Oregon’s first transfer departure of the spring is from the defense.
Inside linebacker Keith Brown announced he will enter his name in the transfer portal Saturday afternoon, the first day of the spring transfer window. The top-ranked player in the state out of Lebanon in 2021, Brown has two years of eligibility remaining.
“Thank you Oregon!” Brown wrote via Twitter. “I appreciate everything tthat you have taught me. I loved every moment of being a Duck and I will cherish that forever! No love lost. Thank you to Chief, Miss Steph, Rachel, and the whole training staff. Thank you to all the coaches that helped me become to the player that I am today, and thank you to the fans that have supported me from day one! I will be entering my name in the transfer portal.”
Brown had 21 tackles with a sack last season, closing the year with seven tackles in the Holiday Bowl when he started in place of Noah Sewell, who opted out to enter the NFL draft. Brown had 15 tackles in seven games as a freshman in 2021.
His departure leaves UO with 90 projected scholarship players for the fall, including seven inside linebackers. The Ducks added fifth-year juniors Jestin Jacobs (Iowa) and Connor Soelle (Arizona State) at linebacker this winter and moved safety Jamal Hill down as well after losing Sewell to the draft and Jackson LaDuke and Justin Flowe to transfer.
A four-star prospect out of Lebanon, Brown was ranked No. 114 overall and the No. 13 at linebacker in the 2021 recruiting class. He’s the 15th member of that class to leave the program.
Brown is the 21st Oregon player to announce his intent to transfer since the regular season ended, joining receivers Dont’e Thornton, Isaiah Brevard, Caleb Chapman and Isaiah Crocker, running back Byron Cardwell Jr., quarterback Jay Butterfield, edge defenders Bradyn Swinson, Brandon Buckner, Jabril McNeill and Jaden Navarrette, offensive linemen Bram Walden and Dawson Jaramillo, linebackers LaDuke and Flowe, tight end/outside linebacker Terrell Tilmon, running back Sean Dollars, safety Jonathan Flowe, tight ends Moliki Matavao and Cam McCormick and defensive tackle Keanu Williams.
The Oregonian/OregonLive will update this story.