Heading into 2026, the job is no different.While the Ducks have typically had a reliable pass rush, which should continue to be the case next season, Hampton's secondary poses an intriguing question for the first-year defensive coordinator to answer this spring.“My first year here, we were probably primarily a four-down, outside leveraged nickel team," Hampton said on Monday. "My second year, we had Derrick Harmon, Jamaree Caldwell, Jordan Burch. We were more of a three-down, inside leverage nickel team.

Last season, we had Dillon Thieneman; we were more of a four-down umbrella safety team. And I think this year we just see, you know, how it pans out."With Thieneman gone, Minnesota transfer safety Koi Perich has been the subject of many comparisons to the likely first-round pick. A jack-of-all-trades defensive back, Perich has the speed and smarts to play all over the field and has a nose for the ball.

Whether he plays deep safety or in the middle like Thieneman, Perich will have a big responsibility for the Ducks' defense in the fall.Oregon will lay down a four-man front once again with Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti setting the tone on the edges, A'Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander pounding the interior, and a reloaded depth group that includes Nasir Wyatt and D'Antre Robinson filling out the rotation.That gives Hampton some freedom to experiment and figure out what coverage works best for the Ducks. Oregon played plenty of man coverage on the outside with Brandon Finney Jr. and Ify Obidegwu last season, but that came back to bite them in matchups where they were left exposed against Indiana's speedsters.

Jadon Canady held down the nickel well, but the Ducks have to replace him, too.Defense is all about keeping up with the newest movements in the offensive game. Hampton knows that all too well, leading to a spring season filled with position battles to find the right combination to stop what hurt the Ducks a year ago. Last offseason, the Ducks employed Thieneman over the middle to hurt offenses after the Ducks were thwarted by Ohio State's Caleb Downs in a similar role in the Rose Bowl.

This offseason, Hampton is looking for a similar change to a similar effect."I think you always think about who are your best players, how do you highlight their strengths, how do you highlight their deficiencies?" Hampton said. "And you look around the country to see what other people are doing with guys similar to your skill sets, similar to your talents.

What's the new trend in college football, in the NFL? So each and every year, you're looking to grow, and we're looking to expand our defense.”The Ducks could return to their three-safety look again, using Perich as the "umbrella" across the defense and relying on Aaron Flowers and another young safety to bracket the outside. Trey McNutt, Peyton Woodyard, Jett Washington and Xavier Lherisse are all battling for a spot. The manner in which the battle for the nickel spot shakes out will have a big impact on how aggressive Hampton plays the secondary in 2026.Although the spring game will help the Ducks get some game film to help clarify some of the position battles, nothing will be completely settled until fall camp.Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon DC Chris Hampton preparing to shift defensive outlook in 2026