Jerry Mixon

Updated October 24, 2026 | Sources: goducks.com, ESPN, SI Oregon, 247Sports, Wikipedia (verified Apr 27, 2026)

Season update (Sept 21, 2026): This job is no longer settled. At Oklahoma State on Sept 12, Mixon played 39 defensive snaps and Dylan Williams played 50, so the man we had listed as the starter was the one coming off the field. Devon Jackson led all Oregon linebackers with 56. Mixon still wears the green dot. No published defensive starting lineup exists for that game, so this is a usage read. Source: snap counts, Ducks Wire (Sept 14, 2026). Depth chart. 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 senior 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.

Week 8 at Illinois, Oct 24, 2026

Started at linebacker at Illinois and made 4 tackles, 2 solo and 2 assisted.

Oregon Athletics official box score starters list, Oct 24, 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

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 open spot is now his own. Devon Jackson has taken one inside job (56 snaps at Oklahoma State), and in that same game Dylan Williams played 50 to Mixon's 39, so the man we had listed as a settled starter was the one coming off the field. The call-the-defense responsibility still sits with Mixon, who carries the green dot Bryce Boettcher took to the NFL. Week 2 snap counts: Ducks Wire / Yahoo Sports (Sept 14, 2026). 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.

Watch List for 2026

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, or Dylan Williams while Brayden Platt is out.

5

Big-game leadership: how does the defense look in Columbus on Nov 7? That is the test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jerry Mixon, a senior, took over as the projected starter and as Chris Hampton's on-field defensive signal-caller (the green-dot role), and he started at USC on Sept 26 (official starting lineup). 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.