Tag: Tez Johnson

Oregon’s Tez Johnson is a key player to watch in Ducks’ battle vs USC

USC will have its hands full here.

The Oregon Ducks have a lot of firepower. Bo Nix, Bucky Irving, Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson have been outstanding skill-position players all year. This week should be no different when they play the USC Trojans and their bottom-tier defense.

Recently, a young star has risen and become one of the favorite targets of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. He happens to be Nix’s adopted brother and former high school teammate, Tez Johnson.

Johnson, a junior receiver and punt returner who transferred to Oregon after last season, delivered an eye-popping performance in the Ducks’ 63-19 rout of Cal on Saturday at Autzen Stadium. He produced a career-high 12 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson also returned three punts for 75 yards, including a 47-yard return, the longest in his career.

The junior transfer from Troy University has had a breakout season. Johnson has 46 catches for 599 yards and six touchdowns.

“Tez is a guy that battles every single moment he is on the field,” said Oregon coach Dan Lanning.

Oregon has not faced USC since the 2020 Pac-12 Championship Game, won by the Ducks in Los Angeles.

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Report Card: A rough start turns into a gem of a win against Cal

Report Card: It wasn’t the start they drew up, but after a couple of early miscues, Oregon turns in a good, solid performance.

Oregon didn’t draw up the beginning of the game on a chalkboard with the first play being an interception. Fortunately, it turned out okay as the Duck’s defense came to play and the offense got things together in the 63-19 win over California.

But the wet conditions did create some plays you normally wouldn’t see such as a blocked field goal returned to for a touchdown only to be called back because the defense was offsides. Both teams were flagged for sideline interference and a 52-yard field goal was missed.

The Ducks got their biggest punt return of the season and scored three touchdowns in the last five minutes of the first half.

Other than that, it was a normal football game.

Bo Nix was outstanding, Tez Johnson had a career game and the defense allowed just one touchdown, their first in two games. Coach Dan Lanning wasn’t particularly happy with the overall performance, but that just shows how high the standard has become in Eugene.

Here’s another very good report card after the big win over California.

Tez Johnson bounces back for career day in blowout win for Ducks

Tez Johnson bounces back for career day in blowout win for Ducks

In the hours leading up to Oregon’s matchup against Cal, the rain and the cloud cover above Autzen stadium ebbed and flowed. But by kickoff time, the sky was relatively clear.

The California Golden Bears kicked off to the Oregon Ducks, and the Oregon offense trotted onto the field to start their drive from the 25. On the first play, Bo Nix dropped back to pass and threw the ball down the field for what would become his second interception of the year. The ball was picked after bouncing through WR Tez Johnson’s hands on what should’ve been after a routine catch.

After a start like that, no one would’ve expected Johnson to go on to have the day he did.

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The junior receiver transferred to Oregon last offseason after three years at Troy, where he racked up 1809 receiving yards and 9 total TDs. Johnson is Bo Nix’s adopted brother and the two were high school teammates. Johnson grew up idolizing Oregon football and on Saturday, he enshrined himself in the history of Oregon football with his performance, finishing with 12 catches for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Once the Ducks got the ball back after the opening interception, Bucky Irving scored on a swing pass, only for the play to be brought back due to a penalty. And after another penalty on the next play, Oregon was pushed back to the California 48-yard line for a 2nd and 37. Bo Nix dropped back and looked for Tez once again. This time, Johnson was surehanded, and he hauled in the pass as he dusted the Bears’ safety up the middle of the field.

When asked how Johnson was able to bounce back so well after a tough start, his brother Bo had this to say.

“When his number was called he answered,” Nix said. “You can look at the whole entire game, and the story you can pull from is, hey, that first play didn’t go how we wanted it. Anybody could have gone in the tank after that. That was a tough play to come back from and not what you want to go out there and do. But, your response is the most important thing. Your response is usually how you’re seen as a person. I thought he came out and had a great response and took over the game.”

