While much of the college football world was focused on National Signing Day on Wednesday, Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks added another valuable piece to the roster via the transfer portal.
Not long after the announced commitment from 4-star freshman DL Anthony Jones, the Ducks also picked up a commitment from Howard Bison transfer defensive lineman Derrick Brown Jr., a redshirt senior who is projected to come to Eugene and provide some needed depth along the defensive line.
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After playing for four seasons at Howard, Brown has some solid experience under his belt, but is now ready to prove himself on a higher level. He will get that opportunity in Eugene.
For Oregon fans who know little about Brown, here is a look into what the Ducks are getting in the 6-foot-5, 295-pound lineman.
One Year of Eligibility Remaining
Going into the 2026 season, Brown Jr. will be a redshirt senior, giving him one year of eligibility remaining. He redshirted his freshman year at Howard before playing in two games in 2023, and 10 games in 2024. He then became a regular contributor for the Bison in 2025, having a great season.
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Had a Great year in 2025
More on that great season — Brown Jr. appears to be playing his best ball lately. After racking up 33 tackles and a sack in 2024 as a redshirt sophomore, Brown followed it up with 23 tackles and a pair of sacks this past year for Howard. He is improving each year and should be able to continue that in Eugene.
Bulked Up After Freshman Season
While you love to see statistical improvements year by year for a player, you also love to see gains in the weight room as well. That’s somewhere that Brown has succeeded. He arrived at Howard listed at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, but ahead of the 2025 season, he weighed in at 295 pounds. Whether or not he settles there is yet to be seen, but it will be exciting to see what Wilson Love and the Oregon strength staff can do with him.
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Will Add Depth to Defensive Line
Oregon’s starting defensive line will be among the best in the nation next season, but they lost a lot of depth in the transfer portal. They’ve done a good job of replacing that depth, though, with Brown now joining the likes of edge rusher Bleu Dantzler (Oregon State), D’Antre Robinson (North Carolina) and Jerome Simmons (Louisiana-Monroe).
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What Oregon Duck fans should know about DL transfer Derrick Brown Jr.
