Defensive back JJ Greenfield returns to Oregon football program
The status of defensive back JJ Greenfield within the Oregon football program was a mystery of sorts last season.
After a promising true freshman campaign with the Ducks, Greenfield, a three-star signee in the class of 2020, was expected to battle for a spot in the defensive rotation last year. But he was absent during the Ducks’ fall camp and did not play a snap in 2021.
Mario Cristobal and his staff revealed little about Greenfield’s absence, and many who follow the program closely assumed his Oregon career was over when he was not listed on the initial spring practice roster. But Greenfield took part in the Ducks’ third spring practice Tuesday, and head coach Dan Lanning confirmed that he is still with the team.
“He’s gone through his own process and been in the area — he’s going to school here,” Lanning said. “He wanted an opportunity to come back and we wanted to give him an opportunity to see what he can do.”
Greenfield was on scholarship with the Ducks last season, but Lanning said he no longer is.
He is not listed on Oregon’s updated spring roster, as the program’s non-scholarship newcomers are not listed at this point. On Tuesday, he was seen wearing No. 24 during practice.
Greenfield, a Crenshaw, Calif., native, recorded three tackles and one forced fumble in six games in 2020.