On top of Johnson’s remarkable stat line, he also added a 47-yard punt return that nearly traversed the width of the field. After the game, I asked Johnson what his favorite play of the day was, and he said it was his long punt return.

“It was just the excitement on my teammates’ face. I just go out there and do it for those guys. It felt great,” Johnson said. “The blocking on that play was tremendous. I know it is because if I’m running that free open, I know the blocking was tremendous.”

And while Tez Johnson was happy about the win and his own performance, he continued to emphasize that the teams’ potential to improve was what they needed to focus on.

“We had 63 points on the board, but we didn’t have our best day as an offense. What we had 90-some yards with 9 penalties? That’s not us. That’s who we are as a team,” Johnson said.

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10 major takeaways from Oregon’s 63-19 blowout win over California

10 major takeaways from Oregon’s 63-19 blowout win over California

Despite twice as many yards, three times as many points and nine times as many offensive touchdowns, Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning was a bit more frustrated than you might have expected him to be on Saturday night after his team’s 63-19 win over the California Golden Bears.

His team had just improved to 8-1 behind a six-touchdown performance from his quarterback, and his defense held the opposing offense to 12 points. Despite that, Lanning was intent on focusing on the things that needed to improve.

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“There are moments in that game that I certainly wish we could have back and execute a little bit better,” Lanning said after the game. “I think we put ourselves in some tough positions at times and didn’t play to our standard of play, certainly in the first half.”

While he’s certainly right, there was a lot to like for Oregon fans on an afternoon when the offense totaled 597 yards, 444 of which came through the air. There are things to clean up against improved competition going forward, but for the most part, it was another impressive Oregon victory. Here are some of our biggest takeaways from the game:

Ducks Wire Player of Game: QB Bo Nix racks up 6 TDs in blowout over Cal

Ducks Wire Player of Game: QB Bo Nix racks up 6 TDs in blowout over Cal

Usually after throwing an interception on the first play of the game, a QB doesn’t go on to have one of the better games of their career. But, that’s exactly what Bo Nix did against the Cal Golden Bears.

After throwing a touchdown to Terrance Ferguson near the start of the fourth quarter, Nix’s day was done, and he finished with 386 yards and 4 passing TDs on 29/38 passing (76% completion rate). Nix also made an impact on the ground, scoring two rushing TDs. It was good enough to win our Ducks Wire Player of the Game award.

All week, it seemed like this game would be an excellent opportunity for Nix to bolster his Heisman campaign, which is precisely what he did. In addition to his raw numbers, Nix also made some highlight-worthy plays. Nix’s most exciting moment came in the first half when he ducked a pursuing defender and launched a sidearm throw to Treashon Holden up the Oregon sideline.

Speaking of Tez Johnson, he also had a strong case for the player of the game. Johnson finished with 12 catches, 180 yards, a 47-yard punt return, and 2 TDs — although he is the receiver that dropped Nix’s pass causing an interception on the game’s first play. If he hadn’t been rested for most of the fourth quarter, Johnson would’ve had the opportunity to become the tenth Duck all-time to accumulate 200 receiving yards in a game. All together, the brothers from Pinson, Alabama, had a day to remember.

Now through 9 games, Nix has put together an extraordinary resume. He’s thrown for 2,723 yards, completed 78% of his passes (which leads FBS), thrown only 2 INTs (only one of which was his fault), and has scored 30 total TDs.

Over the course of the next week, we’ll get to see how much of an impact Bo Nix’s performance against Cal has on his Heisman candidacy. Currently, Nix’s name has been thrown into the conversation about the Heisman trophy, but J.J. McCarthy, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Jayden Daniels have been atop the rankings. Perhaps after such a stellar performance against the Bears, Bo Nix will be seen as a more realistic candidate.

