Season in Review: DB – University of Oregon Athletics

2022 ROSTER

CB: Christian Gonzalez, So.; Dontae Manning, So.; Jalil Tucker, Fr.; Avante Dickerson, So.; Devin Morrow, RFr.; Dominic Stephens, Fr.

CB: Trikweze Bridges, So.; Jahlil Florence, Fr.; Darren Barkins, RFr.; Timon Davis, RFr.; DJ Beckum, So.; Rayquan Williams, Fr.

S: Steve Stephens IV, Jr.; Bryan Addison, Jr.; Max Wysocki, So.; Trejon Williams, Fr.; Zach Grisham, Fr.

S: Jamal Hill, Jr.; Daymon David, So.; Bryce Boettcher, So.; Donovan Dalton, Sr.; Dane Sipos, RFr.;

Nickel: Bennett Williams, Sr.; JJ Greenfield, RFr.; Khamari Terrell, Fr.; Marko Vidackovic, RFr.; Jonathan Flowe, RFr.

Starters: Christian Gonzalez joined the Ducks from the portal to continue working with his position coach who also came to Eugene from Colorado, Demetrice Martin, and their progress together yielded huge results in 2022. Gonzalez was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection who had four interceptions to rank third in the conference, and he’s now arguably the top 2023 NFL Draft prospect at cornerback. Gonzalez moved inside to play nickel against some opponents, showing his versatility, and though he opted out of the Holiday Bowl, he continued to attend practices with the team and was on the sideline for the game in an expression of his solidarity with the UO football program.

At the other corner, Trikweze Bridges showed continued progress in his development as well, picking off three passes and breaking up another eight. At safety, Bennett Williams returned from the leg injury that sidelined him for much of 2021 and ended up as Oregon’s leading tackler last season with 72. Jamal Hill moved from nickel to a more traditional safety spot for most of the season and tied Gonzalez for fourth on the team with 50 tackles, and Steve Stephens IV added 43 tackles from the other safety spot. Overall, the UO secondary tied for second in the Pac-12 with 64 passes defended, and the Ducks were third in the conference in passer rating allowed at 133.66. Oregon’s 16 interceptions were 10th-most in the FBS, and 12 were by defensive backs.

Reserves: Dontae Manning played in all 13 games and had 20 tackles, and he stepped in for Gonzalez at the Holiday Bowl and held up well against superb North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. Bryan Addison also started that game, breaking up Maye’s Hail Mary attempt on the final play to clinch Oregon’s win. And freshman Jahlil Florence also played a bigger role in that game, capping his…