EUGENE — Tyree Robinson was waiting for the call to move to cornerback.

The Oregon sophomore played the position during high school in San Diego and had practiced there during preseason camp. He worked at corner late in a loss to Washington State and then got the news that he would be moving from safety to face Washington.

“It’s a new position, but it was definitely comfortable for me,” Robinson said. “I am able to make more plays at that position. It wasn’t that big of a change. I was waiting for the move and it finally took that game for it to happen, so I was happy.”

After setting a career high with nine tackles against the Cougars, Robinson had 11 tackles against the Huskies.

“Tyree did a nice job for the most part,” Ducks defensive coordinator Don Pellum said. “He did a great job getting off some blocks. Having a bigger corner who is able to shed some blocks and make some tackles and not get outleveraged (helps).”

Pellum said leverage is the key for a taller cornerback like the 6-foot-4 Robinson.

“When you’re a taller person, you’re always fighting gravity,” Pellum said. “You’re fighting standing up straight, which is not the position football is played in. For him and for all the tall guys, it’s a constant battle. When I feel comfortable, I have to get lower, because if I feel comfortable, I’m not low enough.”

The 205-pound Robinson gives the Ducks a size advantage over many wide receivers.

“It is kind of hard for me with my size,” Robinson said. “I have to stay lower. If I am chasing a guy much smaller than me, the lower guy always wins. So I have to work on technique and not getting my feet tangled up.”

Oregon has switched its starters in the secondary during each of the past six weeks as it seeks answers for a pass defense that ranks last in the Pac-12, allowing 306.6 yards per game.

Pellum has utilized the versatility of his defensive backs in recent weeks by moving Charles Nelson from receiver to safety against the Cougars and then moving Robinson to cornerback against the Huskies. Fellow sophomore Juwaan Williams replaced Robinson at safety.

“It is definitely a great asset to have a 6-4 corner,” Williams said. “I love playing with him. He’s always had the ability to play there, and it’s another addition to the defense.”

With Reggie Daniels and Chris Seisay out with injuries in recent weeks, Robinson is one of the most experienced players in the secondary despite being a first-year starter.

“I have a safety mentality because I’ve played there the whole time,” said Robinson, who is tied for fourth on the team with 33 tackles. “I can fit in the box and make tackles easier than some corners and I see things that younger corners don’t really see. I can communicate to Charles or Juwaan to put them in a better position to make plays. I’m still learning cornerback, but coach (John) Neal is putting me in the right position so I just have to be physical, talk, and be that big, physical corner that we need.”

Nelson is going through a similar learning curve at safety after playing wide receiver during his freshman season and start of his sophomore campaign.

“As practices have been going on and I’m doing more on defense, it’s getting easier and easier,” Nelson said.

Williams has played in every game as a sophomore and started against Utah and Washington.

“I am one of the guys who always has extra time in the film room to get tendencies of an opponent,” he said. “Starting helps you get the feel of the game, the atmosphere of how the game is going as opposed to coming in on third down or something like that.”

Pellum has not committed to going with the same starters in the secondary for Thursday’s game at Arizona State, but Robinson expects to be back at cornerback.

“I am working on my craft,” he said. “I like the position where I’m at, and hopefully I can excel and stay there.”