Peyton Woodyard is the returning starter at safety who provides the continuity Chris Hampton's defense needs. At 6-2, 208 pounds, Woodyard has the size and instincts to play both run support and coverage. With the addition of Koi Perich from Minnesota, Oregon now has two safeties who can cover ground, create turnovers, and make plays at the line of scrimmage. Woodyard's experience matters. He knows the defensive signals, he knows the tendencies of Big Ten offenses, and he knows what the coaches expect. Perich brings the splash plays. Woodyard brings the reliability. Together, they give Hampton a safety duo that can match anything in the conference.
6-2
Height
208 lbs
Jr
Year
Returning starter
S
Safety
Run + coverage
Vet
Experience
Multi-year starter
13-2
Record as a starting safety in 2025
Every big game. Every hostile environment. The experience that holds the secondary together.
thequackreport.com
Why He Matters
Every defense needs a quarterback on the field. Woodyard is that player for Oregon. He communicates the coverage calls, he aligns the secondary, and he makes the adjustments when offenses shift at the line. That communication role is especially important in 2026 because Chris Hampton is installing a new defensive system. The scheme may be new, but the voice calling it out on the field is familiar. Woodyard's experience smooths the transition. Without a veteran safety, Hampton's system would take months to gel. With Woodyard, it can come together by September.
The Safety Duo
Woodyard and Koi Perich are complementary safeties. Perich is the ballhawk with five interceptions as a freshman at Minnesota. Woodyard is the steady presence who fills the right gap and makes the right read. When Hampton dials up pressure, Woodyard is the safety who rotates down into the box. When Hampton plays coverage, Perich is the single-high safety with the range to cover sideline to sideline. This flexibility gives Hampton the ability to disguise coverages in ways that Oregon's defense has not been able to do before.
The 2025 Season
Woodyard started at safety throughout Oregon's 13-2 season in 2025, including both College Football Playoff games. He has played in the biggest environments in the country: the Penn State White Out, Ohio State at Autzen, the Big Ten Championship, the Orange Bowl, and the Peach Bowl. That experience is irreplaceable. When the secondary lines up at Ohio Stadium on November 7 with 102,000 fans in scarlet and gray screaming at them, Woodyard will be the calm voice telling everyone where to line up. He has been there before. Most of his secondary teammates have not.
What to Watch at the Spring Game
1
Communication: Woodyard's pre-snap calls tell you how well the defense understands Hampton's system.
2
Run support: does Woodyard fill downhill aggressively? That tells you Hampton trusts him in the box.
3
Coverage range: can Woodyard match tight ends and slot receivers? Big Ten offenses will test this.
4
Chemistry with Perich: the two safeties rotating seamlessly is critical. Watch their eye contact and hand signals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Woodyard is the returning starter at safety alongside Koi Perich. He started throughout Oregon's 13-2 season in 2025, including both CFP games.
Woodyard and Koi Perich (transfer from Minnesota, Freshman All-American, 5 INTs). Together they form what could be the best safety duo in the Big Ten.
Sources: GoDucks.com, 247Sports (2025-2026). This page covers on-field performance and publicly available recruiting data only.