2024 Linebacker Outlook: Depth is not an issue, portal could help

Oregon will have plenty of talented options at linebacker in 2024, but the Ducks could look in the portal for additional help.

The 2023 season is now behind us, and while there is still a bowl game to be played — The Fiesta Bowl vs. The Liberty Flames — Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks are working hard on the construction of their roster and hitting the transfer portal in attempts to formulate what this team will look like going into the 2024 season, the team’s first year in the Big Ten Conference. While they work on bringing new players in via the transfer portal, we want to look at the future breakdown of each position, detailing current players on the roster, incoming recruits, and potential targets on the market right now.

So far this offseason, we’ve broken down the future of the Quarterbacks, Running backswide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, cornerbacks, and defensive linemen. Now let’s focus on the linebackers.


Oregon has no shortage of linebackers slated to be on the 2024 roster and as the Ducks enter the Big Ten Conference, the more run-stoppers they have, the better.

As of now, veterans such as Jeffrey Bassa, Jestin Jacobs, Connor Soelle and Bryce Boettcher are all set to make their mark on the Big Ten. Since he came from Iowa, Jacobs should be able to tell his fellow linebackers the ropes and what to expect from the conference.

Other than that core four, experience will be at a premium, which is why Duck fans should expect Dan Lanning to search the transfer portal to help out with that experience.

Oregon has many other players already on the roster as linebacker talent has been a priority since Lanning arrived. The Ducks should see the beginnings of that labor beginning next season. Those first two incredible recruiting classes should be ready to make an impact, especially at linebacker, in 2024.