Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks made their first big splash in the transfer portal this offseason, getting a commitment from former Louisville Cardinals tight end Jamari Johnson.
Johnson, who caught 13 passes for 158 yards and 1 touchdown in his two seasons at Louisville, will be a redshirt sophomore next year, with three years of eligibility remaining.
Standing at 6-foot-5, 265-pounds, Johnson brings elite size to Oregon’s offense, where he can serve as both a blocking tight end, and someone who can go up and get jump balls in the passing game. Pairing that skill set with Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq is an intriguing proposition for the Ducks.
As a former 4-star recruit, Johnson was familiar with Oregon when getting into the portal this offseason. Before signing with Louisville in the class of 2023, the Ducks tried hard to flip Johnson to commit to Oregon. As we often see in this new transfer portal era, they were ultimately able to get him to sign with the Ducks, though it took a couple of years.
Johnson entered the portal on December 11 and was predicted to commit to the Ducks a day later.
Going into the offseason, tight end was among the biggest roster needs for Oregon, with both Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert graduating. While Sadiq is expected to be one of the best players on the team going into 2025, you always need depth and talent at the position.
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