Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 11 — DeForest Buckner

Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. 

Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They’ve been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They’ve seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. 

It’s safe to say that when looking at the nation’s best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That’s a different question entirely. 

To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we’re going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. 

But who is the best of the best?

That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. 

Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks.

If you want to catch up, let’s take a look at how we’ve gotten to where we’re at in the rankings:

• No. 25 — Bucky Irving 
• No. 24 — TJ Ward 
• No. 23 — Tez Johnson 
• No. 22 — Troy Dye 
• No. 21 — Samie Parker 
• No. 20 — Patrick Chung 
• No. 19 — Kayvon Thibodeaux 
• No. 18 — Troy Franklin 
• No. 17 — Nick Reed 
• No. 16 — Jairus Byrd 
• No. 15 — Jeff Maehl 
• No. 14 — Walter Thurmond III
• No. 13 — Bo Nix
• No. 12 — Penei Sewell

Today, let's continue with No. 11 — the dominant DeForest Buckner.

Player Overview

In one of the Oregon Ducks' most successful runs over the past 25 years, DeForest Buckner stood at the heart of it. He was one of the best defensive linemen to roll through Eugene and had a massive impact on a defense that was called on to hold its own alongside Marcus Mariota's historic offense. As a First-Team All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Buckner eventually became one of the best players in the country, and he backed that up at the NFL level.

DeForest Buckner Career Stats

53 Games — 231 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 18.0 sacks, 10 PBU's, two forced fumbles

DeForest Buckner's Single Best Season

2015: 13 Games — 83 total tackles, 17 TFL, 10.5 sacks, five PBUs

While Buckner had a significant role in Oregon's run to the national championship game in 2014, it was his senior season in 2015 when he truly broke out and flourished the most. The 10.5 sacks were the fifth most in the nation, and his overall dominance boosted his draft stock to the point where he became an early first-rounder.

DeForest Buckner's Historical Stats and Records

• 10th most tackles for loss in Oregon history
• Most tackles by a defensive lineman in Oregon history
• 11th most sacks in Oregon history

DeForest Buckner NFL Draft

DeForest Buckner capitalized on a monster senior season with the Ducks and went on to become a first-round draft pick, selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 7 overall pick in 2016, joining fellow Oregon player Arik Armstead, who went to the 49ers with the No. 17 overall pick in 2015.

DeForest Buckner's NFL Success

141 Games — 605 tackles, 88 TFL, 67.5 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns

Over the past decade, there have been few Pro Ducks more successful than Buckner. After spending his first four years with the San Francisco 49ers, Buckner signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts for $84 million. After dominating in the blue and white, Buckner signed a contract extension last season for another two years, $46 million. He is the ninth highest-paid defensive lineman in the NFL going into the 2025 season.

DeForest Buckner's Lasting Oregon Legacy

In all honesty, DeForest Buckner is going to be remembered at Oregon as a member of the Buckner-Arik Armstead tandem. The two formed one of the most dominant defensive line duos that the Ducks have seen in quite some time, and while Buckner had the superior stats at Oregon, both have gone on to flourish at the NFL level, together in San Francisco at the start.

Buckner may not have the lasting star power of a Kayvon Thibodeaux or a T.J. Ward, but he was undoubtedly a dominant player in Eugene and will have his name live on with Duck fans for a long time.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks' top 25 players since 2000: No. 11 DeForest Buckner