Jeffrey Bassa emerging as "leader" for Oregon as he enters pivotal junior season

As a true sophomore last season, Jeffrey Bassa was thrown in the fire, so to speak. The Ducks began the 2022 campaign with a duo of superstars penciled in at the starting inside linebacker spots — Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe. Both were former 5-star signees, and both had captured the imagination of Oregon fans with their old-school, physical style of play. But all did not go according to plan. Flowe never found his footing with the Ducks and struggled to make an impact. Sewell battled nagging injuries throughout the year and looked like a shell of himself early in the season. Meanwhile, it was Bassa who established himself as Oregon's most consistent inside 'backer. Now, as he enters his junior season, Bassa is setting the tone for the Ducks both on and off the field.