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Photo Gallery: Oregon’s throwback jerseys steal the show in 38-24 win

Photo Gallery: Oregon’s throwback jerseys steal the show in 38-24 win over Cougars

After not playing a game in Autzen Stadium for almost a month, the Oregon Ducks came home and took care of business against Washington State by beating them 38-24. The Ducks needed a win after their loss last weekend in Seattle, and they’ll need wins from here on out.

As Head Coach Dan Lanning pointed out after the game, it wasn’t a complete game for the Ducks, but they still got the desired result. Oregon will need a complete game next week when they travel to Utah. As I mentioned, the Ducks need to win every game they have left to keep postseason hopes alive, and the Utes will be looking to exact revenge after Oregon beat them 20-17 last season.

Below are some of the highlights from today’s win over the Washington State Cougars:

Stock Report: Oregon’s secondary shines, defensive line shows major push

Stock Report: Oregon’s secondary shines, defensive line shows major push

Similar to Week 1’s blowout win over the Portland State Vikings, it’s pretty hard to nitpick a game like Saturday’s against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. The Oregon Ducks won, 55-10, in dominant fashion.

The offense put up numbers, the defense shut things down, and a long list of young players and depth pieces were able to get on the field and see some meaningful minutes.

All in all, it was a great day at Autzen Stadium, outside of those frustrating penalties that once again proved a problem. Dan Lanning addressed that after the game, but he was also eager to highlight the performances of his players. As we do each week, here is our stock report following the game, highlighting the players who did the most to help or hurt their case going forward:

Photo Gallery: The Ducks had a great time with their big 55-10 rout over the Rainbow Warriors

Photo Gallery: The Ducks had a great time with their big 55-10 rout over the Rainbow Warriors.

Oregon wanted to make a statement in its last non-conference game of the season right before the grind of the Pac-12 season begins.

The Ducks made that statement and then some with a 55-10 win over Hawaii in front of a sold-out crowd inside Autzen Stadium Saturday night. Bo Nix was an efficient 21-of-27 passing for 247 yards and three touchdowns, with two of those scores going to Tez Johnson.

While the offense was lighting up the scoreboard as usual, it was the defense that was perhaps the most impressive as they kept the pass-happy Hawaii offense off the board for most of the night. Only a late touchdown put the Rainbow Warriors in double figures.

Here is an exciting night of Oregon Duck football in photos.

Ducks Wire Player of the Game: Tez Johnson shines in win over Hawaii

Whether it was returning punts or catching long bombs, Tez Johnson showed why Oregon got him in the transfer portal.

The first time Tez Johnson touched the ball against Hawaii, it was on a 15-yard punt return that was very close to being a touchdown.

That set the tone for the Ducks and Johnson as Oregon crushed the Rainbow Warriors, 55-10. After that return, Johnson scored two plays later on a 49-yard reception from brother Bo Nix, and the Ducks were off and running.

Johnson, a transfer from Troy, had his best game so far as an Oregon Duck. He finished with four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

His second score came early in the third quarter on a 12-yard touchdown over the middle where his speed was just too much for Hawaii to handle. Johnson’s speed is going to be too much for most teams to handle. He showed why the Ducks wanted him as soon as he hit the transfer portal.

Besides his receiving yards, Johnson had 48 punt return yards to give him 125 total yards.

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Instant Reactions: Oregon breaks school scoring record in 81-7 win vs. Portland State

The scoring record at Autzen Stadium has been broken. 81 points for the Ducks.

It’s good to be back.

While students aren’t back in school at UO yet, the stadium was plenty full today. Everyone loved “Shout” as always. And it was all capped off by an Oregon win. We knew this would be a blowout, but I definitely didn’t expect a blowout this large. In my predictions, I had a final score of 59-13.

Needless to say, the Ducks exceeded expectations.

The season will be long, and this definitely isn’t an outcome anyone should get accustomed to, but it is a fun and exciting way to kick off the 2023 season. Below are some more specific reactions from right after the game.