Ahead of this year’s spring game, all eyes are on this year’s incoming transfers and how they’ll fit into head coach Dan Lanning’s squad next season. The Daily Emerald breaks down this year’s top transfers who may start in next season’s squad. 

Iverson Hooks – Wide Receiver – University of Alabama at Birmingham

While UAB  went 4-8 last year, Hooks was one of the top receivers in the American Conference, finishing fourth in receiving yards with 927 and tied for third in receiving touchdowns with seven.

Hooks enters a receiving room with a swath of talent in Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart, but he has strong upside as a third or fourth receiver role, similar to Jeremiah McClellan or Gary Bryant Jr. last season. 

At a recent press conference, Dan Lanning boasted his ability showed similarities with former Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson.

 “Yeah, I think we saw some of the traits that we love to see in the slot, and obviously, Tez is a slot that did really well for us here,” Lanning said. “He has to continue to get physical at the point of attack. That’s somewhere that he can improve for us. Overall, he’s a playmaker. He has a dynamic ability similar to Tez.”

Koi Perich – Safety – Minnesota 

One of the biggest names in this year’s transfer class is undoubtedly safety Koi Perich after an impressive first two seasons at Minnesota. Last season, he ranked 22nd in the Big Ten in total tackles with 82, alongside two pass deflections, one pick six and one forced fumble.

Perich has big shoes to fill with the departure of star safety Dillon Theineman. He’s drawn a lot of comparisons to the former Ducks star, given his path to Eugene after two solid seasons from a different Big Ten program, but his one glaring difference is his contributions on special teams and offense. 

Perich totaled 306 yards on punt returns over two seasons at Minnesota alongside 813 kick return yards. Additionally, he caught seven passes for 89 yards and rushed five times for nine yards. While Perich’s involvement in the offense is unlikely given the strength of the receiving room, he could be used in certain packages like fake punts and possibly as a slot receiver.

Aaron Scott Jr. – Cornerback – Ohio State

Aaron Scott Jr. decided to take his talents to Eugene this offseason in somewhat of a shock move after two seasons at Ohio State, which included the 2024 National Championship. He played 19 games over two seasons with 11 total tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass deflection during that span.

With the departure of Jadon Canady to the NFL draft, Scott Jr. could break through at corner and be a potential early starter at nickel with Trey McNutt coming off an injury. There are a lot of unknowns about the depth chart in the secondary, which means it’s likely that there will be some competition within that secondary room for a bigger role.

Michael Bennett III – Offensive Tackle – Yale University 

With three offensive linemen on their way to the NFL this spring, the Ducks needed to bolster their line, and they did just that with one of the best linemen in the FCS, Michael Bennett III. The former Yale bulldog was a member of the All-Ivy first team in 2025 and 2024 and was an honorable mention for the AP FCS All-American team last season. 

Bennett III started at right tackle last season for Yale, and with the departure of Alex Harkey, it’s likely he’ll remain on the right side of the line.

“I feel comfortable at right tackle,” Bennett III said. “I’ve been practicing the right tackle, but also working at guards, a little bit left tackle, just being able to be flexible. Ultimately it’s going to be the best five guys, physical guys who get out there and play.”

Simeon Price – Running Back – Colorado 

While Oregon already has a dynamic duo in the backfield in Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison, Simeon Price has the opportunity to be the Ducks’ third back next season. Price is a bit of a journeyman coming into Oregon after starting his career at Mississippi State University, before heading to Coastal Carolina University and then Colorado.

Over his lengthy career, he accumulated 470 rushing yards on 100 carries with two touchdowns, which both came last season before an injury sidelined him for the final eight games of the season. Price’s viability as a pass option is limited, given he hasn’t caught many passes over his whole career, with only 21 receptions for a total of 142 yards with one touchdown.

Last season saw the Ducks use multiple running backs in prominent roles, so that could likely mean that Price could see an increase in reps as the season goes on. He will have to compete with Da’Jaun Riggs, who hasn’t had too much involvement as of late, but time will tell how the backfield will shape up.