Trikweze Bridges was recruited to Oregon as a safety, but finding a fit for him on the field was initially a challenge.

At 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds as a senior at Lanett (Ala.) High, Bridges led Alabama in interceptions. He got closer to 200 pounds in the fall of 2019, but appeared in just one game while redshirting.

He played deep safety in a couple of games in 2020 and competed and ultimately won the starting job at boundary cornerback last season, when he had 26 tackles with one for loss, an interception, force fumble and pass breakup.

Bridges’ ability to play either cornerback or safety could be what keeps him in the starting secondary for the No. 11 Ducks.

“I think anytime that you have a guy like him, and there’s multiple guys, just on the back end in general corner and safety that had that type of versatility,” safeties coach Matt Powledge said. “They’re a little bit bigger bodies. They run just like corners, they have coverage ability. You’re really just trying to find the right matchup and trying to play to your personnel. We’re not trying to fit a square peg into a round hole or anything like that. So really trying to play to our players. Kweze has done a great job of learning multiple spots and he’s done a great job competing early on this fall.”

Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi was at Alabama in 2018 when Bridges was a senior in high school. The Crimson Tide did recruit Bridges and Lupoi sees the progress he’s made.

“He’s someone I love being around,” Lupoi said. “Love his presence. He’s got some length, he’s got some speed and what you love about him is he’s got some versatility. He’s somebody that can play multiple positions, just like we’re asking him to do right now. I think he’s taking that challenge on and embracing it and taxing himself mentally.”

Bridges has been working at both positions during fall camp, as has Bennett Williams and where each of them is on the field impacts where the other might be.

If Williams is at nickel, Bridges could be at deep safety or corner. If Williams is at boundary safety, Bridges can be at corner.

“At corner you have to use a lot of techniques, like flipping your hips and transition,” Bridges said. “Me playing corner, I was able to do that and getting better at it. At safety, that’s what I played in high school and majority of what my reps was at. When I first came here, at corner I had to develop and grow as a corner. (Because I’ve) been doing that, I have been better at safety. I’m faster now and I’m a lot quicker and can transition a lot better too.”

Multiple receivers who have to face off with Bridges during practice said he’s length, with a 7-foot wingspan, and his improved coverage ability make him a difficult matchup.

When Bridges is at deep safety, he is typically lined up with Bryan Addison, who was a situational player last season for UO but is a likely starter this fall.

“He takes football very serious,” Addison said. “So when I see him on the field I know I got to lock in just as much as he is because he doesn’t take the game for a joke.”