2015 in Review: Receiver/Tight End
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Reviewing Oregon’s 2015 season and looking ahead to spring drills.
DEPTH CHART
WR: Dwayne Stanford, Jr.; Devon Allen, So.; Jalen Brown, RFr.; Alex Ofodile, Fr.; Chayce Maday, RFr.
WR: Byron Marshall, Sr.; Darren Carrington, So.; Chris Tewhill, Jr.; Jeff Bieber, RFr.; Jhet Janis, Fr.
WR: Bralon Addison, RJr.; Kirk Merritt, Fr.; Zac Schuller, Sr.; Casey Eugenio, RFr.
TE: Evan Baylis, Jr.; Johnny Mundt, Jr.; Jake McCreath, Jr.; Koa Ka'ai, Sr.; Jacob Breeland, Fr.; Taylor Stinson, RFr.; Ryan Bay, Fr.; Pharaoh Brown, Sr.
Starters: It spoke to the Ducks’ depth of talent at receiver that they were able to sustain the loss of their 2014 leader, Byron Marshall, to an injury in September and keep on producing. Marshall played in just four games before suffering what proved to be a career-ending injury against Utah. A second starting receiver at that point in the season, Charles Nelson, was moved to safety by the end of the month. But again, Oregon had ample depth at the position to provide weapons for quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.
Bralon Addison returned from the knee injury that sidelined him throughout 2014, leading the 2015 Ducks with 63 receptions for 804 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also consistently reliable was Dwayne Stanford, whose touchdown catch to force overtime at Arizona State will live on in UO football history. But the key to weathering the absences of Marshall and Nelson was the midseason return from suspension of Darren Carrington. His connection with Adams was uncanny, and he caught 32 balls for 609 yards and six touchdowns over seven games.
At tight end, Evan Baylis was the full-time starter while Pharaoh Brown redshirted the season following his traumatic leg injury late in 2014. Baylis caught 16 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown, and continued to develop as a reliable blocker at the line of scrimmage.
Reserves: Devon Allen made a remarkable return from his knee injury in the 2015 Rose Bowl, and even started four times over the course of the season. But he never truly got back to 100 percent, and caught just nine balls. Freshmen Jalen Brown and Kirk Merritt got their feet wet at the college level, contributing both off the bench offensively and in special teams. Zac Schuller and Chris Tewhill practiced with the travel squad but couldn’t crack the playing rotation, while Casey Eugenio, Jeff Bieber and Chayce Maday spent a second season together working hard on the scout team. At tight end, Jake McCreath and Koa Ka'ai filled out the travel squad.
Redshirts: The Ducks have another high-ceiling receiver coming up the pipeline in Alex Ofodile. Like Carrington, Stanford and Brown, he’s an acrobatic pass-catcher with a big frame. He spent the season with the scout team, where the other newcomer was two-sport athlete Jhet Janis, who throws javelin with the track and field squad. Janis was a daily highlight machine in practice, showing real potential to contribute at some point down the road. Among the tight ends, Jacob Breeland displayed a knack for being able to attack the seams and stretch the field while making his transition to college. He and returning scout-team contributor Taylor Stinson both provided great looks for the defense as mobile, pass-catching tight ends.
SPRING PROJECTION
WR: Dwayne Stanford, Sr.; Alex Ofodile, RFr. ; Dillon Mitchell, Fr.; Jhet Janis, So.
WR: Darren Carrington, Jr.; Jalen Brown, So.; Jeff Bieber, So.
WR: Devon Allen, Jr.; Kirk Merritt, So.; Casey Eugenio, So.; Chayce Maday, So.
TE: Evan Baylis, Sr.; Pharaoh Brown, RSr.; Johnny Mundt, Sr.; Jake McCreath, Sr.; Jacob Breeland, RFr.; Taylor Stinson, So.; Ryan Bay, RFr.
What to watch: Addison opted to pass up his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft, and Marshall chose not to pursue a medical hardship that would have allowed him to return next season. The deadline to declare for the draft is still a few days off, so the above projection is only in pencil. But the Ducks look to be in pretty good shape with Stanford, Allen and Carrington set to return. The loss of Addison and Marshall shouldn’t sting too bad if Brown, Merritt and Ofodile continue on their developmental trajectory, and with the enrollment for winter quarter of recruit Dillon Mitchell.
A couple of guys to watch are Nelson, who loves playing offense, and Janis, who has expressed some interest in playing defensive back. Perhaps position coaches Matt Lubick and John Neal will swing an offseason trade? Also on the radar as a spring storyline is the continued rehabilitation of Brown. If he can work his way back to the top of the depth chart by the fall, it would cap a remarkable return.
