2024 Oregon football positional preview: Wide receiver

The 2023 college football season was a record breaking one for the Oregon Ducks, especially in the passing game.

With quarterback Bo Nix in the running for the Heisman trophy surrounded by Tez Johnson and Troy Franklin, the latter made school history by setting the single-season receiving yards record with 1,383 yards, while Johnson broke the record for receptions in a season with 86 grabs.

For any other program, a dip in production could be expected after gaudy numbers like that. But not the Oregon Ducks — who have seemingly just reloaded at the position for the 2024 campaign.

Shoe-ins

Tez Johnson is back for the 2024 season for his final year of college football and is expected to return to the slot receiver role where he was a record breaker just a season ago. Playing with his adopted brother Bo Nix, Johnson hauled in those 86 catches for 1,182 yards and 10 scores. His yards and touchdowns set record themselves, being the third and fourth in their categories in Oregon history, respectively.

Playing out of the slot allows a smaller receiver like Johnson — who is listed at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds — to get free releases and avoid getting jammed at the line of scrimmage by bigger defensive backs if he lined up on the outside. Despite that, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Junior Adams said that Johnson has spent much of the offseason working on his releases at the line.

“(Johnson) is the guy this offseason where I would get random texts at seven o’clock in the morning or at night with clips of him — in the mall one time — doing a route break drill or doing releases,” Adams told reporters on Aug. 3. “He’s doing a really good job of trying to really work on his release game and his route package.”

Evan Stewart is the assumed replacement to Troy Franklin, coming to Oregon by way of the transfer portal after a lack-luster sophomore season at Texas A&M marred by injuries. For the Aggies, Stewart finished with 1,163 yards across two years and was an SEC All-Freshman selection.

“He’s super talented,” Adams told reporters on Aug. 3 about Stewart. “We’ve had four practices (so far) and I will say he’s made a play in each practice.”

Stewart comes teeming with pedigree after being a five-star recruit, the No. 6 player in the country, the No. 2 player in the state of Texas and the No. 1 receiver in the country. Now healthy, Stewart has turned Adams’ head and looks to be in line for a big junior season.

Next up

Past Johnson and Stewart, the Ducks don’t have a clear-cut No. 3 — even if the many options to be that guy would be No. 1s and No. 2s on different rosters.

Traeshon Holden and Gary Bryant Jr. filled the role interchangeably during the 2023 season and are likely in-line to do it again. Last season marked both receivers’ first year in the program, with Holden transferring from Alabama and Bryant Jr. from USC.

Both exceeded the 400-yard mark last year, with Holden going for 452 yards and Bryant Jr. with 442. Adams described Holden as a player Oregon can lean on and said that Bryant Jr.’s versatility at all three spots has shown up.

“(Bryant Jr.) has made some strides with his fundamentals and the release package,” Adams told reporters on Aug. 3. “He’s playing inside, he plays outside. (He) has a high football IQ... I’m pretty excited, he’s made plays at all three positions for us this camp so far.”

Quick hits: In the mix

Things get murky the lower on the Oregon depth chart you go, with several high-profile recruits and program veterans scrapping for playing time. The key ones to know are Jurrion Dickey, Kyler Kasper, Justius Lowe and Jeremiah McClellan.

Dickey was the top-rated recruit at his position that Oregon brought in from the 2023 recruiting class as a five-star. He redshirted his freshman season after appearing in four regular season games as well as the Fiesta Bowl. Heading into his redshirt freshman season, Dickey is down a reported 20 pounds and has been refining his game.

“My goal for (Dickey) is just the day to day,” Adams told reporters on Aug. 3. “He did get his jersey number changed — thank goodness. It’s just the day to day, what does every day look like? Can he be consistent? We talk about being a pro and (Dickey) is making a lot of strides and a lot of progress.”

Kyler Kasper is a physical specimen as the tallest receiver on the roster, being listed at 6-foot-6. He was a consensus four-star when he committed, but has been buried on the depth chart to this point. His name has however routinely come up as someone who has made a lot of plays in fall camp.

Lowe, another four-star recruit and Lake Oswego High School product, has been someone Adams cited as putting in extra work. He has yet to record a catch in his collegiate career as he enters his redshirt sophomore season.

“Lowe is a good example (that) the process is working,” Adams told reporters on Aug. 3. “He’s getting better every day, he’s working at it. Most importantly, he’s confident. He’s gotten a lot better in his fundamentals and his technique. He’s working on his craft after hours, not only when we’re supposed to be in the building.”

Lastly, McClellan was the top-rated receiver commit in the 2024 signing class as a conscious four-star and 247Sports’ No. 36 player in the nation. If track record from previous names says anything, he’ll likely appear in four games early in the year and redshirt the remainder.