oregon’s defense for the simple fact there aren’t many proven returners there. With Steve Stephens IV recovering from a major injury, there is even more at the position.

David could very well be a player who adds some stability to the Ducks’ secondary.

Jackson LaDuke

Add Jackson LaDuke to the list of exciting young players who had their 2021 season wiped out by injuries.

LaDuke, a former 4-star signee, did not play a snap for the Ducks until Week 12 because of a leg injury. Once he returned, he added some much-needed depth at inside linebacker and flashed plenty of potential.

If all goes as planned for the Ducks next season, Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell will rarely leave the field. But Oregon found out the hard way in 2021 just how crucial it is to have options at every position.

As far as backup options go, LaDuke is a phenomenal player to have available, and he’s only going to get better as he sees more game action. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if he establishes himself as a key rotation player next fall.