Oregon football players and coaches rarely single out potential breakout players over the offseason or fall camp. When asked about fall standouts, athletes and coaches alike will often list off a few names or say that everyone has impressed equally in anticipation of the season-opener Aug. 31 against Idaho.
But even the Ducks can’t contain their excitement about second-year tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
During Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis before fall camp, Terrance Ferguson had glowing remarks about the sophomore heading into 2024.
“He has all the tools in the world to be better than me and better than anybody in Oregon history at the tight end position,” Ferguson told reporters. “He has everything it takes.”
The praise didn’t end there. Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein likened his skillset to former Georgia All-American and first-round draft pick of the Las Vegas Raiders, Brock Bowers.
“We want to get him the ball in as many ways as we can,” Stein said. “He’s a guy we want personnel-specific plays for … I’m not saying Kenyon is Brock Bowers, he’s not there yet. But he has all the skills to be a player similar to him in terms of true tight end play, out of the backfield, flexed. Excited about where he’s going, and he’s had a great summer and great spring.”
The sophomore tight end arrived in Eugene last year as a 218-pound project after starring at the high school level in Idaho Falls. Ranked just outside of the top 100 of 247Sports composite rankings, Sadiq has since put on 20 pounds and grown about an inch to 6-foot-4.
He played in all of Oregon’s 14 games last season as a true freshman, and even as a young player worked in a few offensive plays as a centerpiece. Against Hawaii, Sadiq took an end-around for a 12-yard gain on a run attempt. He caught his first career touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl.
Sadiq and tight ends coach Drew Mehringer credited his development in such a short time to his mentors, Ferguson and Patrick Herbert.
“Kenyon’s a very humble kid,” Mehringer said. “(They) remind him what it takes to prepare to play and to keep his body right. The culture in that room is really, really good and I’m thankful for (Herbert) and (Ferguson) because at times I feel like they do a lot of coaching for me.”
Now Sadiq is standing out on the field and in the weight room. Even at an increased weight, Sadiq has kept the elite speed that made him a tantalizing recruit, while working through his blocking game.
As more of a receiver in high school, Sadiq said that was the biggest emphasis for him over the offseason along with putting on the weight.
“I’m just the guy who can plug in and play where he needs to,” Sadiq said. “Coming in here and being able to change my techniques to be able to block bigger edge players.”
Keep an eye on
Sadiq might be the newest piece to unlock Oregon’s offense further, but it’s no secret that Ferguson and Herbert will be the starters come Aug. 31. Herbert established himself as one of the best blockers on the team last fall after a string of injuries, and Ferguson enters 2024 with 91 career receptions, tied for fourth-most all-time by an Oregon tight end.
Newcomer to watch
A true freshman from Orem, Utah, Roger Saleapaga was listed as a four-star wide receiver coming out of high school by 247Sports composite rankings. At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, Saleapaga will need to add some weight and prove his worth as a blocker before he sees consistent playing time, but his experience as a pass catcher could come into play if Ferguson, Herbert or Sadiq go down.
Number to know
10 – Touchdowns caught by returning tight ends. Between Sadiq, Ferguson and Herbert, the Ducks spread the wealth among all their pass catchers, with quarterbacks connecting with Ferguson six times for a score, Herbert three times and Sadiq once.
With a stacked receiver room as well, don’t count out the tight ends on the goal line. Though at Oklahoma a year ago, quarterback Dillon Gabriel only threw two touchdown passes to tight ends in a different system.
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on X @AlecDietz .
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: In experienced TE room, Kenyon Sadiq might be Oregon football's not-so-secret weapon
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