Oregon Ducks fall camp breakdown: Wide receivers
The Oregonian/OregonLive will be previewing each of 10 position groups leading up to the start of Oregon’s fall camp on Aug. 2. The fourth installment in the series reviews the wide receivers.
The long overdue overhaul of Oregon’s receiver room took place this offseason, with five newcomers replacing five departures from last season. Troy Franklin and Kris Hutson return to a room that added Traeshon Holden, Tez Johnson and Gary Bryant Jr. , making the Ducks far more explosive at the position than the past several years.
But the group has a lot of players who have to deliver on promise they’ve shown in limited spurts. Returning starters: Troy Franklin, junior; Kris Hutson, fourth-year junior Other returning players: Josh Delgado, fifth-year redshirt-junior; Traeshon Holden, fourth-year junior; Tez Johnson, fourth-year junior; Kyler Kasper, redshirt-freshman; Justius Lowe redshirt-freshman; Ashton Cozart, freshman Departed: Chase Cota; Caleb Chapman (transferred to Incarnate Word); Isaah Crocker (transferred to Nevada); Seven McGee (transferred to Jackson State); Dont’e Thornton (transferred to Tennessee); Isaiah Brevard (entered transfer portal) Summer arrivals: Gary Bryant Jr. (transferred from USC), Jurrion Dickey Outlook: The Ducks haven’t had a receiver drafted higher than the third round since 1998, which is stunning considering the quarterbacks who have been in Eugene over the last 25 years.
Franklin could change that if he’s able to backup his sophomore season (61 catches for 891 yards and nine touchdowns) with an even bigger junior year. The questions begin after Franklin, who is a lock to start and likely lead UO in receiving again. Will Hutson remain a starter or will Holden or Bryant pass over him? Will Johnson take over in the slot? How quickly can freshmen Ashton Cozart and Jurrion Dickey prove capable? These are all good problems to have in that Oregon might have options and a competitive two-deep for the first time in a long time.
Battle to WATCH: Several spots on the two-deep should be competitive, specifically at Z and slot. Keep an Eye on: Tez Johnson. He’s going to be hard to keep off the field given his speed.
Projected two deep: X Troy Franklin: 6-foot-3, 178 pounds Ashton Cozart: 6-foot-4, 193 pounds Z Kris Hutson: 5-foot-11, 172 pounds OR Traeshon Holden: 6-foot-3, 214 pounds Slot/F Tez Johnson: 5-foot-8, 183 pounds Gary Bryant Jr. : 5-foot-11, 180 pounds .