It’s not often that you get a group of wide receivers that is as experienced and talented as the one that the Oregon Ducks are working with right now.
Sure there are teams like the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide, who had Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and Henry Ruggs all on the roster, all of which will end up being first-round draft picks once this week is in the rearview mirror. However, that’s an absolute anomaly in the NCAA. Typically, a good team will have one or two experienced pass-catchers and an up-and-coming young guy that can help pick up the slack.
For the Ducks, there are at a minimum four guys who could be the WR1, with a group of underclassmen ready to hit the ground running behind them. When you’re looking at good problems to have, there may be too much talent to deal with at times, with just one ball going around.
The depth chart is headed up by seniors Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd, as well as sophomores Mycah Pittman and Devon Williams. Between those four players, there is a deep well of experience, and head coach Mario Cristobal said on Saturday that the knowledge and leadership they’re bringing to the table is helping tremendously when it comes to bringing the younger class of players along.
“The older guys have been great,” Cristobal said. “The older guys have done a really good job, making plays, pushing the tempo. Inforcing the culture in a big-time way.”
Behind those top players, Oregon has a wealth of guys who could potentially break out this season if given the chance. We’ve heard great things already about sophomore Isaah Crocker this spring, and the arrival of both Troy Franklin and Dont’e Thorton has given the Ducks some real depth at the position. You also have players like Kris Hutson and Josh Delgado returning this season as well.
All in all, there should not be any lack of production at the wide receiver position for Oregon. Assuming that they can get some high-level production for the quarterback spot, which seems to belong to Anthony Brown at this point, then there is no reason to believe that the Ducks’ offense won’t be firing on all cylinders once the season begins.
We may not have to see it in action on September 4th against Fresno State, but when Oregon travels to The Shoe at Ohio State on September 11th for a blockbuster matchup with the Buckeyes, you can bet that Joe Moorhead will have everything clicking just the way we are expecting.
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