Finney Jr. at Autzen. Five-star talent. Competing for CB1.
Brandon Finney Jr. is one of three former five-star cornerbacks competing for the starting job in 2026, alongside Na'eem Offord and Dorian Brew. At 6-2, 203 pounds, Finney is the biggest corner in the group and the most physical at the line of scrimmage. He showed what he can do in the Orange Bowl against Texas Tech, locking down his side of the field in Oregon's 23-0 shutout. That performance was the first real proof that the five-star recruiting investment in the secondary is paying off. Finney plays bigger than his recruiting ranking. He is not just competing for a starting job. He is competing to be the best cornerback in the Big Ten.
5-Star
Recruiting Rating
2025 class
#4
Jersey Number
6-2
Height
203 lbs
CB1
Competition
vs Offord, Brew
Brandon Finney Jr. | Spring Practice #7
6-2, 203. Former 5-star. The most physical corner in the room. Orange Bowl standout.
Via YouTube
23-0
Oregon over Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl
Finney locked down his side of the field. The defense pitched a shutout. The secondary is the future.
Orange Bowl Champions. 23-0. Finney and the secondary were suffocating.
The Orange Bowl Performance
The Orange Bowl against Texas Tech was Finney's coming-out party. Oregon won 23-0, and the defense pitched a shutout. Finney's coverage on the outside was a major reason Texas Tech could not move the ball. At 6-2, he has the length to match up with any receiver in the Big Ten. He disrupts routes at the line, contests catches at the high point, and tackles in the open field. For a sophomore, that is an unusually complete skill set. The Orange Bowl showed the coaching staff that Finney is not a project. He is ready.
The Impact
The cornerback position is the most important position in Chris Hampton's defense outside the edge rushers. Big Ten offenses will attack Oregon's young secondary. Ohio State has Jeremiah Smith. Michigan has speed at receiver. USC has Zachariah Branch. The Ducks need cornerbacks who can hold up in man coverage against elite talent. Finney's size at 6-2 gives him the best physical matchup profile of the three five-star corners. He can press receivers at the line without getting beaten off the ball. In a conference defined by physicality, that matters.
The CB Competition
Finney, Na'eem Offord (6-1, 195), and Dorian Brew (6-0, 200) are all former five-stars from the 2025 class. All three have the talent to start at most programs. Only one or two can start at Oregon. Finney's advantage is his size and his Orange Bowl tape. Offord's advantage is his length and his Ohio State flip narrative. Brew's advantage is his ball skills. Hampton gets to choose the best two. This is what three straight top-five recruiting classes buys you: a position battle where the "loser" would start at 90% of other schools.
Spring Practice: The Mentality
DC Chris Hampton singled out Finney in spring practice for his approach to improvement. Despite a strong 2025 season, Finney is focused on his weaknesses rather than his strengths. Hampton says that distinction is what separates elite corners from good ones. Finney is doing detailed film study with Hampton to identify specific areas where even a strong season had room for growth. That is the mentality of someone who is not content with competing for a starting job. He wants to be the best corner in the conference.
What the Spring Game Showed
The CB1 battle was the most visible defensive competition through spring. Finney lined up with the first team in stretches on April 25 and took one-on-one reps against Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart. At 6-2 and 203, he was physical at the line. The Orange Bowl was not a one-game sample. It was the beginning.
Watch List for 2026
1
First-team reps: is Finney running with the ones? This is the most important data point.
2
Press coverage technique: does he jam receivers at the line or play off-coverage? His size suggests press.
3
One-on-one vs Dakorien Moore: five-star corner vs five-star receiver. This is the spring game matchup to watch.
4
Tackling: CBs who tackle earn more trust from the coaching staff. Watch Finney in run support.
5
Communication with Koi Perich: the CB-safety connection is critical. Watch their pre-snap signals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finney is competing for the CB1 job with fellow five-stars Na'eem Offord and Dorian Brew. The competition will be decided through spring practice and the spring game.
Finney was a standout in Oregon's 23-0 shutout of Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl. He locked down his side of the field, helping the defense pitch the first shutout in a major bowl game in years.
Finney is 6-2, 203 pounds, making him the tallest and heaviest of Oregon's three five-star cornerbacks. His size gives him the best matchup profile against Big Ten receivers.
Sources: GoDucks.com, 247Sports (2025-2026). This page covers on-field performance and publicly available recruiting data only.
