Oregon spring game: Defensive players of the game

While the Oregon offense stole the show on Saturday, there were still some noteworthy performances on the defensive side of the ball, too.

The Ducks’ defensive players came through with four interceptions and gave all three quarterbacks trouble throughout the day.

It’s worth noting that the program’s defense as a whole is nownowhere near full power. Oregon’s top three defensive linemen — Brandon Dorlus, Popo Aumavae, and Keyon Ware-Hudson — all missed the game due to injuries. So did star linebacker Justin Flowe, who went through warmups but did not play in the game.

Defensive backs Bennett Williams and Steve Stephens IV are still working their way back from long-term injuries, and defensive back Dontae Manning missed out with an injury, too.

So, it made sense that the offense looked the sharper of the two units Saturday.

With that being said, here are three standout defensive players from the weekend’s scrimmage.

DJ Johnson

We wrote about Johnson in-depth yesterday after he spent the better part of four quarters terrorizing the Yellow team’s offensive line

Johnson delivered a jaw-dropping stat line and finished the day with seven tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and four sacks. Not too shabby considering he was working within the confines of a running clock that left him with far less time than he would get during a normal game.

For a defense that desperately needs an edge rusher to emerge following the departure of Kayvon Thibodeaux to the NFL Draft, Johnson looked like a perfect fit for Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi’s defense on Saturday.

During his Saturday press conference, Lanning threw some lofty praise Johnson’s way that seemed to signal just how impactful he could be next fall.

“I think DJ can be one of the best players in the conference,” Lanning said. “I see him develop every single day, day in and day out. One of the best players in the nation if he continues to push himself to the level he’s capable of.”

Jackson LaDuke

Oftentimes, redshirt freshman Jackson LaDuke gets lost in the shuffle when Oregon’s inside linebackers are being discussed.

With Noah Sewell, Justin Flowe, and Keith Brown all in the mix, the Ducks have some major star-power present at the ILB spots. On Saturday, though, LaDuke reminded fans that he still belongs in that conversation.

While playing alongside Johnson with Oregon’s Green team, LaDuke tallied six total tackles, including four solo stops, and 1.5 sacks. He was a constant disruptive presence and looked rock-solid all afternoon.

Last season, the Ducks suffered through an injury crisis at linebacker with Flowe, LaDuke, Brown, and Dru Mathis all missing significant time.

Now, though, as long as LaDuke and Flowe can remain healthy, it appears Oregon might have an embarrassment of riches up the middle.

JJ Greenfield

When spring ball began in March, few could have predicted that JJ Greenfield would make a meaningful impact ever again for Oregon.

After leaving the program last season, it appeared his career in green and yellow had come to an end. But Greenfield returned up at practice earlier this spring and Lanning confirmed that he has been given a chance to rejoin the team, but not as a scholarship player.

“He’s gone through his own process and been in the area — he’s going to school here,” Lanning said on March 29. “He wanted an opportunity to come back and we wanted to give him an opportunity to see what he can do.”

So far this spring, Greenfield has taken that opportunity and run with it.

He has mixed in with Oregon’s second- and third-unit defenses during the portions of practice that are open to media, and he was a disruptive presence at safety for the Green team on Saturday.

Greenfield finished with three tackles, one interception, and a couple of nice moments in coverage. He picked off a Bo Nix pass and returned it 29 yards midway through the second quarter, and he forced a fumble with a hit on Seven McGee in the fourth quarter that his team receovered.

Oregon’s secondary is filled with versatile, intriguing players. In Greenfield, it appears the Ducks have yet another defensive back capable of making big plays in 2022.