EUGENE — Jerry Mixon has gone from expecting to have a bigger role among Oregon’s linebackers, to starting and playing more snaps in games than he did all of last season.

The Ducks junior enters Saturday’s matchup with No. 15 USC with 39 tackles (2.5 for loss) with two interceptions and four pass breakups this season. Mixon has started the last seven games, but with Devon Jackson out the past two weeks his snap count reached 53 defensive plays against Iowa, when he made a team-high 13 stops, and 40 against Minnesota.

“Jerry’s been a warrior for us all year,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “I think it’s very clear that we trust him. He plays winning football.”

Those are huge jumps in playing time for Mixon, who had three tackles over 43 defensive snaps last season and five tackles wi

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