Spring Position Preview: Veteran experience leads athletic group of tight ends in Eugene
After a couple of long off-season months, the grass is starting to grow and trees are getting ready to bloom. Spring is coming in Eugene, and with it comes the long-awaited return of football for the Oregon Ducks. A lot will look different in this new year for Dan Lanning and his team, with several of last year’s top players moving onto the NFL, including guys like Bo Nix, Troy Franklin, Bucky Irving, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Brandon Dorlus. All of that is not to mention the fact that the Ducks are joining the Big Ten, and have a new-look conference to get used to on top of a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff to strive for.
It’s safe to say that there are a lot of things to talk about going into this spring season, and a lot of storylines to discuss. To get things started, we want to give a position-by-position breakdown of Oregon’s current roster, getting readers up to date on which players left, which players are returning, and what the overall outlook is going into the spring.
Already this week, we’ve covered the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Now let’s move onto the tight ends.
A year ago, the Oregon Ducks were in a relatively tough spot at the tight end position. While Terrance Ferguson was returning after a strong sophomore campaign, an injury during spring practices sidelined him for a period of time. The future was a bit unknown as far as Patrick Herbert’s ceiling went, and the transfer of Moliki Matavao left the position group a bit thin.
Fast forward to this year, and the TE position is looking like one of the strongest groups on the Oregon roster, with Ferguson returning for a fourth season that could be filled with broken Oregon records. Behind him, Herbert is looking as healthy and productive as he ever has in his college career, and Kenyon Sadiq is verging on a breakout season, representing the most athleticism we’ve seen from a Ducks’ TE in quite some time.
It’s safe to say that TE coach Drew Mehringer has things going in the right direction. Here’s a complete breakdown of how things stand at the position, and the names and storylines that you need to know.
Player Departure: Casey Kelly (East Carolina)
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa
Career Stats: 33 catches, 325 yards, 5 touchdowns
Casey Kelly was brought in last year to help the depth after Terrance Ferguson went down with an injury in the spring, and he had some decent production with the Ducks. However, the writing was on the wall once Ferguson and Herbert announced their returns, especially with Sadiq being posied for a breakout.
Returning Players: Terrance Ferguson
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 91 catches, 946 yards, 13 touchdowns
There was a belief that Ferguson could test the NFL draft waters this offseason, and he likely would have been a mid-round selection if he declared. However, he announced his return for one more season, where he should be among the best tight ends in the nation, and has a chance to break a number of TE records in Eugene.
Returning Players: Patrick Herbert
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 21 catches, 294 yards, 4 touchdowns
Patrick Herbert was obviously incredibly hyped coming into Oregon because of a stellar high school season, and the last name that he shares with his older brother, Justin. Injuries marred his first couple of years as a Duck, but we really started to see what he could bring to the table in 2023 as he became more of a threat in the passing game. That should continue in 2024.
Returning Players: Kenyon Sadiq
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 5 catches, 24 yards, 1 touchdown
Former Recruiting Profile: No. 79 overall player, No. 4 athlete in 2023 class
The hype started to build a bit for Kenyon Sadiq during his freshman year at Oregon, but I don’t think that’s anything compared to what we will see take place over the next few months. Sadiq was one of the most talented and athletic players in his 2023 recruiting class, and the intangibles that he brings to the table are enthralling for the Ducks. Terrance Ferguson will be the TE1 this season, but don’t be surprised if Sadiq can carve out a productive role in the offense.
Incoming Freshmen: Roger Saleapaga
Photo Courtesy of Roger Saleapaga
Former Recruiting Profile: No. 455 overall player, No. 37 TE in 2024 class
There shouldn’t be a big expectation that Roger Saleapaga can carve out much of a role in this offense as a true freshman, especially with the talent and experience that is ahead of him on the depth chart. He brings a high ceiling and a big frame to Oregon though, and should be a nice piece in the future.
Incoming Freshman: AJ Pugliano
Photo Courtesy of A.J. Pugliano
Former Recruiting Profile: No. 538 overall player, No. 31 TE in 2024 class
The same can be said for AJ Pugliano, who should have a solid career at Oregon, but will likely need to wait a year or two before he can carve out a large role in the Ducks’ offense.
Biggest Storylines: What Records Will Fall for Terrance Ferguson?
Terrance Ferguson has already had an incredibly productive career in Eugene. At the moment, he is only 33 catches away from tying the Oregon career record set by Ed Dickson, and he needs 611 yards to tie the school record for most career yards by a tight end. Getting the record for most catches should be relatively easy for Ferguson, who had 42 receptions in 2023, but it would take a career year to break Dickson’s record for most yards.
Either way, there are a number of TE marks that Ferguson could take claim of in 2024 with a solid season. It will certainly be something to keep an eye on.
Biggest Storyline: Is This the Kenyon Sadiq Breakout Year?
Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports
It’s sometimes hard to watch a high school prospect’s film and project what they might look like at the college level. It is especially hard when watching a player from Idaho, who may not be playing against the most elite levels of talent.
With all of that being said, Kenyon Sadiq’s high school film will just off of the tape at you and get you excited about what he can do at the next level. He was the No. 1 rated player in Idaho in 2023, the No. 4 rated athlete, and the No. 79 overall player in the nation. He showed some flashes of what he could do as a true freshman, especially with his touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl. It may be hard for him to completely break out in 2024 with Ferguson still garnering a lot of the attention at the position, but I can’t wait to see him with a bigger role in the offense.
Overall Position Outlook
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
In 2024, the tight end room at Oregon is as strong as it has been in quite some time, with veteran experience at the top, and untapped potential and athleticism at the bottom. 2025 will see a new era begin with Ferguson and Herbert leaving Eugene, but there’s a feeling that the transition to the Kenyon Sadiq era will be a fun one. Overall, fans should feel great about where the TE room stands at the moment.
