ESPN came out with their Top 100 players for the 2024 college football season and predictably, a few Oregon Ducks appeared on the list.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel receiver Tez Johnson and corner Jabbar Muhammad are all on the list. In fact, the two offensive players for the Ducks cracked the Top 20 as Gabriel is No. 16 and Johnson is No. 18. Last season, Gabriel was No. 28 and Johnson wasn’t even ranked. Muhammad, when he was with Washington, was also not ranked in 2023.
Gabriel comes into the Oregon program with huge expectations and is currently a leading Heisman candidate. He’s wearing the No. 8 uniform, the same number as his idol, Marcus Mariota, who won the Ducks’ only Heisman Trophy.
According to ESPN, Gabriel’s experience is key here.
This two-time transfer brings experience to Oregon with 49 career starts. He already ranks in the top eight in FBS history in both passing yards (14,865) and passing touchdowns (125), earning all-conference honors for both the Sooners and Golden Knights. There’s a reason why Gabriel is the preseason Heisman betting favorite. — ESPN
Johnson’s only claim to fame when he came to Oregon last season was that he was Bo Nix’s adopted brother. But as the season went along, Johnson showed he was much more than that. After a rough first half of the year, Johnson turned into one of the best receivers in the Pac-12. He’s expected to have a monster season in the Big Ten, according to ESPN.
Troy Franklin garnered more attention in 2023, but Johnson set Oregon’s single-season record with 86 receptions and has 209 receptions for 2,780 yards the past three seasons at Oregon and Troy. The prolific senior should be the top target for new quarterback Dillon Gabriel. — ESPN
Muhammad is the rare player who transferred from Washington to Oregon. It’s not often a Husky becomes a Duck, but should Muhammad play like his 2023 self or even better, it makes a very good Oregon defense even better.
From purple to green, Muhammad’s offseason move was a short one down from Seattle to Eugene where he should become one of the Ducks’ key defensive players this season. Muhammad had 3 interceptions, 2 sacks and 46 tackles last season and is already getting plenty of hype from his new Oregon teammates, ready to crown him one of the best defensive backs in college football. — ESPN
If these three Ducks perform as everyone expects, the No. 3-ranked Oreegon team are going to be tough to beat this season.
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