Oregon’s passing game already looks loaded heading into 2026, but the Ducks’ biggest receiving threat might not even be lining up wide.
Jamari Johnson is back for his second season in Eugene, and Pro Football Focus has him graded as the top returning tight end in the Big Ten with a 78.1 mark. That puts him ahead of Illinois’ Kaden Feagin, who finished at 76.8, and Ohio State’s Mason Williams at 74.4.
Even with Kenyon Sadiq gone this offseason, Oregon still has a major weapon at the position. Johnson spent last season mostly as the backup and still put up 32 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns. At 6-foot-5, he brings a rare mix of size, quickness and wiggle, giving Dante Moore a dependable option underneath or when a play starts to break down.
There’s a chance Johnson’s role grows even more this year. His former position coach is now running the offense, which could mean more chances to get him involved.
Johnson’s job isn’t just about production, either. He’s also helping bring Kendre Harrison, Andrew Olesh and Marcus Dixon along in Drew Mehringer’s system. That matters especially with Harrison and Olesh viewed as potential future pieces at tight end, and it becomes even more important if Johnson leaves for the 2027 NFL Draft after the season.
If he takes another step as the starter, Johnson has a path to raising that PFF grade even higher. He already gives Oregon value as a blocker, too, and that lets the Ducks move him around in different ways, including as a lead blocker in the run game.
With so many mouths to feed in Oregon’s offense, the ball figures to get spread around. But Johnson’s blend of size, physicality and reliable hands-after-the-catch makes him a piece the Ducks can lean on. If Oregon reaches its goals in 2026, he’ll almost certainly be part of the reason.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Is Building Oregons Next Recruiting Advantage
Oregons push to stay ahead off the field is taking shape in a big way, with the football program expanding its facilities to roughly 500,000 square feet from a current building footprint of about 150,000. For Dan Lanning, the project is about more than adding room. It is part of the Ducks effort to keep upgrading the player experience and the day-to-day operation around a program that has long sold itself as forward-thinking in college football.
Construction is still underway, so Oregon has been juggling practice time at Autzen Stadium, the Moshofsky Center and outdoor fields in the meantime. Even with the temporary setup, the broader message is clear: the Ducks are trying to turn infrastructure into a recruiting edge, and Lanning wants the program to remain one of the sports standard-bearers for innovation. [Read more 🡒]
Dana Altman Just Gave Oregons Frontcourt A Big Boost
Oregons frontcourt got another jolt this week when Arkansas transfer Malique Ewin joined the roster after the NCAA granted an additional season of eligibility to the 2022 recruiting class. Its the latest sign that Dana Altman is not just patching holes inside, but reshaping the Ducks entire interior rotation with a mix of experience and size.
Ewin brings a well-traveled rsum that includes stops at Ole Miss, JUCO, Florida State and Arkansas, and his college path has been marked by steady growth along the way. With Sean Stewart already back and several other forwards and centers added, Oregon suddenly has the look of a team that expects its frontcourt to be a strength rather than a question. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Young Secondary Could Become A Real Strength Fast
With fall camp approaching, Oregons secondary is drawing more attention than it usually would for a group this young. The Ducks are bringing back All-American cornerback Brandon Finney Jr., while freshman Jett Washington and transfer Koi Perich give Dan Lanning a mix of proven talent, raw upside and flexibility that could make the back end of the defense a fast-moving project once practices begin.
Lanning has been encouraged by what he has seen from that group, pointing to their physical tools and the way they approach getting better. Washington and Perich are in position to push for immediate roles in the secondary, with Washington also a candidate to help on special teams and Perich offering versatility from his previous experience. If the development comes quickly, Oregon may not have to wait long for this unit to become a real strength. [Read more 🡒]