Whether it be from the transfer portal or from a next-man up standpoint, three players from the Ducks roster seem ready to contribute in a massive way.
The Oregon Ducks have never been afraid to find talent wherever they can.
Whether through recruiting, player development, or the transfer portal, head coach Dan Lanning has built one of the deepest rosters in college football.
As the Ducks prepare for the 2026 season, these three players bring plenty of intrigue to Eugene.
S, Koi Perich
He’s not a well-known name, but he has experience in not just playing in the Big Ten, but dominating it.
For the past two seasons at the University of Minnesota, Perich was the Gophers’ top defensive back.
He led the secondary in total tackles last season after leading the Big Ten with five interceptions as a freshman.
What makes Perich so intriguing for the Ducks defense is that he’s more of a bruiser and is not afraid to get dirty as a run stopper.
Perich is certainly ready to take that next step in his career though. He hardly misses tackles, and filling the hole that Theineman left as he went to the NFL will be more important than ever.
LT, Fox Crader
Crader has become a favorite of Lanning’s.
Last season, Crader stepped in after Oregon's offensive line suffered a myriad of injuries and held his own.
One of the highlights came in a top-25 matchup against USC, where he allowed no sacks or hurries while posting an 85.4 PFF grade.
After Oregon’s win against the Trojans, Lanning didn’t hold back on his young tackle.
“Our coaches have a lot of confidence in him. Again, a guy being ready for that. He did a lot of work until he got that opportunity, too,” Lanning said. “That doesn't just happen on accident. That's a guy that is working his tail off.”
And arguably at football’s most important position, earning the coach’s trust is a major step forward.
WR, Iverson Hooks
Unlike Perich, Hooks had to wait his turn to get real playing time.
He spent four seasons with the UAB Blazers, and in the 2025 season, Hooks took off for 927 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, leading the team in both categories.
Hooks is joining an already-stacked wide receiver room with Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart and Jeremiah McClellan, so the initial thought is that he won’t be a key part of this offense.
Or can he?
The good thing is, that Hooks can line up anywhere on the field if need be. He’s got exceptional speed, so he can be a threat in the slot, but he’s also capable of making dynamic plays on the outside.
Given his dynamic skill set, Hooks can and will sneak up on some people. Most will have their attention set on Moore and Stewart, that they won’t even realize the speedster that is wide open.
His presence will immediately create a new dynamic for this offense – an offense that already has enough help.
