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Autzen Audibles: Eight Starters Back, Big Depth Questions for Oregon’s Defense

·1 hr 2 min·4 clips

Oregon's front four could all have been day-two draft picks and still returns to college.

1. Autzen Audibles: DuckTerritory's Oregon athletics podcast focuses on Oregon's defense after a season that returned eight starters. 2. Eric Skopel, Matt Prem, and John Evans lead the discussion, and their Oregon recruiting and roster analysis matters because they break down who is back, who left, and who must replace them. 3. The episode asks whether Oregon's 2025 defense was already elite or still needed more growth for 2026. 4. The hosts compare Oregon's shutout of Texas Tech with the Peach Bowl loss to Indiana, where Fernando Mendoza had more time than they wanted. 5. They say Chris Hampton taking over for Tosh Lupoi raises the question of whether Oregon will attack more on passing downs without giving up big plays. 6. The defensive line is presented as the roster's safest bet, with Mateo Uyunglele, Tatum Tuioti, Bear Alexander, and Amari Washington all back. 7. Matt Prem says those four linemen could have gone by day two of the draft and still returned to Eugene. 8. John Evans adds that Oregon's run defense should again be strong because those starters can win their gaps and set edges. 9. The concern is the reserve group, because the second and third lines along the defensive front have mostly been lost. 10. The hosts cite additions such as Deontay Robinson, Derek Brown Jr., Blow Dantzler, Jerome Simmons, and Matthew Johnson as part of the rebuild. 11. Amari Washington is singled out as the interior defender with the clearest chance to become a force multiplier for the whole defense. 12. John Evans notes that Aiden Breland logged 12 run-defense snaps and 49 pass-rush snaps, which frames him as a specialist. 13. Elijah Rushing and Nasir Wyatt come up as young edge players who could take on larger roles behind the starters. 14. The linebacker conversation centers on Bryce Boettcher, who went from walk-on safety to 27 starts over his final two seasons. 15. Jerry Mixon is described as the likely new centerpiece at linebacker after a 2025 season with 14 games played and 12 starts. 16. The hosts debate whether Devin Jackson, Gavin Nix, Dylan Williams, Braden Platt, Tristan Phillips, or Braylon Hodge emerges next to Mixon. 17. The tone is analytical and roster-focused, with the three hosts using snap counts, draft projections, and position fits throughout the conversation. 18. The format is a seated roundtable with repeated cross-talk, quick stat checks, and direct back-and-forth on depth chart projections. 19. Oregon fans who track depth charts and NFL talent will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners looking for game recaps or big-picture national football talk may skip it.

As heard by us

A clear look at Oregon's defense, with personnel and linebacker fit doing most of the work.

This review keeps its attention on Oregon's defense, and that focus helps. It stays near the personnel questions that matter: who came back, who earned a place in the lineup, and where the roster still looks a bit light.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want the real questions on Oregon's defense, not just the headline version?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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