A single practice clip is enough to get Oregon fans talking, and for good reason. Dante Moore and Evan Stewart already look like they’re working with the kind of timing that can change an offense, and the video from Ducks practice gave an early taste of what that pairing might become.
On the rep, Moore feathered a pass over an underneath defender and into Stewart’s hands. Stewart did the rest, tracking the ball cleanly, securing it while moving across the field and turning upfield without breaking stride. It was one snap, but it had the feel of a polished, natural connection.
That matters because Stewart’s next chapter comes with plenty of attention attached. He missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in June of 2025, and now he’s back with one year of eligibility left. Oregon coach Dan Lanning usually doesn’t spotlight one player as a breakout candidate, but this offseason he made an exception and named Stewart as the Duck to watch.
Moore backed that up with a strong endorsement of his receiver.
"Evan, love him to death. He's somebody that probably had the greatest off season I've ever seen. The way he just came in every day, early in the mornings, late nights, just pushing himself, pushing the team,"
Stewart, for his part, sounds just as locked in on the relationship.
"It means a lot. I love Tae (Dante Moore). We have a great relationship, and working with them every single day in workouts and summer conditioning has just been different, and you can really feel the connection and the competition,"
That connection could be especially important for Oregon after losing Moore’s top-two targets from last season, Malik Benson and Kenyon Sadiq, to the NFL. Stewart gives Moore a proven option who can threaten defenses downfield and create yards after the catch.
His old speed is part of what made him such a dangerous player before the injury, and his trainer believes it’s back in a big way. Craig LeBlanc, who has worked with Stewart for seven years, told Oregon Ducks on SI reporter Bri Amaranthus that he’s never seen him move like this.
“He’s visibly faster,” Stewart’s trainer told Amaranthus. “I didn’t have a GPS on him yesterday, but I’ve worked with him for seven years and I’ve never seen speed like he has right now. It’s explosive.”
LeBlanc said the rehab work has gone beyond just getting Stewart’s straight-line burst back. The focus has also been on rebuilding strength in Stewart’s injured right leg and making sure both sides of his body are balanced.
Stewart’s first season in Eugene showed exactly why his return matters. In 2024, he caught 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns, posted two 100-yard games and flashed the kind of big-play ability that can tilt a game in a hurry. His best showing came against Ohio State in a top-three matchup, when he caught seven passes for a career-high 149 yards and a touchdown.
If practice is any indication, Moore and Stewart may be lining up to give Oregon one of the most intriguing offensive connections to watch this fall.
In Other News...
Oregon's Quarterback Battle Is Becoming A Big Win For Dan Lanning
Oregons quarterback room has turned into one of the more fascinating parts of Dan Lannings program, with Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore and Dylan Raiola creating a level of competition that goes well beyond the usual preseason positioning battle. At Oregon Media Day, Moore and Raiola both talked about patience and growth, and their comments underscored how much this group has leaned into development rather than treating the depth chart as a zero-sum fight.
For the Ducks, that dynamic matters because it gives the staff something more valuable than a single arm in the room. Moore and Raiola said the daily work of pushing each other in practice has become part of the benefit, and Oregon expects that internal pressure to help the team this season. Even before the first meaningful snaps are played, the quarterback situation already looks like a strength the Ducks can build around. [Read more 🡒]
Koi Perich Finally Opened Up About Leaving Minnesota For Oregon
Koi Perich used Oregons media day to explain why he made the move from Minnesota to Eugene, and the answer centered on both football ambition and opportunity. The safety said the Ducks status as a contender made the program especially appealing, along with the chance to step onto a bigger stage, a combination that helped shape his decision to transfer.
Perich also talked about what the offseason has meant for him beyond the depth chart, pointing to his development and the personal growth he has felt since arriving at Oregon. For a player trying to settle in and make an impact in a new setting, that kind of adjustment matters just as much as the spotlight he said he was seeking. [Read more 🡒]