| Sources: goducks.com, ESPN, SI Oregon, 247Sports, Wikipedia (verified Apr 27, 2026)
Spring 2026: Mixon wears the green dot as Chris Hampton's on-field defensive signal-caller, taking the role Bryce Boettcher carried before going R4/135 to the Colts. Full spring game recap →
Jerry Mixon went from 8 combined tackles in his first two seasons to 57 tackles, 2 INTs, and a pick-six in 2025. The breakout was the most quietly important development on the defense, because it gave Hampton a returning starter ready to inherit Boettcher's green-dot role. Mixon is a 6-2, 240-pound junior from San Francisco who made his name in week 2 of 2025, intercepting Oklahoma State and returning it 26 yards for a touchdown. The defense that ran through Boettcher in 2025 runs through Mixon in 2026.
57
Tackles 2025
After 8 combined in his first two years
2 INT
Picks 2025
One returned 26 yards for TD vs Oklahoma State
Green Dot
Signal-Caller
Wears the helmet headset in 2026
4.0 TFL
Tackles For Loss
Plus 7 PBU and 1 fumble recovery
Jerry Mixon | 2026 Spring Game
San Francisco product. The post-Boettcher signal-caller. Hampton's on-field general.
Via YouTube
49
Tackle jump from his first two seasons combined to 2025 alone
The biggest year-over-year breakout on the 2025 defense. Now he calls the plays.
thequackreport.com
The Green-Dot Role
On-field defensive signal-caller is one of the most important roles in modern college defense. The green-dot helmet picks up the play call from the sideline, the player relays it to the front and the secondary, and runs the show before the snap. Bryce Boettcher carried the green dot in 2025 (and Hampton said publicly that "the green dot is sometimes overrated"). Mixon has trained with the headset throughout spring practice, repping the calls with both the first and second teams. Hampton wants depth at the position, but Mixon is the guy. His own goal: "Making my voice high-pitched so everybody can hear me on the field."
The 2025 Breakout
Mixon's first two Oregon seasons (2023-2024) were development years. He played 8 combined tackles. Then 2025 happened. He started the season strong with the 26-yard pick-six against Oklahoma State in week 2, finished with 57 tackles, 4.0 TFL, half a sack, 7 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 INTs. The pick-six showed range. The 7 PBU showed instinct. The 4.0 TFL showed the run-stopping fits Hampton wants from his off-ball backers.
What to Watch in 2026
The other starting LB spot next to Mixon is wide open between Devon Jackson, Gavin Nix, Brayden Platt, and Dylan Williams. Hampton is rotating multiple players with the green dot during spring to build depth, but the call-the-defense responsibility is settling on Mixon. Watch how he handles the middle of the field on third down and how he communicates pre-snap adjustments when the offense shows motion. Hampton's defense is built to be fast and physical without trying to do too much. Mixon's job is to keep everyone on the same page.
What to Watch at the Spring Game
1
Communication on tape: pre-snap motions and audibles. The green dot should make the right call every time.
2
Run fits: 4.0 TFL in 2025. Can he double that with full-time starter snaps?
3
Coverage drops: 7 PBU and 2 INTs were the breakout. The instincts are real.
4
Partner at LB2: Devon Jackson, Gavin Nix, Brayden Platt, or Dylan Williams. Whoever wins lines up next to Mixon.
5
Big-game leadership: how does the defense look in Columbus on Nov 7? That is the test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jerry Mixon. The junior linebacker takes over both as the projected starter and as Chris Hampton's on-field defensive signal-caller (the green-dot role). Mixon broke out in 2025 with 57 tackles and 2 INTs after just 8 tackles in his first two seasons combined.
The green dot is a sticker on the helmet that identifies the one defensive player allowed to receive the play call from the sideline via in-helmet communication. That player relays the defense to the front and the secondary. At Oregon in 2026 the green dot belongs to Jerry Mixon.
Mixon had 57 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 7 passes defended, 2 interceptions (one returned 26 yards for a TD against Oklahoma State in week 2), and 1 fumble recovery in 2025.
Sources: goducks.com, ESPN, SI Oregon, 247Sports, Wikipedia (verified Apr 27, 2026). This page covers on-field performance and publicly available recruiting data only.