Trikweze Bridges grew up in Lannett, Alabama, about 30 miles from Auburn University, three hours east of Tuscaloosa.
Once he sprouted to 6-3 with a 74-inch wingspan and a 4.51 40, blossoming into a three-time all-state safety, folks just assumed he'd wind up at one or the other.
Instead Bridges, who set an Alabama prep record with 36 career interceptions, chose Oregon over LSU, Florida State, Penn State and Oklahoma.
A four-star recruit in the class of 2019, Trikwese took a while to crack the starting lineup with the Ducks. He redshirted the first year, played sparingly in the Covid year, developing his craft behind first Jevon Holland and then Verone McKinley.
It wasn't until the Oregon coaches tried him at cornerback that he started to blossom. McKinley said, “Being able to use those long arms and still turn and run with, really, anybody, has been helpful (for Bridges. And then him mentally understanding football and understanding how to go from safety to corner and how to play the position has been super helpful for him. And of course, he’s another guy who’s hungry. He wants to be that guy … he wants that other side.”
McKinley is now with the Miami Dolphins, but before he left Eugene he made sure to hype his young backfield mate. The coaches didn't need much convincing after they saw how well Bridges moved for his size. In practice they clocked him on the GPS at over 21 miles an hour. And with that reach, length and tenacity, they found he could cover anybody.
He told Chris Hansen of the Register-Guard, “My length allows me to play a little different than others because some guys have to press up a little more but I can give myself space because of my wingspan.”
He had good ball skills too. At Lannett High he'd doubled as a wide receiver, grabbing enough passes to rack up 850 yards and scored nine touchdowns as a senior. A terrific all-around athlete, he also started three years on the Panthers basketball team, winning three more state championships.
Last season he started all 13 games for the Ducks, recording a career-high 49 total tackles (30 solo) and three interceptions.
One of the ways Dan Lanning wants to see the defense improve this season is by generating more takeaways. In 2022 they weren't disruptive enough, just 16 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries, 16 interceptions. With his experience and ball skills, plus a better pass rush and a stronger secondary around him, Bridges could emerge as an NFL prospect and a top cover guy for the Ducks.
The improvements Trikweze Bridges has made this season are unreal pic.twitter.com/omWdgptgCH
— The Flock Pod (@TheFlockPod) November 4, 2022
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