Four Oregon Ducks with a lot to Prove in 2025

The entire Oregon Ducks team has something to prove in 2025. Can they run it back and show that last year’s Big Ten dominance wasn’t a one-time flash? Can they continue building toward becoming one of college football’s true superpowers—a program that competes for a College Football Playoff spot year in and year out?

Zoom in from the big picture, though, and it’s clear that certain players, in particular, have a lot riding on this season. Here are a few Ducks who come to mind as having the most to prove in 2025.

Devon Jackson

There’s no doubt Bryce Boettcher will be one of the vocal and on-field leaders for Oregon football in 2025, anchoring the defense from his inside linebacker spot. But the big question is: who lines up next to Mr. Oregon?

On paper, Devon Jackson appears to be the next man up. He played in all 14 games for the Ducks last season, recording 47 tackles—good for sixth on the team. But while Jackson has experience, he still needs to prove he can be the guy in a starting role this season.

Jackson was held out of the spring game with an apparent injury, and in his absence, young talents like Brayden Platt and Jerry Mixon made strong cases for themselves. Both flashed during the spring, showing why they deserve to be firmly in the conversation for a starting job.

Following the spring game, Dan Lanning praised the depth in the linebacker room—an encouraging sign for the defense but added pressure for Jackson. If he doesn’t seize the opportunity and prove he’s worthy of that starting spot, the Ducks have plenty of options ready to rise.

Bear Alexander

Whether fair or not, Bear Alexander arrives in Eugene carrying a bit of a stigma. The former Georgia Bulldog and USC Trojan clearly has the talent to be an All-Big Ten performer, but now it’s about proving he can put it all together. With Oregon’s defensive line shaping up to be one of the deepest and most competitive position groups on the roster, Alexander must show both the doubters—and the coaching staff—that he’s ready to thrive in a starting role for the Ducks this season.

Jahlil Florence

With five starters gone, Oregon’s secondary will see a complete overhaul in 2025—and that means five new players need to step up. There are plenty of trendy names in the mix: Ify Obidegwu, Theran Johnson, and even true freshmen like Na’eem Offord are drawing early buzz. But the Ducks’ best option might just be one of their more experienced veterans.

Jahlil Florence started nine games for Oregon in 2023 before an injury sidelined him for the entire 2024 season. Now in 2025, it’s all about proving he can come back better than ever—and hold off the next wave of young talent to secure one of those coveted starting roles.

Dante Moore

All Oregon has known in the Dan Lanning era is veteran quarterbacks—guys with years of experience who’ve seen it all. But 2025 marks a new chapter: a young, ultra-talented signal caller who has something to prove. This season is all about whether Dante Moore can rise to the moment.

Moore’s true freshman season at UCLA in 2023 was nothing short of a roller coaster. But transferring to Oregon and taking a year to learn behind Dillon Gabriel may go down as one of the most mature moves we’ve seen in the transfer portal era. Now, it’s about what he does with that opportunity.

In 2025, Dante Moore has a chance to show that last season was more than just a redshirt year—it was a head start. If he can take control of Will Stein’s offense, stay composed, and play up to the expectations of his teammates and coaches, he has the tools to become one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

If Moore delivers, the ceiling for Oregon’s offense—and the team as a whole—could be higher than ever.