What's new with the Oregon Ducks' TE room ahead of 2026 spring season?

Coming off of yet another elite season, the Oregon Ducks now go into a new 2026 campaign with higher expectations than they've had in quite some time. There's a belief that it is "championship or bust" in Eugene, thanks to the return of guys like Dante Moore, Evan Stewart, Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, and Teitum Tuioti. Oregon's roster is among the best and most experienced in the nation, and there's a feeling that the '26 season could be special.

While it may be a stretch to say that anything short of a championship will be considered a failure, there are reasons for the Ducks' fanbase to hold such high hopes. Oregon has been building to the 2026 season for a couple of years now, and with the combination of elite young talent like Jordon Davison, Dakorien Moore, and Brandon Finney, among others, along with the aforementioned veterans, it comes as no surprise that the Ducks are considered among the championship favorites going into spring ball.

While tight end certainly isn’t the most solidified position on the team, it has some of the most cause for optimism. Although the Ducks are sending a projected first-round pick to the draft in Kenyon Sadiq, the loss was offset by the return of Jamari Johnson, who quietly put together a similar statistical season to his teammate. Johnson provides consistency for the tight end room, while there are two more joining the team in Eugene this season who are highly-touted prospects with a lot to prove.

Oregon secured a commitment from Penn State transfer tight end Andrew Olesh, who was a five-star recruit in high school, and they also signed another one in Kendre Harrison. We have no idea what these players will become yet, but they have all the tools to follow in Sadiq and Johnson’s footsteps and forge lasting legacies with the Ducks.

Returning Players

Jamari Johnson

Career Stats: 45 catches, 668 yards, 4 TD

Johnson transferred to Oregon from the Louisville Cardinals before the 2025 season, seeking out a bigger role, and that is exactly what he got. His yardage totals on the season were similar to Sadiq, but Johnson’s receptions were typically big gains, as evidenced by his 15.9 yards per reception.

Entering 2026 as the most experienced tight end on the roster by far, he has a chance to explode with more of the spotlight on him. Also, Johnson has the opportunity to build on his rapport with quarterback Dante Moore in the second year of their connection, which could make the tandem that much more dangerous.

Players Departing

Kenyon Sadiq

Career Stats: 80 catches, 892 yards, 11 TD

Everyone always spoke of the talent Sadiq possessed, but it never truly came to fruition until last season. He recorded more catches, yards, and touchdowns during the 2025 campaign than he did in his first two years combined, which elevated his stature around the country, allowing him to declare for the draft.

Sadiq was a bit overshadowed in his first two seasons, when the receiving corps was loaded with NFL-caliber players, but he took the spotlight and ran with it this year. It will be a proud moment to watch him walk across the stage in April; it will be a significant loss for the tight end room.

TE Roger Saleapaga

Career Stats: 3 catches, 26 yards, 1 TD

Saleapaga joined the team back in 2024 as an exciting four-star prospect, but he never got the chance to show what he can do. He only caught three passes during his two years in Eugene, all of which came this past season. He will look for a bigger opportunity at a different school, where he can make his final two years of eligibility worthwhile. It hurts to lose any member of such a strong team, but Saleapaga is one of the more expendable players on the roster and can be replaced by another promising player, who will hopefully have a chance at more playing time.

Vander Ploog

Career Stats: None

The Ducks could have used Ploog in the tight end room for 2026, but he announced his decision to enter the transfer portal earlier this year. He didn’t see the field during his freshman year because of the depth at the position, but he could have been a big part of the offense this year. He is a six-foot-six multi-sport athlete who would instantly become a matchup nightmare for any defense he lines up against. Ploog chose to go to NC State, where he hopes to earn a real chance to receive playing time.

Incoming Players

Andrew Olesh

Career Stats: None

Olesh is one of the rare Ducks acquisitions who is sort of a mystery box in terms of his potential. He signed with the Penn State Nittany Lions as a five-star recruit out of high school, but he didn’t see the field in his freshman season, which encouraged him to transfer to Oregon. Those facts don’t offer much optimism, but Penn State’s interest in him makes Olesh intriguing because they have developed the reputation of being a tight end factory. They have churned out some of the better players at the position in the NFL – such as Tyler Warren, Mike Gesicki and Pat Friermuth – so Olesh could turn out to be a home run addition.

Kendre Harrison

Career Stats: None

This six-foot-seven, 243-pound behemoth signed with Oregon back in December, and fans should be thrilled to see him on the field. Harrison is an upper-echelon athlete who will have the advantage in almost every matchup in his collegiate career. The Ducks have brought in a ton of tall and bulky tight ends over the past few years and Harrison certainly fits the bill. If he shows his talent early in the spring, then he should have a nice role carved out for himself during his freshman year.

Markus Dixon

Career Stats: None

The third tight end Oregon added to their team for 2026 is another giant question mark. Dixon was a tight end out of high school and played the position for his first two seasons at Clemson, but he switched to defensive end last season hoping to finally see the field and make a tangible impact. Unfortunately that never happened, so now he’ll be returning to his natural position with the Ducks. His ability remains a mystery after never seeing the field during his first three years in college, but he’ll have some high-pedigree prospects in Johnson, Olesh and Harrison to push him.

Most Intriguing Storyline to Watch This Spring

How Will Jamari Johnson’s Game and Skill Set Evolve With an Increased Target Share?

While Johnson flew under the radar nationally, Ducks fans know the exact caliber of player they have in the underrated junior. He had just 50 yards fewer than Sadiq last season, but the most impressive part is that he did it with 19 fewer catches. It’s clear that Johnson has the talent to turn himself into one of the best tight ends in the nation, just as his former teammate did. Now, it’s just a matter of him becoming a more consistent receiving threat as opposed to being a big-play specialist and becoming a more reliable option in the red zone.

Although Johnson’s yardage total was similar to Sadiq's, he only caught three touchdowns compared to Sadiq’s eight. This aspect isn’t quite as important since it can sometimes be based on luck or a specific matchup, but Oregon will have the chance to produce back-to-back first-round tight ends if Johnson can make some of these changes.

Biggest Question Facing the Position

Who Will Earn the No. 2 Tight End Spot Behind Jamari Johnson?

The Ducks possess unheralded talent in the right end room, but there is some uncertainty surrounding the position with so much turnover and the influx of untapped potential. Harrison and Olesh were both five-star prospects coming out of high school, so it will be an interesting spring battle to determine who gets most of the backup reps. The roster spot will likely be determined by which of the young stars will be able to put their pride to the side and do some of the dirty work that made Sadiq so alluring last year. We know that Johnson has some of the most receiving upside of any tight end in the country, but blocking isn’t necessarily how he makes his living on Saturdays. That means Olesh and Harrison will likely need to impress Dan Lanning and his staff with the grit and toughness they lost with Sadiq’s departure.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Previewing Oregon Ducks' TE room ahead of 2026 spring football season