Preseason Camp Preview: WR/TE

RECEIVER/TIGHT END

Who's back: Three of the Ducks' top four receivers from 2022 are back as preseason camp opens, led by one of last season's breakout stars in the Pac-12 Conference, Troy Franklin. Entering 2023, Franklin is looking to build on a campaign in which he caught 61 passes for 891 yards and nine touchdowns, showing off outstanding chemistry that he developed quickly with quarterback Bo Nix. Also back is the player who caught the second-most passes for Oregon in 2022, Kris Hutson, a tough, quick pass-catcher who can play out wide or in the slot, and who caught 44 passes a year ago. And the Ducks return their most productive tight end from last season, Terrance Ferguson, an elite red-zone threat who was second on the team with five touchdown receptions.

Behind them, the returners don't boast a ton of experience. Tight end Patrick Herbert is a veteran of the program looking to break out after catching six passes a year ago; the only other returning receivers who caught a pass last season are Josh Delgado and Kyler Kasper, who caught one ball each in 2022. Kasper did preserve his redshirt, though, as did Justius Lowe after joining the program a year ago. Receivers Von Reames and Darrian Anderson and tight end Peter Burke provide experience banked with the "look" team last season.

Who's new: With a relatively limited group of experienced veterans back for 2023, the UO coaching staff looked to the transfer portal to enhance Oregon's depth – with impressive results. In the spring, the receiving corps added shifty slot guy Tez Johnson and big wideout Traeshon Holden. Entering camp, receiver Gary Bryant Jr. and tight end Casey Kelly bring more experience via the transfer portal. Along with Johnson and Holden, receiver Ashton Cozart and tight end Kenyon Sadiq also enrolled for spring drills, beginning their transition to college as true freshmen. Their 2023 recruiting classmate Jurrion Dickey arrived over the summer. Entering camp, Preston Alford has moved to receiver from running back, and the other new faces among the receivers and tight ends include Travis Brashear, Zach Grace, Kaden Ludwick and Landen Shepard.

What to watch: Summer and preseason camp are always a vital time period for building chemistry between quarterbacks and receivers. That's particularly the case for Oregon this year, with so many new faces being incorporated into the passing game at receiver and tight end. The good news: Nix demonstrated last year he could quickly get on the same page with new teammates, most notably Franklin. There's talent aplenty at these skill positions for the Ducks. If the chemistry test is successfully passed, this has the makings of a very prolific offense.