Boy...I did not see this upside development coming at all! Can you believe his PFF numbers below?

Mixon Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

 

 EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon inside linebacker Jerry Mixon was announced as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for his performance in the Ducks' 34-14 win at Northwestern last Saturday.

 

It is the first career Big Ten honor for Mixon and the first for a Duck this season.

 

Mixon continued his breakout start to his junior season in Oregon's Big Ten opener, recording an interception for the second game in a row while matching his career high with five tackles and adding a tackle for loss. He returned the interception 36 yards to set up the Ducks' fourth touchdown of the game.

 

Mixon became the first Duck since Khyree Jackson in 2023 to pick off a pass in back-to-back games. He is tied for sixth nationally and first in the Big Ten with two interceptions and his 62 interception return yards are No. 12 in the country. 

 

On the season, Mixon is No. 1 among qualified FBS linebackers with a 91.5 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, and his 92.7 pass coverage grade ranks second among all linebackers. The San Francisco native owns a career-high 10 tackles through three games, and he made his first career start in the season opener against Montana State. 

 

Mixon and the No. 6 Ducks (3-0, 1-1 Big Ten) will wrap nonconference play with an in-state showdown against Oregon State on Saturday in Autzen Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. 

What a boost he has been to the defense!

I feel linebacker has improved this year.

They have to do SO much that they can get kinda lost in the course of the defense. At times it feels like they're a DB and if they're not getting their name called that's a good thing because the ball isn't being thrown their way.

A good example of a player that was not on the radar from his previous play far exceeding expectations.

Congrats Mr. Mixon.

Fun to see. He's been all over the field in the first two games.

Also cool to see that his ego doesn't seem to matter as I recall seeing him in on defense at the end of the game when starters had been removed.

Yep, Lanning and the Oregon D staff sure can't develop players internally. Getting only 4 and 5 star recruits and proven transfers because of those deep pockets and NIL.

Mixon was a 3☆ that played special teams early, then rotated in on defense, and now is arguably playing better than the faster and more 'talented ' #26, Jackson at the ILB position. Ditto Boettcher, who walked on for 'a t-shirt and backpack'.

Mixon has shown the ability to play heady football, diagnose plays and respond quickly even if his top end speed is not elite. PFF may reward interceptions a bit too much in it's ratings, but it rewards Mixon in all aspects of his performance. He plays his heart out and like BB, brings his lunch pail to work every day.