EUGENE- The University of Oregon’s football program boasts arguably the most dominant wide receiver room in the nation headlined by Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart. The Ducks are the No. 1 receiving corps in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus.  

“I know we have the best room in the country.”

– Traeshon Holden 

 The Ducks are favorites for the Big Ten Conference Championship as well as top contenders for the 2024 College Football National Championship, and their talented group of receivers is a large reason why.  

Oregon returns a core of experienced playmakers, including Traeshon Holden and Gary Bryant Jr., who combined for 892 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Holden was a force last season setting career-highs in receptions (37) and receiving yards (452) while matching a career-high with six touchdown catches.  

Tez Johnson, who made a stellar debut in his first year with the Ducks, is back to bolster an already potent receiving unit. Last season, Tez made history breaking the single-season record for receptions (86) while also racking up 1,182 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Johnson’s 11 receptions for 176 yards in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl ranked second in Oregon bowl game history. 

 “As a group, nobody can touch us,” Johnson said Monday. “We play sound, fast, physical. That’s our room. That’s us at heart. We’re the best in the country and I’ll continue to say that. You’ve got Evan Stewart in the room, a new addition. You also have myself, Traeshon (Holden), Gary Bryant (Jr.), you have (Justius) Lowe and Kyler (Kasper) that adds a totally different game when they step on the field.”  

It is not only veterans who are expected to make an impact for Oregon in the upcoming season, but several newcomers are poised for excellence as well. Joining the Ducks this season is highly touted transfer Evan Stewart out of Texas A&M. 

 Last season as an Aggie, Stewart ranked second on the team in catches (38), touchdown receptions (4), average yards per game (64.3), and third in total yards per game (514). 

 Stewart’s addition forms a potentially unstoppable duo with Johnson at the top of the depth chart. This dynamic pair has been dubbed the nation’s best receiving duo by Pro Football Focus. This is a dangerous duo for any defense in the Big Ten Conference as the Ducks chase their first national championship.  

“I never won a state title or a district title or anything in football,” Stewart said. “To win with this team would mean the world.” 

 Oregon’s receiver corps extends further with former five-star recruits true freshman Gatlin Bair and sophomore Jurrion Dickey. Bair isn’t the only young newcomer to the wide receiver room, as he’s joined by four-star freshmen Jeremiah McClellan, Ryan Pellum, and Dillon Gresham. These talented receivers are part of Oregon’s No. 3 ranked 2024 recruiting class, trailing only powerhouse programs Alabama and Georgia in 2024 recruiting rankings.  

Oregon’s tight end room also contributes significantly to Oregon’s aggressive offense. Terrance Ferguson, Patrick Herbert, and Kenyon Sadiq form a dynamic trio that can stretch the field and create mismatches for opposing defenses. 

“The goal is a national championship, and we’ve been vocal about that because we believe it, and everyone in the building has that one goal,”

– Terrance Ferguson

With a core group of experienced receivers returning and a wave of talented young players joining the fold, Oregon’s receiver room is shaping up to be a dominant force in college football. 

The Oregon Ducks have announced they will honor the late Khyree Jackson and Spencer Webb with a memorial helmet sticker for the 2024 season.

Both former Oregon players suffered tragic and untimely deaths: Webb was killed in 2022 during a cliff-diving accident, while Jackson died in a car accident earlier this month.

To memorialize the players, Oregon will add a pair of flying ducks logo to the back of their helmets for the 2024 season. You can see the memorial sticker below:

As shown on the green helmet, the memorial features two ducks in flight, along with the numbers “4” and “5” which were worn by Webb and Jackson respectively. Webb also wore No. 18 with the Ducks.

Oregon had previously honored Spencer, placing a spider web decal with the No. 4 on the back of their helmets, as well as on gear such as gloves and compression sleeves.

While Webb passed away while still a member of the Ducks, Jackson had finished his Oregon career and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings during the NFL draft this spring. The Vikings not only will pay Jackson’s signing bonus, they plan to honor him as well with a helmet decal.

To date, the Vikings have not unveiled what their memorial decal will look like, but it will bear the initials “TJ.” I mocked up how this might possibly look:

Oregon’s 2024 regular season begins on August 31, against Idaho in Autzen Stadium, where they will feature the decals for the first time.

EUGENE — Jurrion Dickey wore No. 13 throughout his high school career. The Oregon receiver, who caught attention for choosing No. 99 as a true freshman, wanted to take the opportunity to wear his old number in college, but used it as a proverbial carrot.

The Ducks redshirt-freshman set goals for his weight, strength and grades to accomplish this offseason before making the jersey change, which is one of two among returning UO players since the spring and five this offseason.

“I had a whole lot of past with No. 13,” Dickey said. “When the opportunity is there I felt like I would feel worse if I didn’t take the opportunity when it was there instead of allowing it just to wash away. I feel like it was my opportunity so I took it.

“I set a standard to be able to obtain No. 13. … To me 13 was a challenge and only for me to get it if I beat my challenge. I’d say I won my challenge up to here.”

Listed at 215 pounds last season, when he was coming off an injury from his senior year in high school, Dickey said he reached his goal of being between 200-205 pounds. He wanted to “push weight,” and claims to have increased some dumbbell lifts from 60 pounds to 110 pounds per arm.

With one catch for seven yards over five games while redshirting last season, the former five-star prospect is expected to see a much bigger role this fall.

Another player changing numbers ahead of fall camp is sophomore defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington, who switches to No. 52 from 58. Traeshon Holden (1 from 5), Nikko Reed (9 from 25) and Dave Iuli (74 from 52) changed numbers during the spring.

The numbers for transfers and freshmen who arrived this summer are: Brandon Johnson (3), Peyton Woodyard (12), Dylan Williams (20), De’Jaun Riggs (21), Ify Obidegwu (25), Devin Brooks (53), Derrick Harmon (55) and Fox Crader (59). Additionally, preferred walk-ons Jalen Saint Paul (24), Jacob Pruitt (35), Kade Caton (40), Brady Bidwell (89) and Tyler Kinsman (94) also arrived this summer.

Preferred walk-ons DJ Beckum, Hunter Roberts, Andrew Walker and Brodie Wright left the program this offseason.