In many ways, Oregon defensive back D.J. James is exactly on schedule.

Oregon was expecting to have Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir back in 2020 and Mykael Wright and James to serve as their respective understudies before taking over this fall. Half that plan proved accurate after both starters opted out but Lenoir returned for the short season and probably ensured his selection in the NFL draft in the process.

James got an increase in reps and closed the season out strong with some crucial plays in the Pac-12 championship game and Fiesta Bowl.

Now he’ll be a starter on the boundary side and go through the same process Wright did as a first-year starter last season.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” James said. “I feel I’ve been talked to, coached into this position that I’m about to acquire. I feel that I’m ready for it, my coaches will have me ready for it and I’m going to take over the opportunity and enjoy it.”

Post-spring depth chart

• D.J. James: 6-foot, 185 pounds, sophomore
• Dontae Manning: 6-foot, 192 pounds, freshman

Jaylin Davies: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, freshman

Mario Cristobal’s take

“D.J. James, he’s a bigger guy than what you would think. He’s a 6-foot-and-a-half, 6-foot-1 guy that can run, can bend, come out of his hips. He can play the boundary, he can play the field, can play man coverage, drop back there in zone, run the alley, make plays, get guys on the ground.”

Starter

James probably could have played more over the past two seasons, but the learning curve also would’ve left him exposed to some tough lessons. He credited Lenoir, whose number 0 he inherited this spring, with aiding his understanding and situational awareness.

“Everything about where I’m at on the field and understanding the college game instead of high school because it’s a big difference,” James said. “I had to adjust to that and my coaches helped me.”

Just as Wright was the more targeted corner than Lenoir last season, James will now be the relative novice that opposing offenses will test.

“Those two young prospects are very good players with very good skill sets,” cornerbacks coach Rod Chance said. “Now it’s about adding the body strength, the play strength and really for DJ the confidence. It’s easy to be confident when you’ve played 936 snaps, which I believe is Mykael’s snap count. DJ is at 256 snaps since he’s been here. I think having that many snaps under his belt is helpful but imagine when he gets to 500-600 snaps when there’s not a situation that he hasn’t seen.”

Backup

Dontae Manning missed last season due to injury and will got his most significant action in the spring. He had four tackles and an interception during the spring game.

“He’s a great athlete, really beginning to learn the position and these reps have been valuable for him,” Chance said. “I think that once he gets these reps under his belt and also the summer program we’re going to see a continual jump in terms of his learning development and also his position-specific movement.”

Manning is vying for a spot on the two deep and most likely the No. 3 outside corner, making him likely to see 20-plus snaps per game on defense alone.

Next wave

Jaylin Davies enrolled early and went through spring practice, giving him a leg up in competition to be on the two-deep or at least get into the rotation. Whether he’ll end up at field or boundary corner will be settled during fall camp.

“To be here as an early enrollee going through a system (that) is a little bit more detailed coverage wise than we ran here in the past, very proud of where he is right now,” Chance said.