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Spring Game Breakdown: Defense Shines in Oregon Scrimmage

by:Ted Leroux•about 14 hours
OregonSpringGame-40
The 2025 Oregon Football Spring Game was held at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Credit: Max Unkrich

In a lot of ways, a spring game favors the defense due to the nature of offenses not wanting to
put a lot on film, but in many more ways, Oregon’s defense showed a glimpse of the dominant
unit they could be in Saturday afternoon’s spring game.

The Ducks offense didn’t get many opportunities to flash at Autzen Stadium on Saturday
because the pass rush on the other side of the ball was constantly winning battles and getting to
the quarterback. Although there was lots of pressure coming from lots of guys like A’Mauri
Washington, Elijah Rushing, Matayo Uiagalelei and others, Blake Purchase really made his
presence felt.

“He’s become really comfortable in the system as far as what his job is, and his responsibilities”
, Dan Lanning said after the spring game. Purchase lined up in different spots and impacted the
game in many different ways on Saturday, and it’s clear he’s taken steps in his development
since redshirting last season. “Once I started redshirting, it felt like an extended off-season, it’s
been nice to see the work I’ve put in”, Purchase said on Saturday. If the Ducks can get this
version of Purchase consistently throughout the 2025 season, this unit is going to eat in the Big
Ten this season.

In a defensive scheme, the defensive line and secondary are codependent on each other,
Saturday’s spring game was a great example of that. The defensive line was able to take
advantage of really good coverage on the perimeter by Oregon’s defensive backs. Although
Theran Johnson allowed a couple of big catches, he was stride for stride in man coverage
nearly every rep on Saturday, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. If Theran becomes someone
that you can leave on an island, that allows defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi to get more
creative and unleash the aforementioned pass rush.

Ify Obidegwu and Dillon Thieneman had Saturday performances that saw glimpses of why they
are expected to be leaders for Oregon’s secondary, but it’s the future that caught my eye.
Na’eem Offord and Trey McNutt showcased their talent with key 1-on-1 victories that kept
touchdowns off the scoreboard. Early in the second quarter, Trey was matched up against 6’5
tight end Jamari Johnson and rose up to the ball, timing his jump perfectly, and punched it to the
ground.

With seconds remaining in the first half, Offord was across from Malik Benson and saw him stay
in the hip pocket of the transfer WR to break up a potential scoring play and keep a touchdown
off the board.

When watching McNutt and Offord on the green grass of Autzen on Saturday, I’m reminded of a
quote from Chris Hampton we heard earlier this spring – “They don’t look like true freshmen”.
Between the defensive line and secondary sits a group that has received some questions this
off-season, but even despite the absence of Devon Jackson on Saturday, Dan Lanning exudes
confidence when talking about the inside linebacker room, “We won’t pursue anybody in the
portal at linebacker, I feel really good about our linebacker group.”

Let’s keep in mind, it’s a scrimmage, but it’s hard not to get excited about what the defense
could be in 2025.

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