Entering the first game of the season against Boise State, the Oregon Ducks didn't have many pressing questions defensively. Rather, there were expectations of growth and maturity from the unit's various returning leaders.
In the season opener, the Ducks saw some of the improvement they hoped for. The defensive line closed the game out with relentless pressure. The secondary, although caught for penalties at times, held Boise State's passing attack in check in key spots, and safety Koi Perich led the team with 11 tackles.
Jerry Mixon Jr. and Devon Jackson were expected to command the linebacker room and lead the defense as well. While the veteran pair did share the field often, junior linebacker Dylan Williams was an unexpected bright spot in the 34-27
victory.
Williams, a former four-star recruit from Los Angeles, did not see the field often in his first two seasons in Eugene. He primarily contributed on special teams and late in blowout games while he progressed toward what Dan Lanning and the Oregon coaching staff envisioned for him. On Saturday, the Ducks got a very good look at Williams' progression.
Although he was only credited with a pair of tackles and half a tackle for loss, Williams was excellent when defending the run. He saw the rushing lanes for Boise State's dynamic duo in the backfield and altered the route enough to create negative plays.
The performance earned Williams more snaps as the game went along, including in big moments late in the fourth quarter. Lanning wasn't surprised by Williams' sudden breakout, and it likely won't be the last time we see him making plays in the middle of Oregon's defense.
"He's certainly earned it in fall camp," Lanning said of Williams. "He's worked extremely hard to put himself in position. He's made a lot of plays in fall camp, and there are certainly moments today, as you're watching as a coach, you're like, 'Let's continue to figure out how to get that guy on the field and utilize his skill set.'"
As the game wore on, Williams earned opportunities to share the field with Jackson, taking Mixon's spot. After losing the defense's leading tackler the past two seasons in Bryce Boettcher, the Ducks appear to have three capable defenders in the heart of the defense to replace him.
A blue-chip recruit that doesn't see the field in his first two seasons is typically a candidate to hit the transfer portal. Instead, Williams stuck around. Having been able to watch and learn from Boettcher, Mixon and Jackson, he's now proving the time on the sideline wasn't wasted.
"I'm proud of Dylan's growth," Lanning said. "He's a guy that stuck through it. He's had limited opportunities up until this year, but I'm anticipating Dylan having a big year for us and growing from the moments that he had today."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon LB Dylan Williams seizes opportunity in win over Boise State
