‘He’s got speed;’ Dan Lanning marvels at what WR Tez Johnson brings to the Ducks
There is a lot of talent in the Oregon Ducks’ wide receiver room, but outside of Troy Franklin, we don’t really know who is going to fill the starting spots when all is said and done.
There are guys like Traeshon Holden and Kris Hutson who will have a good shot at ending up near the top of the depth chart, and some of the younger players like Kyler Kasper, Ashton Cozart, and eventually Jurrion Dickey will have a say as well. One player who has been making some waves early on in spring camp thus far, though, is Troy transfer Tez Johnson.
Johnson was a relatively under-the-radar transfer for Oregon, but he brings a massive upside to the table. In 2022, he was the No. 2 rated WR in the nation according to Pro Football Focus, ranked behind only Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr.
With over 1,800 yards and 8 TD in his career, it’s clear that Johnson comes to Oregon as more than just a depth piece. He has a real chance to make an impact and potentially crack the starting lineup.
“He’s got speed, I think that shows up,” Dan Lanning said when asked about Johnson on Tuesday. “He has the ability to get in and out of breaks, he can really create separation with his speed. Obviously, he’s a little bit lighter, so we got to get him to continue to bulk up and wait for him to be a consistent player because if you take a couple of hits at that size, you’re not going to be able to be as productive.”
Johnson is listed at just 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, but he knows how to take advantage of his small frame work around a defense. His quickness is impossible to ignore, and his breakaway speed is something else. I have been told already by someone inside the program that Johnson is among the most impressive players that they’ve seen thus far at spring practice, and he’s elevating the wide receiver group for the Ducks.
It will be a few weeks before we get a chance to see what he can do with Oregon at the spring game, but there’s a chance that he really breaks out and gives the fans a show.
