Dan Lanning confirms Oregon will not pursue a linebacker in the transfer portal

The Spring Transfer Portal window offers opportunities for coaches to fill gaps on their rosters. For Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning, there is still some work to do but one position he isn’t concerned about is linebacker. There, he says that the Ducks won’t be pursuing any further transfers.

While there is always a chance things change, for the time being, Oregon is set at linebacker. Lanning explained that instead of adding there, he’s confident in the guys already on the roster.

“We won’t,” Dan Lanning said. “We won’t pursue anybody in the portal at linebacker. I feel really good about our linebacker group. I like the guys we have.”

Certainly, Lanning and the Ducks have plenty of experience and talent that needs to be replaced. Jeffrey Bassa and Jestin Jacobs both made the jump to the NFL this year. Another three linebackers, meanwhile, hit the Transfer Portal this offseason.

One player who Dan Lanning made sure to highlight is Jerry Mixon. A three-star recruit in the Class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, Lanning shared he’s a linebacker who has been improving. That comes after he appeared in 19 games in his first two college seasons.

“Jerry is a guy who has worked extremely hard, done an unbelievable job, and continues to improve. When he keeps that his focus, he’s really going to be a guy that can help us,” Lanning said. “But there’s a lot of guys in that room that can play winning football, and it just comes with experience.”

While Dan Lanning is certainly hoping that Jerry Mixon can take a step forward, he also won’t be the only Duck vying for playing time at linebacker. Brayden Platt, Dylan Williams, and Kamar Mothudi have all been among the Ducks getting work this spring at linebacker too. In total, Oregon lists six different players at outside linebacker and nine players at interior linebacker. So, there are plenty of options to start and rotate in games.

Oregon has been active overall in the Transfer Portal under Dan Lanning. This offseason isn’t an exception to that. The Ducks have the fourth-ranked transfer class this cycle, according to the 2025 On3 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. That has included 17 transfers out and 10 transfers into the program. None of those transfers into the program are linebackers.

The first look for this Oregon Ducks team next season will come on August 30th when they welcome Montana State to Eugene.