Oregon Spring Ball Player Spotlight: Kenyon Sadiq’s instant-impact opportunity
The Oregon Ducks will be taking the practice field and getting the spring football season later this week. This fact has brought a ton of excitement to Eugene.
Why? Because after the successful and encouraging 2022 season under Dan Lanning, there seems to be more anticipation surrounding this program than we’ve seen in the past few seasons. The Ducks have a Heisman contender at quarterback, a potential Biletnikoff contender at wide receiver, and a running back group that could be among the best in the nation next season. On the defensive side of the ball, there are some key returning starters in the front seven, a couple of promising up-and-coming players in the secondary, and a handful of intriguing transfer-portal players who could end up making a massive difference for Oregon. On top of all of that, the Ducks are fresh off of back-to-back top-15 recruiting classes, stacking the roster with young, unproven talent.
It’s safe to say that there are a handful of guys that we can’t wait to see take the field in Eugene.
We started our in-depth look at some of the most intriguing players by taking a deep dive into QB Austin Novosad and what he means for the Ducks. We’re going to continue by putting the spotlight on incoming 2023 TE Kenyon Sadiq, one of the top-rated players in Oregon’s most recent class.
Here’s our breakdown of the dynamic athlete who could end up carving out a sizeable role as a true freshman.
The Hype Going into Spring
De’Anthony Thomas holds the record for the most touchdowns by a true freshman in Oregon Ducks history, with 18. Im not saying that Kenyon Sadiq is going to come close to breaking that, but I do think he will find a place on the list.
Sadiq is one of the most talented pure athletes in the Ducks’ 2023 class. He comes to Eugene listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 79 player in the nation. He was the top-ranked player from the state of Idaho in 2023, and one watch-through of his highlight reel will convince you that it’s accurate.
There’s obviously a lot of hype surrounding Sadiq coming to Eugene as a true freshman. I believe it’s warranted. I think that he could end up having a significant role in the offense in 2023.
One of the main reasons that I have high expectations for Sadiq is because he comes to Eugene at a current position of need. With both Moliki Matavao and Cam McCormick entering the transfer portal, the Ducks have only Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert currently on the roster as scholarship players at the position. We know that Ferguson brings to the table, and while there is hope that Herbert can take another step forward after showing some flashes a season ago, Oregon is still rightfully searching for more TE production.
If Sadiq comes in this spring and performs to the level that we expect is possible, then I have no trouble believing that Will Stein will find a role for him in the offense, whether that be split wide as an over-sized wide receiver in redzone packages, or in tight as a short-yardage pass-catcher.
Recruiting Profile
Stars | Overall | State | Position | |
247 | 4 | 95 | ID | ATH |
Rivals | 4 | 5.8 | ID | ATH |
ESPN | 4 | 83 | ID | ATH |
On3 Recruiting | 3 | 90.93 | ID | ATH |
247 Composite | 3 | 0.9430 | ID | ATH |
Vitals
Hometown | Idaho Falls, ID |
Projected Position | Tight End/Linebacker |
Height | 6-foot-3 |
Weight | 220 pounds |
Class | 2023 |
Best Case Scenario
I think the best-case scenario for Sadiq is that he comes in to spring camp this year and proves that what we saw on film from his days in Idaho are compatible to the college level. This means that he displays a wide catch radius, and the ability to go up and get the ball in traffic, especially in the end zone.
Should this scenario happen, I don’t think it would take long for Lanning and his staff to make sure that Sadiq is plugged into the offense more than your average true freshman, and he gets a solid target share early in his Oregon career.
What I Expect to Happen
In reality, I don’t know that Sadiq will reach his ceiling as quickly as the best-case scenario would suggest. While he could get some looks early on in spring ball, I think that the Ducks will still end up adding another TE to the roster via the transfer portal once it opens in May, which could end up cutting into a potential target share for Sadiq.
I still believe that Sadiq can have a role, and will likely get into the end zone a few times this season, but it may be that we have to wait until his sophomore year that we see his full potential.
Highlights
