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Since Dan Lanning took over as head coach, the Oregon Ducks have steadily moved closer to capturing the elusive national championship. In 2025, Oregon advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals, but once again saw its title pursuit end short of the ultimate goal.
Now, with a coaching staff that has been able to learn and grow, a veteran core returning, and one of the most talented rosters in the country, the Ducks enter 2026 with a legitimate opportunity to deliver the championship season their fans have been waiting for.
Oregon has a long history of having great tight ends in the program and that hasn't changed. The Ducks just sent their latest great tight end to the NFL in the form of Kenyon Sadiq. Now, some are expecting the output at the position to be even better. With Jamari Johnson for one more season, the Ducks again boast the "best TE in the nation" label going into the year. While Johnson may live up to that standard, there are some questions as to who fills out the rest of the room behind him.
State of the Oregon Ducks Tight End Position
The state of the tight end position in Eugene is a bit mixed. Other than Johnson, who could have easily been drafted in the last NFL selection process, the Ducks are very limited in experience at the position, but the talent is through the roof. Players such as freshman Kendre Harrison plus incoming transfers Markus Dixon (Clemson) and Andrew Olesh (Penn State) just need the reps in fall camp, weekly practices, and games, obviously, to be productive within the system. There's no reason to think they won't be.
Who’s Gone, Who’s Back, and Who’s New?
Departures
The huge piece, both figuratively and literally, is Kenyon Sadiq. He was a very unique player who could have played all over the field. He ran like a receiver, but is built like a tight end and could block like one. The Ducks will definitely miss his talent on the field. The Ducks also lost several other depth players to the portal, including Roger Saleapaga, Kade Caton, Zach Grace, and Vander Ploog.
Returners
Though Sadiq is off to the NFL, Oregon got one of the most important pieces of the offense back with Jamari Johnson. Outside of him, though, there isn't a ton of experience back, with A.J. Pugliano standing as the sole other returner.
Pugliano will battle for playing time. He was a four-star recruit and the top recruit out of the state of Oregon from Medford in 2024. His time in the program and knowing the ropes could give him a leg up on some of the newcomers.
Newcomers
There's plenty to talk about here. The Ducks brought in quite a few tight ends, and it will be interesting to see who separates themselves from the others in fall camp to play behind Johnson. Olesh and Dixon have the most experience coming in, but even that isn't saying much. Olesh, a redshirt freshman, was a 5-star recruit with a lot of promise, but he didn't play for the Nittany Lions, but has a nice chance to see plenty of time on the field for the Ducks. As will Dixon. Although he played defensive end for Clemson last season, the redshirt junior will move back to tight end for the Ducks.
Harrison was a 5-star and a top 20 recruit last year, and he could very well be TE2 even though he is a true freshman. The talent is obviously there. The question is how quickly Harrison adapts to his new surroundings and the speed of Division I football. If he is able to adjust, Harrison will be on the field and contributing.
Projected Depth Chart
- Starter: Jamari Johnson
- Backups: Andrew Olesh, Kendre Harrison
- Other Names to Know: Markus Dixon
The top spot on the depth chart is very clear, with Johnson acting as one of the best TEs in the nation. The biggest question of the year is going to be regarding who stands up behind him. Harrison is 6-foot-7 and the No. 1 TE in the 2026 class, while Olesh was the No. 1 TE in the 2025 class. Then there's Dixon, a physical route-runner who can fight for tough yards when needed.
Biggest Questions Entering Fall Camp
Can Jamari Johnson fill in Kenyon Sadiq's shoes?
That's a heavy ask for anybody, but if there is someone on the roster who can, it's Johnson. He finished his first season at Oregon with 32 catches, 510 yards and three touchdowns. Look for those numbers to jump up significantly this season.
Who will take over the primary backup tight end role?
This might be the biggest question in fall camp. Oregon has plenty of options on the roster. Will it be Pugliano with his time within the program? Will it be one of the incoming transfers, or will it be a true freshman, such as Harrison? Or will it be a combination of players? It will most likely be an ongoing thing throughout the season. Best guess would be Harrison eventually seeing more and more playing time as the season rolls on. He wasn't a five-star recruit just by accident.
Player to Watch
Andrew Olesh
Of the incoming transfers, Olesh could have the most promise. Penn State was high on him, but decided to redshirt the former five-star. The Nittany Lions were in disarray last season with the midseason firing of James Franklin, which could have led to Olesh getting the heck out of there. Oregon also recruited Olesh heavily, although it took a season, Lanning finally landed him. Olesh will get a long and hard look in fall camp for sure.
Final Outlook and Position Grade
Sadiq might be gone, but as an overall position group, the tight end spot might be just as strong. The talent is there, but the lack of overall experience is what is keeping the tight ends from being a huge national story. That will change in 2027, even without Johnson. Oregon's new offensive coordinator, Drew Mehringer, might use the tight ends more in the game plan just to see what he has to play with. Johnson is a known quantity, but Oregon has to know what they have here, and the only way to find out is to throw these guys the ball.
Overall Oregon Ducks Tight Ends Position Grade: B
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks tight ends preview: Jamari Johnson to carry a heavy load
