Oregon spring football position preview: Inside linebacker
Oregon is set to open spring practices on March 10. There is plenty of excitement surrounding Dan Lanning’s program, and there is no shortage of storylines related to the Ducks’ roster. In the coming days, ScoopDuck will have you covered with position-by-position previews that highlight a key returner, key newcomer, and a breakout candidate at each spot.
Next up: Inside linebacker
Previously:
Scholarship players
- Keith Brown (Sophomore)
- Justin Flowe (R-Fr)
- Devon Jackson (Signee)
- Jackson LaDuke (R-Fr)
- Noah Sewell (Sophomore)
- Harrison Taggart (Signee)
Key returner
Noah Sewell
How terrifying can Noah Sewell be in a Dan Lanning defense? The world is about to find out.
Sewell, Oregon’s superstar junior linebacker, figures to be one of the very best players in all of college football next season. He’s already popping up in 2023 first-round mock drafts, and he delivered a sensational 2021 campaign for the Ducks despite playing in a defense that was devastated by injuries. He tallied 114 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Despite playing in a patchwork defense, Sewell received a pass-rush grade of 88.4 from Pro Football Focus. Only 10 inside linebackers in the country graded out better in that regard, and only four of those came from Power-5 conferences.
Like every player, Sewell still has some aspects of his game that need fine-tuning. He was not good in coverage last season, but there’s no reason to believe he can’t get much better in that area.
With Justin Flowe set to make a healthy return next to Sewell in 2022, the Ducks’ inside linebacker duo is going to be must-see TV every Saturday.
Key newcomers
Devon Jackson and Harrison Taggart
If Sewell and Flowe both elect to enter the NFL Draft next season, the cupboard will be far from empty for the Ducks in terms of elite inside linebacker talent.
Both Devon Jackson and Harrison Taggart are 4-star signees from the class of 2021, and both are incredibly athletic players with speed to burn. Last outdoor track season, Jackson ran a 10.56 100-meter dash. For a guy his size, that’s nearly unheard of. Taggart is also extremely quick and has the athletic capabilities to play defensive back.
After Jackson and Taggart signed with the Ducks, QB11 wrote in-depth evals on both players. For more information on what exactly the Ducks are getting in their blue-chip linebackers, give them a read.
Breakout candidate
Jackson LaDuke
Add Jackson LaDuke to the list of exciting young players who had their 2021 season wiped out by injuries.
LaDuke, a former 4-star signee, did not play a snap for the Ducks until Week 12 because of a leg injury. Once he returned, he added some much-needed depth at inside linebacker and flashed plenty of potential.
If all goes as planned for the Ducks next season, Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell will rarely leave the field. But Oregon found out the hard way in 2021 just how crucial it is to have options at every position.
As far as backup options go, LaDuke is a phenomenal player to have available, and he’s only going to get better as he sees more game action. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if he establishes himself as a key rotation player next fall.
