Oregon’s Ziyare Addison: A Redshirt Freshman to Watch on the Offensive Line
Dan Lanning’s 2025 recruiting class made a statement in Year One - not just in promise, but in production. Several true freshmen stepped into real roles right away, with seven playing enough to burn their redshirts and make an impact on Saturdays.
But while names like Jordon Davison and Dakorien Moore became familiar to Ducks fans, there’s another group - the redshirts - waiting in the wings. And one of the most intriguing among them?
Offensive tackle Ziyare Addison.
Let’s break down where Addison stands heading into 2026, and why his name could be one to remember as Oregon reshuffles its offensive line.
The Profile: Athleticism Meets Upside
Addison came to Eugene as a four-star recruit, ranked No. 102 nationally and the No. 15 interior offensive line prospect in his class. That “interior” label may have raised some eyebrows, especially since he’s been working exclusively at tackle since arriving on campus. But the versatility is part of what makes him such an interesting piece.
At 6-foot-5 with an eye-popping 6-foot-10 wingspan, Addison brings elite length - the kind that helps make up for any questions about ideal tackle height. He’s not your prototypical 6-foot-7 road grader, but he’s no undersized project either.
He’s already tipping the scales around 315 pounds, and unlike many young linemen, he doesn’t need to shed bad weight or overhaul his frame. This is a well-built athlete who’s been competing in wrestling and track - yes, even sprints - before fully growing into his body.
That athletic background shows up in his movement skills and quickness off the line.
Addison logged just eight snaps in 2025, all at left tackle, but even in that small sample size, the Ducks’ staff saw enough to keep him in the tackle mix moving forward.
The Concerns: Size, Fit, and Finding a Home
Now, Addison isn’t without question marks. He’s not built like Oregon’s headline tackles - guys like Immanuel Iheanacho or Tommy Tofi, who bring more traditional size and mass to the position. Addison is closer to the Josh Conerly Jr. mold: a bit leaner, more agile, and reliant on technique and athleticism over brute strength.
That’s led some to wonder if he’s a bit of a “tweener” - not quite the classic left tackle prototype, but not a natural guard either. While his arm length helps offset the height debate, the question remains: where does he fit best?
He was known as a better run blocker than pass protector coming out of high school, which isn’t uncommon for young linemen. But in Oregon’s offense - where pass protection is paramount and the tackles are often left on islands - that’s an area where he’ll need to continue developing.
The Opportunity: A Path to the Field in 2026
Here’s where things get interesting: both of Oregon’s starting tackle spots are up for grabs in 2026. That opens the door for a player like Addison, who’s had a full year to develop behind the scenes, to make a real push for playing time.
He’s not the frontrunner at left tackle - that distinction currently belongs to Fox Crader, who played 138 snaps and started a game in 2025. But Addison is firmly in the mix as a redshirt freshman. And given his positional flexibility, a move to right tackle or even inside to guard isn’t out of the question if it means a clearer path to the field.
Still, as things stand, Addison is most likely to open the season as Oregon’s No. 2 left tackle. That might not sound like much, but in today’s game - where offensive line depth is critical and injuries are inevitable - it puts him one step away from a major role.
Final Thought: A Name Worth Tracking
Ziyare Addison may not have made headlines in 2025, but don’t let the quiet redshirt year fool you. He’s got the frame, the athleticism, and the versatility to be a factor for Oregon’s offensive line sooner rather than later. Whether he locks down a starting job this fall or continues to develop behind the scenes, Addison is one of those players who could go from under-the-radar to indispensable in a hurry.
Keep an eye on him - because the Ducks certainly are.