Sampson Niu, Oregon Football News: Draft Scout Player News

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05/19/20 - OLB Sampson Niu, rSr/2022, Oregon

The biggest hole Oregon has to fill on its defense this offseason is a spot where it had no doubts for the last four years thanks to Troy Dye: weak-side linebacker. Dye led the Ducks in tackles each of his four years and will go down as one of the best defenders in program history. For all Dye meant on the field, and that was a ton, everything else he brought to the program with intangibles like his leadership, accountability and personality might be the more difficult areas to replace in terms of his contributions. Sampson Niu will get the first shot to take over and Dru Mathis will also be in the mix, but as both are seniors the Ducks will be using 2020 as a stopgap to a long-term solution.

Niu is a violent downhill linebacker who plays bigger than his frame. At 6-1 and 215 pounds, which is up from 206 last season, Niu is more of a box safety in stature, but he hits like a freight train. He made 34 tackles with a sack and forced fumble last season and those could all see marked jumps if he gets the reps Dye did. "Sampson played a lot of football last year and he played some really good football," inside linebackers coach Ken Wilson said. "Whenever we had him on the field he did a nice job. So he's got the line right now of getting the reps with the ones. "But Dru Mathis played quite a bit last year. MJ Cunningham, you got the new guys that are coming in, Ge'mon Eaford getting back and into the mix on that side as a sophomore is going to be big." - The Oregonian

rSr/2022