Utah – Devin Lloyd
Potential Replacement: Mohamoud Diabate
Lloyd’s leadership on the defensive side of the ball was a key reason Utah played for three Pac-12 Championships during his time at Utah. As a Ute, Lloyd was a Consensus All-American in 2021, as well as the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year, and a two-time First-Team All Pac-12 Linebacker.
Replacing Lloyd at the position will be transfer Mohamoud Diabate. Diabate’s first game as a Ute will be a return game against the team he transferred from as Utah visits Florida.
As a Gator, Diabate played 37 games where he made 176 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and six sacks. For overall defensive playmaker and leadership, the Utes will rely on 2021 Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Junior Tafuna at Defensive Tackle to raise his game to a level that led Lloyd to be a first round NFL Draft choice.
Oregon – Kayvon Thibodeaux
Potential Replacement: Bradyn Swinson
After a monster freshman season, the NFL was destined for Oregon EDGE rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux who completed his college career being recognized as an Consensus All-American and receiving First-Team All Pac-12 honors twice.
New Oregon coach Dan Lanning will be implementing a 3-3-5 defense for the Oregon Ducks in 2022.
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At the EDGE/JACK position will be redshirt freshman Bradyn Swinson. Swinson left a big impact at this year’s Oregon spring game performance being involved on 5-sacks.
Washington – Kyler Gordon & Trent McDuffie
Potential Replacements: Mishael Powell & Jordan Perryman
In a quagmire of dysfunction that was the Jimmy Lake coaching tenure, coupled with injuries to key defenders in edge rusher Zion Tupuloa-Fetui and linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio, the Huskies managed to have the No. 1 passing defense in the nation last year yielding 143.3 yards per game.
Highlighting that elite defense was cornerback tandem Kyler Gordon and Trent McDuffie. McDuffie was a Third Team All American last season, and was taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Gordon was a First Team All-Pac 12 selection last season, and now has dazzled this preseason with the Chicago Bears.
To replace McDuffie and Gordon, the Huskies will turn to sophomore Mishael Powell and UC-Davis transfer Jordan Perryman who was First Team All-Big Sky conference selection.
