Report: Oregon set to lose defensive staffer to Conference USA program

Michael Hutchings – a former USC linebacker who’s currently a defensive analyst at Oregon – is expected to be hired as the new outside linebackers coach at Western Kentucky, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

Hutchings, 26, joins the Hilltoppers’ program after spending the 2021 season as USC’s linebackers coach. Prior to his time as the Trojans’ primary linebackers coach, he worked with the USC linebackers as a graduate assistant from 2018-2019. Hutchings was elevated to a defensive quality control analyst in 2020.

A Concord, California native, Hutchings played linebacker at USC from 2013-16, making 15 starts while playing in 52 total games over his four seasons. During his time with the Trojans, Hutchings recorded 118 tackles and an interception.

Hutchings joins a WKU team that is coming off a 9-5 season in 2021, which included an appearance in the Conference USA championship game and a victory in the Boca Raton Bowl.

Oregon hiring staff member from Auburn

Oregon is hiring Auburn graduate assistant Brent Jackson as its defensive backs graduate assistant, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. He spent one season with the Tigers in the SEC after two years at Illinois and four years at Louisiana.

The Lafayette, Louisiana native graduated from South Louisiana Community College in 2015 with an associate degree, then earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management at Louisiana in 2017, while already working on staff as a defensive quality control coach.

Brent Jackson will work under Oregon co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Matt Powledge, as well as special teams coordinator and nickels coach Joe Lorig, plus cornerback coach and passing game coordinator Demetrice Martin.

Under first-year head coach Dan Lanning, who comes to Oregon after serving as Georgia’s defensive coordinator, former Alabama and NFL assistant Tosh Lupoi will work as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.